How much water do I need to drink?
The government advice is that you should try and consume six to eight cups (around 2l) of fluids per day. This will vary from person to person, and the weather can affect how much you should drink too, as you will need to replace lost fluids if you sweat in hot weather.
How much plastic is saved by using a reusable water bottle?
According to Earth Day statistics, “Humans use about 1.2 million plastic bottles per minute in total, and approximately 91% of plastic isn’t recycled.” This means that billions of plastic items like water bottles end up polluting our oceans, rivers and lakes, as well as piling up on landfill sites. This is not only unsightly but also harmful to our plants, wildlife and planet as a whole.
If you choose a reusable water bottle, they can be a great on-the-go alternative to one-use bottles. Currently, 7.7 billion plastic bottles per year end up in landfill in the UK alone. That's an average of 117 bottles per person, per year.
What to look for in a reusable water bottle
Material: Opt for bottles made of stainless steel, glass, and BPA-free plastic, as they are non-toxic and don't leach harmful chemicals into your drink. Stainless steel will be more robust than plastic bottles and can often be used for hot drinks too, although plastic tends to be more budget-friendly.
Size: Choose a bottle that suits your lifestyle and hydration needs, whether you're looking for a small bottle for your your little one's school bag or a larger one for longer trips. Also think about how heavy it will be to carry; lightweight bottles are ideal for travelling without weighing you down.
Ease of cleaning: Look for bottles that are easy to clean and maintain, with wide mouths that allow you to scrub the interior and a design that doesn't have too many nooks and crannies where bacteria can accumulate. Dishwasher-safe options are the easiest to look after with minimal fuss.
Insulation: If you want something that you can use for both hot and cold drinks, choose a stainless steel bottle that will keep liquids warm or cool. A lot of models offer a 12-hour keep warm time and a 24-hour keep cool time, although this will vary depending on how often you open the bottle.
Durability: Pick a bottle that's built to last, with sturdy materials and a design that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
Leakproof: A bottle that leaks can ruin your day, not to mention precious belongings in your bag, so look for bottles that have a reliable sealing mechanism to prevent spills and leaks. Always make sure the lid is on securely too before popping it back in your bag.
Design: Many bottles come in a variety of fun designs, ranging from bold, eye-catching patterns to more muted, sleek block colours. If style is important to you, you'll find stainless steel bottles tend to have more design choices than plastic ones, but you may pay a premium.
How long can you keep water in a reusable water bottle?
Reusable bottles are completely hygienic as long as you wash them regularly, but we'd suggest changing the water every 24 hours so it retains a fresh taste.
How do you clean a water bottle?
You should clean your water bottle at least once a day or, ideally, after each use. If your bottle is dishwasher safe then this will help to properly sterilise it. If not then use warm soapy water every and rinse thoroughly. For a more intensive clean, try bi-carbonate (baking soda) or vinegar mixed with water. Leave to soak overnight and then wash with warm water in the morning. Some people recommend bleach but be wary as it’s not safe to consume and can leave some plastics smelling of a strong odour.
Which is the best reusable water bottle to buy?
The Chilly's Original Bottles are the best reusable water bottles, according to Mumsnet users and consumer reviewers. We love that they're leakproof, extremely durable, and can hold both hot and cold drinks. The range of colours and patterns is a huge bonus too - there's something for everyone!
How we chose our recommendations
To ensure we are only including the best of the best, we always do our research thoroughly and make sure every product comes carefully assessed, evaluated and with a host of real, honest reviews to recommend it.
Recommendations from real parents
All our recommendations for reusable water bottles came from Mumsnet users themselves. We searched the Mumsnet forums for posts about which bottles, including silicone, stainless steel and BPA-free plastic Mumsnetters really loved. We also looked at other reviews to see which water bottles performed well across the board.
Expert advice
We set out to ensure that our information represents the latest recommendations from experts so you can rely on it, and we research each product thoroughly to ensure it follows the latest expert advice and stands up to scrutiny. Here, we looked at safety around using BPA-free reusable water bottles and consulted information from expert review sites.
Consumer feedback
In addition to scouring the Mumsnet forums, we also spent hours on relevant consumer websites to find out which reusable water bottles got sterling reviews and lived up to their claims of being leakproof, durable, portable and easy to use and clean. We took note of both positive and negative feedback as this helps us ensure that every product we recommend has been tried and tested by real people.
Celebrated best products
Finally, we check to see which reusable water bottles have won industry awards or received accolades or recognition from trusted sources, and used this to compile our final list of recommendations.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.