This one habit is “as dirty as licking your toilet”
<p>If, like many of us, you’ve opted for a reusable water bottle to do your part for the environment while getting your recommended daily water intake, you may want to think again. Researchers have found that re-using these water bottles is “as dirty as licking the toilet”!</p>
<p>A new report shared with <a href="http://metro.co.uk/2016/08/10/refilling-water-bottles-without-washing-them-is-as-dirty-as-licking-your-toilet-6059814/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Metro</span></strong></a> has found that these water bottles are covered in bacteria – as much as you might find on your dog’s toy, in fact.</p>
<p>Researchers found that the average water bottle had 313,488 CFU (colony forming units) per square centimetre, thanks to sweat, food residue and anything else the bottle comes into contact with (i.e. if you carry it in your bag with other items). Worse still, 60 per cent of these germs were found to be able to make us sick.</p>
<p>However, these bottles are still the recommended, environmentally-friendly choice, and there are types which tend to carry less germs. Slide-top bottles were found to be the worst, with three times the number of germs as the average bottle. Squeeze- and screw-tops fared better, with half the amount of the average bottle, but straw-tops are by far the safest choice, with just 25,400 CFU per square centimetre. Stainless steel bottles were also found to carry less germs than their plastic counterparts.</p>
<p>While you don’t necessarily need to throw out your trusty H2O vessel, experts say you should wash it every day, just to be safe.</p>
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