Water bottles - metal or plastic

[Snoopsnoggysnog]

Recently I have switched all our water bottles for DC and the ones DH and I take to the gym etc, from plastic to the stainless steel ones. I prefer them as they keep the water cold and it’s just more pleasant than drinking out of plastic.

DH disagrees and thinks they’re less hygienic as you can’t put them in the dishwasher.

Who’s right, and how do you keep your metal bottles clean if you prefer them?

Why can't you put them in the dishwasher? That's where I wash mine.

I much prefer metal to plastic, I find plastic ends up tasting of dishwasher whereas metal doesn't.

But why can't DH use plastic and you use metal?

Metal is better for you. Plastic discouraged if TTC, for example

Plastic water bottles are unhealthy now. I can't remember why. Something to do with chemicals leaching. Especially if you put them in the dishwasher...that's a no-no

@BertieBotts

But why can't DH use plastic and you use metal?

Yes he’s recently bought himself some new plastic bottles but I wanted to know if I was in the wrong about this.

@BertieBotts I thought they weren’t dishwasher safe. Also they’re quite pricey so haven’t taken the risk yet.

They can chip in the dishwasher if they’re the painted kind. Although I always put them in the dishwasher and chipping so far has been minimal. Buy him a plain stainless steel one that he can bung in the dishwasher?

I don’t have a dishwasher. Is everything in my kitchen unhygienic?

That’s not what I meant and I think you know that.

Metal bottles with a narrowish neck are harder to clean by hand than chucking a plastic bottle in the dishwasher. I was simply looking for others’ views on metal vs plastic, and how to clean the metal bottles effectively.

Get a bottle brush and make sure you let them air dry properly.

Chillies metal bottles are fab. We have been through so many plastic bottles and they leak or get really funky or the kids have chewed them. I was a bit peeves at spending £100 on 4 but that was over two years ago and they're still going strong.

The neck is wide enough to clean easily, I just soak in boiling water and then scrub.

Pretty sure mine are dishwasher safe although to be perfectly honest I may have just never checked! I have Emsa ones. They cost about €8 each but this is in Germany so not sure if the same brand is available in the UK. It's not insulated or anything.

I can't be arsed hand washing stuff and I find that you need to hand wash plastic so that it doesn't taste horrible.

i bought a metal drinking bottle for dd as i thought it would better at keeping the water cool

Metal as my ds drops his daily and the hard plastic ones just break. The dc need ones with spouts for school though which are trickier to get in metal.

I agree with PP - Chilly's bottle and a bottle brush is the way to go!

The only plastic bottles I rate are Nalgene, they're very sturdy.

Chitty the Emsa ones have sports caps and are metal if you can get hold of them there :)

Sigi is the other brand kids have for kindergarten etc here.

I have a chilly one which is a good size to take out but i wanted one i could fill and know i was getting enough water (im terrible for drinking enough and always forgot to refill my chilly one) so i bought this www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B081GT9YS7?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

It has a pretty wide opening and comes with a wee brush to clean the straw plus 2 different types of caps and i like it also comes with a holder so if im out a long walk i can wear it across my body.

Oh and its powder coated for the colour and says its dishwater safe.

I used to have plastic because I didn't think the metal ones would be something I'd like at all.
When the new love island insulated bottle came out this year I had to have it (I have the old plastic one so I had to get the new one as well). Now I love it. Keeps the water perfect all day. Would never have anything but an insulated bottle from now on.

I don't have a dishwasher and even if I did I couldn't put my bottle in it because of the name decals on it. I just wash it using a bottle brush and washing up liquid. My husband also has an insulated bottle and he washes his in the sink.

Totally prefer my metal one and in hot weather it's a godsend! I just leave it to soak in soapy water and then wipe around the opening and rinse thoroughly in fresh water. No harder to wash than the plastic ones.

I have big metal cups that I can wash properly. I have a big bottle but it gets used less because its harder to clean. (I don't have a dishwasher)

Plastic that bends is bad for you if it gets warm as the plastic carcinogenic particles leach out and then you drink it - so not good

Plastic that is BPA free doesn't have this issue.

Or alternatively stainless steel.