Believe it or not, that reusable water bottle you sip from every day is likely dirtier than your toilet.
How clean is that Stanley you take everywhere? Believe it or not, that reusable water bottle you sip from every day is likely dirtier than your toilet. A study from Purdue University found that many reusable bottles contained over 500 colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria per milliliter, while a typical toilet seat has only about 50 CFUs per square inch. Researchers tested both the inside and outside of 90 bottles used by students on campus and discovered that all failed the ATP test, which detects organic residue. Bottles that were refilled frequently were even worse, since each refill adds more touchpoints for contamination. The takeaway? Reusable bottles are great for the environment and your wallet, but they need to be cleaned thoroughly and regularly with hot water, soap, and a bottle brush – and dried completely before sealing. Just rinsing isn’t enough.