Can the mold from a water bottle harm you?

[li10up]

One of my Polar water bottles has some mold growing on it that I'm having a tough time getting rid of. Will drinking from this bottle with a bit of mold still hanging on cause any health problems? I know I need to get it cleaned up and I've read the thread that tells how to do so...but just curious if the mold could cause any health problems?

[Crankin]

Well, if it does, then I'm dead...

[Bike Goddess]

Every so often I put straight bleach in my water bottles for that very reason. I then rinse them thoroughly. Have you tried that????

[mimitabby]

it COULD hurt you, use bleach. But don't worry about what you already drank. there's mold and mold spores EVERYWHERE and you are eating them every day.

[DDH]

I always use bleach in mine, and then I squirt it through the lid to clean the mouth piece and everything to.

Beach evaporates so once you let it sit a bit after rinsing it the bleach smell and all will disapate.

[OakLeaf]

Will oxygen bleach harm polyethylene? I know not to put my water bottles in the dishwasher with a chlorine bleach-based detergent, but now that I've started using Seventh Generation, can I put them in? (Please?)

[water_drinker]

I always use bleach in mine, and then I squirt it through the lid to clean the mouth piece and everything to.

Beach evaporates so once you let it sit a bit after rinsing it the bleach smell and all will disapate.

Only the water in the bleach evaporates - the sodium hypochlorite remains as a residue salt (try evaporating a small puddle of bleach - you'll see a white residue left behind)...it's this residue that can be harmful when ingested. It's always best to rinse thoroughly after treating with bleach.

[Meg McKilty]

it COULD hurt you, use bleach. But don't worry about what you already drank. there's mold and mold spores EVERYWHERE and you are eating them every day.

Oh, c'mon mimi! Penicillin was meant for the healin'!

[spindizzy]

Just wanted to add this article to the debate.

http://www.balancedlivingmag.com/200...0Hydration.htm

I've stopped buying bottled water (kids hate me)...oh well.

[Crankin]

Still living.
I bought bottles that can go in the dishwasher...

[ny biker]

Mine go in the dishwasher, too. But that doesn't get rid of the mold. I've found using q-tips on the camelback polars will remove the first layer, making the caps easier to clean.

I keep a toothbrush in the kitchen for cleaning things like water bottle caps. If I'm really having trouble getting them clean I will use zinc dandruff shampoo instead of dish soap, then will rinse the hell out if them. (Somewhere there is a thread about laundry, with a mention of dandruff shampoo having antibacterial, antimicrobial and antifungal qualities.)

[rebeccaC]

Mine go in the dishwasher, too. But that doesn't get rid of the mold. I've found using q-tips on the camelback polars will remove the first layer, making the caps easier to clean.

A friend mentioned Efferdent anti-bacterial denture cleaner tablets working very easily. Fill with hot water and add a tablet, let sit, shake, slowly empty through nozzle and rinse. I usually use the clean bottle especially if I'm using energy drinks in the bottle....just toss in the dishwasher after my ride.

[marni]

you can also add a drop or two of bleach and fill the water bottle. let it stand a few minutes and then rinse thoroughly. I usually alternate the efferdent and the bleach on a weekly basis or after three rides which ever comes firt.

[OakLeaf]

I use the denture cleaner tablets on my bite valves and bottle caps too, but they don't take off the biofilm. If it were dentures, you'd still have to brush them, and you still have to brush your hydration gear. Camelbak sells long flexible brushes in diameters to clean both flexible and straight drink tubes, and that's probably the cleaning appliance that gets used more than any other in my household. Then any bottle brush with a hemispherical arrangement of the bristles.

Today I filled my stainless bottle with a 10% bleach solution and let it soak for half an hour or so ... probably overkill, but I've seen what grows in there one too many times.

[chicago]

honestly, I'd worry more about the germs you pick up at the grocery store.

but then again I played ice hockey for years, and you really don't know want to know what those water bottles looked like. We played with men, and you know how they are when it came to cleanliness...especially their hockey gear

and I'm still alive