Reusable bottles going mouldy.

[Wheresmrpenguin]

I used to use the plastic one use bottles, and refill them for a few days and then chuck. But about 5 years ago I decided to start using the more environmentally friendly purpose made water bottles with built in straws etc.

But they keep going moldy, like full black mold on inside. I can sometimes pay about £2-4 per bottle, but mostly £5-6 so I can get a dishwasher proof and I have to throw it away after about a month.

I'm rinsing it out, can't leave it to dry because i'm using it.

I have sensory issues and struggle to drink from a glass, and sensitive teeth so need a straw. I've tried really hard changing to glass or bottles without straws but I end up getting ill from dehydration.

Any advice? I'm really debating bulk buying a ton of plastic one use bottles.

I put a drop or two of bleach in mine, fill it with water, shake, leave overnight and wash with washing up liquid next day. I don’t think the dishwasher gets it properly clean (I’m probably wrong about that).

I've never had this happen to a bottle ever. What are you doing to them?!

Wash daily in hot soapy water and use a bottle scrubbing brush.

Milton

Could you try a flask instead? Eh contigo - I use them for cold water sometimes as well as hot drinks. They in the dishwasher along with their lids and none of mine have ever gone mouldy.

What are you drinking? We've never had a mouldy bottle. Some are dishwashed, some are hand washed.

@JosephineDeBeauharnais

I put a drop or two of bleach in mine, fill it with water, shake, leave overnight and wash with washing up liquid next day. I don’t think the dishwasher gets it properly clean (I’m probably wrong about that).

I tried that a bit with my last bottle, but I could still see it. I might not have done it properly, I didn't shake it. How often do you do it?

My toddler drinks out of my bottle and has been poorly for the last week, i'm wondering if it's the mold now 😭

Even DH’s manky cycling bottles don’t end up black inside. What is happening to yours Op?

Anyway, more helpfully, I soak DH’s manky bottle in bleachy eater or when the kids were smaller and we had Milton in the house, I’d use that. It soon shifts the mank.

Try a denture tablet - they also work on travel mugs that have gone a bit smelly

Try cleaning then sterilise the inside with milton tablets and cold water like you would with a baby bottle. This should sort any mould.

And i'm honestly not doing anything! I drink just water. it's filtered water, not tap, could that make a difference?

I literally don't know what I'm doing wrong apart from maybe using it constantly.

@deeni

Could you try a flask instead? Eh contigo - I use them for cold water sometimes as well as hot drinks. They in the dishwasher along with their lids and none of mine have ever gone mouldy.

A flask would be the same as a glass for me, I need a 'tight' top, if you know what I mean? My flasks have never gone mouldy though.

A straw cleaner to really give it a scrub. I've started soaking dcs bottles in a bowl with a couple of steradent denture cleaning tablets. They are fizzy and really get tge bits of the bottles clean.

I’ve only ever seen this when milk or juice has been in the cup, not water only

I find the plastic ones go mouldy after being in the dishwasher a few times. Have gone back to handfasting and not had an issue since.

However, I highly recommend the sho flasks which you can buy the straw tops for. They are bloody amazing. Dd has 3 that I alternate for school and dp and I have 1 each for day trips and long dog walks. The dog has a cheap ass version for her water.

Best investment I have are recently

I bleach mine when the mould appears, maybe every couple of weeks?

Try handwashing with a brush and washing up liquid in hot water at least a couple of times a week BEFORE it goes mouldy

Hand wash only here too! Plus buy 2 and then you can leave 1 to dry while you use the other. I second sho ones but they’re not cheap! X

Hand wash them with hot soapy water and then leave them to air dry. I've had water bottles for years and never once had mould in them.
We have a couple each so one can air while the other is in use.

I dishwash ours and they all have straws, never gone mouldy! Our kids school ones are 3 years old. Handwashed every night then dishwasher on a Sunday. Do you empty the dishwasher when it's done and allow things like the straw to drain? I also make sure never left overnight (well, rarely) with lids on.

It keep happening to my kids bottles.
They need the lid to be watertight, and eqsuly opened by a lid, and none drip.
All the kid ones have these really complex lids.

The bottle itself is fine but the lids always gets mould into them. Really difficult to clean every nook and cranny of the lids.
We dont have a dishwasher.
Once they're a bit older I'll get a much simpler one like a chilly that can be cleaned much more easily.

When you all say handwashing, how do you get the inside bit?

its where the mouth bit is, and the mechanism moves, its that right inside bit, a straw doesn't work.

I think i'll buy more than one and i'll try soaking in either bleach, denture stuff or milton and see which works best for me. thank you.

To say i'm fed up and confused as to why it's happening is an understatement😅

Very hot soapy water hand wash 3-4 times week min/ every day if possible.
Using bottle brush

Thorough wash of the drinking area. Eg rim on mental bottle - area that that gets the bacteria then is squished into the lid

Leave upside down to dry overnight.
Never store with lid on

Those with twisty plastic lids you can prise them open and clean inside.

All components of all bottles soaked in Milton weekly possibly fortnightly.

I think the lids could be your issue. Or storage. Or someone's sneaking squash into them!? 😊

You can get straw brushes and bottle brushes to clean them with.

The systema bottles like this pic. You can get them apart.

Smiggle silicon bottles should be banned. Disgusting for mould growth

I dishwasher systema bottles but still Milton the components regularly.

Grim when they aren't cleaner properly.