does anyone know for certain if refilling plastic water bottles is dangerous?

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I can't seem to find any definitve info out there on the www. I'm always refilling water bottles, as I hate the plasticky taste that you get from the reusable ones. Does anyone if it's safe or not? (hoping there are some scientific MNers out there!)

Well ive been doing it for ages and not been ill!

I do it

I do it all the time. I don't think there's a big risk.

You do want to change the bottles reasonably often, but the bottles I use have flip tops, which fall off after you use it for a while (Volvic 1L ones). And if kids use the bottle, the flip top gets worn out faster (which is good, because kids always do backwash ).

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If you wash them regularly in hot sopay water there is absolutely no risk ! Why would there be ? (Am scientist btw).

I do it ALL the time ! Never had any ill effects - EVER !

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The reason I heard for no refilling them, was only a hygiene, not a safety one. You know the bottles with the push down/pull up top that you have to suck and the slabbers/germs breed, those aren't advised to be refilled due to the germs....

why is it dangerous?

I have never heard this?

My DD's take bottles of water to School and I often re use them...shouldn't I be?!

Bet Teasco started a rumour so we would buy more instead of re using lol

Oh, wait, there is a big danger to the bottled-water manufacturer's profits ...

(I only ever rinse mine with plain water, not soap, as I fear they'd end up tasting soapy. But as I said, I don't use them for very long and ditch them if mucky tasting at all)

Yup - that;s right - THEY want us to buy new bottles - so they tell us it is unhygienic to reuse - it is CRAP though !

But surely the push-down, pull-up tops are like the ones used on the re-usable sports bottles anyway?

I do it 2 or 3 times per bottle.

But my friend who is a senior nurse says don't do it. Use bottles that can go in the dishwasher or wash them thoroughly in the sink.

yes Tiggiwinkle they are no differnt are they

blimey I reuse thema lot - because I'm cheap

I really cant see a problem as long as they are washed!

My midwife friend also says this - I outrank her as senior microbiologist ! Believe me - it's crap !

Wash in hand hot water and washing up liquid - rinse thoroughly and air dry - no issues !

All bact and viruses killed at about 30 deg Cel !

dd's teacher this year has insisted they don't bring in refilled disposable water bottles. I've had to buy her a proper re-usable one to keep him happy. Never heard anything about not refilling them before.

We keep using ours until we either lose the tops, the bottles go completely out of shape or they smell funny.
What does the teacher know about plastic bottles then that we don't?

Well we've been reusing bottles for years, but something I read recently seemed to say there was something that could come out of the plastic that was carcinogenic, which obviously is a bit worrying. I'm still reusing bottles, as I'm always sceptical about such scares. Love the idea that Tesco perpetuated this one . Wouldn't put it past them in their attempt at world domination. thanks for all your posts, but still not really any the wiser!! Assuming no news is good news and will continue with the recycling

2 articles here & section 3 item 15 indicate that you shouldn't but how much evidence to back these claims up exists I don't know.

lol, I am soooooo shallow, but after reading those 2 articles I wonder if I may should start re-using single use water bottles, lol....it stated weightloss as a mainfactor!!!!! Sorry...had to say thins!
Must say though, I really don't like tapwater over here in the UK, so, tend to buy bottles water anyway, so, no need to reuse waterbottles....but do re-use those "sprtsbottles spouts" is ther an issue with those?

I always did this until a nurse friend said it was to do with chemicals in tap water reacting with the plastic (Carcinogenic?).

Hey bluebeetle, if you're still there (and sorry for the hijack) - If I wash nappies at 60 degrees C with NO washing powder etc is it ok? I put a few drops of teatree oil in too, as advised on MN, but surely thats just for the smell - can't see how such a small amount could kill germs. Washing powder upsets DSs bum.

Hi Astrophe - 40 degrees would do it to be honest. Actually 30 degrees would almost certainly do it too - but 40 degrees safest.

Washing powder doesn't have any effect - so use or not use - it's the temperature that kills bugs. Washing powder good for stains - not bug killing !

Tea tree definitely does have antiseptic effect - but not sure whether it works in a wash - have only ever used it to dab on cuts and spots.

Hope that helps ??

Can I also just say - this carcinogenic chemicals thing - CRAP put about by people who want you to buy more bottles of their water !! Sorry to all the nurses here - but it simply isn't true - you've all been fed a line - and you've bitten it - hook line and sinker !