The best ways to clean your water bottle and prevent it from accumulating germs, according to experts

Hydration is a fundamental aspect to promote health . And that’s one of the reasons why many choose to carry a bottle of water reusable throughout his day.

In addition, these elements can help reduce environmental impact compared to the use of disposable containers.

The advantages of traveling with a reusable bottle are numerous. However, Their hygiene is also a factor to take into account. .

If they are not cleaned frequently, they can become a place for microbes to accumulate. which, depending on the case, could affect health.

In this sense, it is important to clarify that Cleaning them doesn’t just mean rinsing them then refilling them .

A survey by U.S. water quality monitoring company WaterFilterGuru concluded that One bottle of this type can contain approximately 20.9 million colony forming units. (UFC).

According to data from a study retrieved by the BBC , The surface area of ​​a bathroom toilet seat contains an average of 515 CFU .

Similarly, a bowl of pet food can hold about 1.4 million, a computer mouse 4 million and a kitchen sink 11 million .

These estimated figures are less than what can be contained in a bottle. reusable, depending on the company’s work.

However, There are simple ways to clean them and prevent them from building up. a large number of microbes.

Although bacteria are not necessarily negative in themselves – in fact, they are essential to our lives –, There are certain types that could cause unwanted effects .

Its arrival in the bottles can be done in multiple ways. .

One is by the very action of drinking it since some of the microbes that colonize our body, for example on the skin, teeth and tongue, can reach the container.

Touch the bottle with your fingers and also leave it in a bag, desk or locker They can constitute means of transfer.

When they are already in the article, If not cleaned frequently, these microbes create colonies and begin to multiply. .

That is why cleanliness is essential .

On another side, When hygiene is rarely taken into account, fungus can appear in which they are plastic or aluminum.

The doctor of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases, Rodrigo Lins, explained to the aforementioned media that the possibility of health risks varies from case to case .

In this sense, he specifies: “We must keep in mind that there are ten times more bacteria than cells in our body (…) Depending on the amount and types of microorganisms ingested, our immune system can cope with this demand without major problems. “.

As an example, he said that In some situations, symptoms such as vomiting and nausea may occur if the number of microbes is very high. .

Another case that could happen is that the container contains more serious bacteria, which could increase the risk of infection .

For people allergic to certain fungi and molds, using a bottle containing a high number of microbes could cause signs such as nausea, headaches, fatigue and nasal congestion.

The microbiologist from the Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of São Paulo, Jorge Timenetsky, added to the BBC that the “Young children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems” may be more vulnerable if hygiene is not adequate. .

According to the specialist, cleaning the bottles “Once a day when we get home is enough” .

For this task, He explained that soap and water can be used and that “it is also important to use brushes.” to mechanically clean microorganisms.

After completing these steps, can be recharged once dry .

A key point to consider is that the same container is not used for other liquids because these could contain elements favoring microbial colonies.

Likewise, experts have suggested avoid those with grooves or rough parts and those with wooden parts .

Furthermore, it must be considered that If they contain reusable bulbs or other small parts, these should also be cleaned with the support of brushes capable of achieving this goal.