How often water bottles need cleaning and the most important step to keep them mould and germ free

It’s a familiar sight in offices, cars and even around the home – water bottles left half empty to be used the next day without a second thought. For some this pattern can go on for months at a time without the bottle even getting so much as a rinse.

That’s despite water bottles needing to be cleaned daily to remove germs and prevent mould, even if the only thing inside was water.

A quick survey of the office showed it’s a struggle to wash water bottles weekly, let alone daily.

“I couldn’t tell you how long I’ve gone without washing my water bottle but if I had to guess, I think it would be a couple of months easily. I have a Stanley Cup for at home and car trips, and a Frank Green for work, walks and gyms. I’m trying really hard to clean them both once a week, which I am aware is still not enough, but it’s not going incredibly well,” one said. 

“Honestly, I can definitely go many weeks at a time, I’ve been slightly better lately and have been washing it every few uses ever since I heard it was supposed to be washed after every use,” a woman admitted.

“I throw mine in the dishwasher when I remember, which is probably every two to three months? I am aware of how gross it can get (I clean my son’s water bottle every few days) but just don’t care enough to go out of my way to clean my own unless I can visibly see or smell mould,” another said.

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Lydia Buchtmann, CEO of the Food Safety Information Council confirmed to nine.com.au that water bottles need cleaning daily.

“It’s like anything else you’re using, you don’t want to leave it out because bacteria and even fungi can grow inside a bottle, and it can pick up germs from touching your mouth or even leaving a half-finished bottle lying around at room temperature, so the nasties can still grow in there, even if you’ve just got water in there, too,” she said.

While the risk of getting sick from your water bottle is “not huge”, it’s still important to prevent bacteria from multiplying and mould from growing. Cleaning the bottle regularly will also prevent bad odours developing inside the vessel.

To clean water bottles use hot water and a bottlebrush to give it a scrub inside. The lid in particular will need a scrub with a brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Some bottles can go in the dishwasher, but check first to prevent damage.

You can also clean the bottle as part of the washing up process by partially filling the inside with hot soapy water and giving it a really good shake. So, for those who leave their drink bottle at work to fill up each morning, consider taking it home at the end of the day and washing it when you do the dishes that night.

But cleaning isn’t the most important part of the process, allowing it to thoroughly dry before the next use is.

“Bacteria will only grow if it’s damp, so make sure you dry it properly,” Buchtmann said.

Since it can take quite a while for a water bottle to dry completely – especially the lid part – it helps to have a few water bottles on hand so you always have a clean and dry one ready to use.

If you’re not sure if your water bottle lid is completely dry, give it a shake and if any water droplets come out keep it on your drying rack for longer.