Is Your Reusable Water Bottle A Hotbed For Harmful Bacteria & Mould? | Talking Point | Full Episode

Reusable water bottles have been trending on social media and growing in popularity. They help us stay healthy by keeping us hydrated while we are on the go. However, according to recent reports, people have been shocked by the mould accumulating in their bottles and claim that it is making them sick.
In this episode, Steven Chia gathers your water bottles and puts them to the test to find out what could possibly brew inside them. Is it possible that what we think is keeping us healthy could potentially make us sick?
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Testing viewers' water bottles
02:48 What's lurking in our water bottles?
05:26 Are we washing our bottles enough?
08:24 How should we be cleaning our bottles?
13:46 Drink tasting funny? What might be growing
17:28 Does the material of my bottle matter?
About the show:
Talking Point investigates a current issue or event, offering different perspectives to local stories and revealing how it all affects you.
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[@JP-cs3ff]

The irony is that people spend thousands of dollars on filtered water only to be drinking contaminated water from their very own water bottle.😂

[@prolikereal2]

Uh Oh😢

[@llljjjyyyy]

true, its extra maintenance to clean the device

[@Vivechyanityam01]

.. Even the pipes of the filters are having moulds...😂

[@IngensViator]

Sales pitch is working

[@ginaltf]

Frankly it’s no different from cleaning baby bottles…scrub and sterilise etc. I avoid “complicated” designs which are challenging to wash.

[@stevenw18]

No need to worry too much. Just wash & rinse thoroughly after each usage. Don't just keep topping up your bottle without cleaning it!

[@Svid1701D]

Had a coworker reuse his company-issued water bottle for 2 yrs and never wash it. You could see the grime caked on it. Rip 💀

[@celestialstar124]

A tip is pour the water out into a mug before drinking. I never drink directly from my reusable bottle in fridge. And please wash it daily when we refill it.

[@iPokeYou3ye]

Who went to wash their bottle right after this 🤣

[@asalkanbersih]

I wash mine half of the video......

[@WW-ob7ek]

I promised myself that I will wash my water bottle tomorrow

[@kuronation]

You don’t wash your bottle before this?

[@sekischro5093]

me omg

[@cqf30]

conclusion: just use a drinking glass, less parts to accumulate grime/bacteria/mold, also increases your step count

[@StephanBorgo]

Yeah, easy to clean

[@abinerymicky]

But how to carry around water with a cup?

[@dtrishacc]

Buy a simple tumbler or cup with a simple lid on. Starbucks sometimes have the ceramic version of their disposable cups.

[@ashleykeelivoon]

⁠@@dtrishaccGood suggestion

[@overagedvscogirl9104]

Problem with that is they’re usually not leak proof

[@Vampyreq]

The survey lacks one option "I don't wash my bottles".

[@head0fmob]

this is the true reason, bacteria can't live in dry place

[@d61helix]

one trick i use is to drink from the bottle without mouth contact to the spout and pouring it straight into my mouth. accidental spills do happen and of cos you still must wash often.

[@EchaKiut]

I swear you unlock new fear everytime😭

[@kuchimama22]

😂😂

[@shanniechua]

Should do a test if dishwasher washes the bottle cleaner... Dishwashers are becoming more popular in Singapore. It should be promoted for the water saving purposes.

[@kelvinlin5642]

Agreed!

[@Vlican]

the high temperatures in western dishwashers kill all the mould and bacteria

[@Svid1701D]

Plastic should not be washed in the dishwasher. The plastic breaks down and leeches into the water. If you are using a dishwasher, use a metal or glass bottle and hand wash the plastic lid.

[@amandant]

Steven 🎉🎉 I miss you so much. Please keep on appearing.

[@FeliciaLim]

Loving this series.

[@hiarvingarcia]

this has enlightened my choices that impact my health. thank you.

[@iscoon74]

good video and just in time as we are managing heat stress. I will be sharing with our group of parents and caregivers as well! thank you!

[@AbuBakar-pu5ty]

Finally I got my answer after 10 years. Thanks for the video. I like to have bottle with plain shape. Germs grow on corners and edges more because water stays on those corners.

[@toggie1721]

Can you do an episode for gym equipments and yoga mats as well?

[@jessicaregina1956]

Should do a episode for gymnastics clothes.

[@flowerhuaer]

No need to do ; confirm dirty

[@meg7578]

CBC marketplace has a piece on this

[@dd-dd2co]

Finally, superstar Steve is back.

[@eng_just4you]

Thank you so much for sharing your precious experience 👍🤝

[@andytoh-toh6488]

Love steven and diana hosting.

[@thisbasicstitch]

I would love for you to do one on cutting boards if that video doesn't exist already.

[@mookmook6989]

THE SAF BOTTLE LOL BYE DED

[@Kiaaats]

That’s why every year buy new one

[@thecatfromsingapore]

they never teach during ns mah T.T

[@Kiaaats]

@@thecatfromsingapore common sense also need to teach meh? ☠️💀😵💀☠️😵

[@andrewho18]

I used my bmt one throughout my 10 cycles of reservist lmao! just clean it with boiling water from the water cooler before using it can already

[@Kiaaats]

@@andrewho18 ​​⁠Zhun bo, I think 香菇 and 金针菇 going inside alr, just in time for mala 😂

[@ChirpyChat]

Wash (not rinse) your tumblers/bottles like you wash your drinking cup. Especially the spout that is in contact with oily lips and other bacteria from the mouth.

[@SleepyChoco]

Hmm there was no mention about using boiling hot water to sanitize/clean the stainless steel bottles. Could that have worked?

[@CarbineKiller]

i was even thinking UV sanitisation on top of that xp

[@2460z_htdja]

19:27 and 21:22, are enlightening, thank you

[@bokbokeh]

such a great video! perhaps we can check out the effectiveness of UV self-cleaning water bottles next?

[@ThaiOdessy]

Rinse and let it thoroughly dry out. No moisture, no bacteria/mold. You may need more than one container/bottle and alternate their usage.

[@lucretius8050]

False, mold can stay dormant in dried out state. To find out if just rinsing is successful try this after a week, take a slightly damp tissue stick it in with chopstick and apply pressure with the tissue inbetween and run it along the inside of the bottle.

[@Missy_Ai]

​@brentmorrison3392You should never put vinegar on stainless steel, as it will have chemical reaction

[@Missy_Ai]

@brentmorrison3392 It’s ok if you don’t believe me. I will still avoid sourish stuff with stainless steel. All the best to your health

[@Missy_Ai]

@brentmorrison3392 that's also your assumption which is baseless. anyway, all the best with your health

[@DD-bf2ch]

No have to scrub inside out even the cover and the spout

[@edhikurniawan]

Yeah, i often bewildered by the weird taste i got from my water bottle back then when elementary school. Had no choice, mom gives me that and no drinkable water i could choose and no money to buy. And mom is always angry if i mentioned the bottle is funny. When i grow up i always emotional by the strange taste that i mentioned even if i thoroughly wash a bottle. I thought Lock and Lock bottles were okay, no they're not. I literally went into a crusade to buy a perfect water bottle. Which has a big cap to open so i could easily wash the inside. Rudimentary shape of the cap. No straw, no some kind of mouth. And it made of glass. And it worked. It is a Sanrio bottle. Not trying to advertise but it is the perfect water bottle. While i don't use it under microscope, it has no smell whatsoever after being used for years. If you wonder the shape is literally a glass like a lab beaker shape, with a cap of that cover that opening size for a maximum thorough cleaning. The only relief or motif shape is only at the cap screw. It is a kind of reinforced glass so it won't break when dropped. I personally never used any reusable drinking container anymore. Prefer the glass or one time use. The Sanrio bottle was for my mom. Searching the exact size to fit her bag was also painful.

[@nicholasthope]

I noticed on the days I did not wash my bottle, I would usually get ulcer within a couple of days. Could be coincidence, but when I put in the effort to wash it daily, my ulcer rarely comes back. I have been using a glass bottle for over three years (although I do occasionally alternate with my metal bottle). It is heavy, but it feels more "atas" (LOL) and safer to me. But glad to know that it has the least chances of bacteria growth!

[@mack-uv6gn]

That number comparison with the water bottle and the toilet is scary

[@funwheels3307]

Hi Steve, thanks for an informative episode. 🙏🙏🙏 Cna I ask how’s the material Tritan (a BPA free plastic) does it promote the growth of bacteria? 😅

[@B__B22]

I’m beyond shocked that there’re people who don’t wash their water bottles with detergent everyday. I mean it’s neither hard nor time consuming 😅

[@XC-Z-cv8qw]

Look up sponges and how they're full of bacteria and mould despite being used to clean with soap and water. Sponges are some of the dirtiest cleaning tool ever

[@KJ_2020]

and you trust detergent 🤣🤣

[@glenn.c]

@@KJ_2020 wtf do you mean by 'you trust detergent' like do you not use soap??

[@gezzapk]

@@KJ_2020bro never did elementary school science

[@KJ_2020]

@@glenn.c externally only. I don't apply a layer to the inside of a bottle

[@timgegroup3177]

The Komodo Dragon is unaffected by any kind of bacteria. These animals drink water from anywhere. :)

[@dolan-duk]

Drinking from my Hydroflask while watching this and I know for a fact that it can get quite disgusting between washes.

[@aho_rsey]

I use a hydroflask with a straw cap as well. I clean with wire brush and brush sponge like everyday lmao. I am too conscious after my food poisoning episode

[@G2H_HellBringer]

I wash mine everyday and opted for standard mouth flex cap (easy to clean and no hidden parts).

[@dolan-duk]

@@G2H_HellBringer Mine came with the flip up straw lid - straw gets icky. I also bought the wide mouth flex sip lid - this one is so troublesome to clean and it traps all the gunk in it even though I like the functionality. Always ends up with a lot of gunk from either mold or leftover undissolved particles from my sugarfree drink powders.

[@hyewon9524]

Recently discovered that my Hydroflask lid is accumulating grime in it unknown to me. It was on the silicon ring on the lid. I scrubbed it with cottonbuds and it was black all over both on the inside and the backside of the silicon ring. The grime already stained the silicon so I was like nope, I'mma order another lid. I scrub mine with soap every other day and it's still that dirty. Lesson learned, try to remove everything that can be remove when washing the lid.

[@michelleherdian]

That Ms Trixie Ong was my English teacher back in junior college! 😆😆😆

[@salmoncubes22]

should do a similar segment for dishwashers, especially restaurants'

[@vance3391]

After done the washing, your bottles less bacteria but your sponge accumulate more bacteria.😂.

[@kokhualow3419]

Hi I always use stainless steel bottles and soak in boiling water for a short while every time I top up the bottle. Does it do the trick? I think so. But would like to know the efficacy.

[@peyt2206]

Reason i always wash mine everyday and rinse it with hot water, need to thoroughly clean the rubber around the cap to avoid any mold😊

[@BillyKueekSG]

Thank you, these videos are very informative and educational. Question, where can I send bottles or water samples for tests? I live in a 30-YO HDB flat and often wonder about the water quality coming into my flats from the very old water tanks and pipes. I use a Brita water jug and thought about whether I should get some kind of water filtration system in my home. Which is best and would really do the job?

[@timothytan3981]

Thanks for the informative show. Mine should be better as I pour water into my mouth from my water bottle. No physical contact with my mouth.

[@jat9757]

I rush to kitchen even b4 finishing watching this video to clean all my drinking water bottles thoroughly.

[@BelieveAllMen]

On the test for glass, stainless steel, polypropylene & polycarbonate, it would have been interesting to run the test in direct sunlight, to find out if transparent glass allows more light ergo more photosynthesis than s/steel.

[@ShadowGunt]

The question should not be how much bacteria and mould is growing in absolute numbers, as we will not know if that number is clinically significant or not. For those individuals with the high bacteria and mould count, they seem to be very healthy as well. Perhaps all the numbers dont matter as well, unless we can see that those with the unclean bottles are actually getting sick more often from the bacteria found in their bottles.... who knows how long they have been doing that and still remain well....

[@misslen575]

I think that is very hard to estimate because it really depends on a person’s health. What is moderately dangerous amount of bacteria may have little impact on a healthy adult but for a immunocompromised person or someone with weaker immune system, it could cause vomiting or diarrhoea, fever, etc Like if i am healthy today, i would be fine but if i suddenly have flu, it could affect my immune system and exacerbate my condition. So i think just following the guideline of at least washing it with soap every other day should just be standard. You never know your child or friend or pregnant wife wants to drink from your bottle that may have bacteria tolerable to u but not others

[@Charmaine296]

Finally I know why my water bottle got mold

[@sleepy_dobe]

I wonder if soaking the bottles in soap water for a few hours once a week, apart from rinsing it everyday of cos, will help reduce bacteria and mould growth. Brushing may not reach every nook and cranny, but I presume soaking should?

[@NelTuOdelschwanck]

Love this episode. Went to wash everything after watching it. Next Please do an episode on how often to change our sponges? Be it body or dish sponges. Thanks!

[@Kewi88-dk5jo]

Can you come out a topic about how often should you wash the bedsheets and towels? Thanks

[@honeytang3066]

I abide by - bedlinen: weekly (bcos cannot afford any more frequent than that); towels (if washed weekly, then put thro warm/hot dryer or sun it well every other day) - actually also depends on whether you only use towel after you clean yourself or if it doubles up as hand towel etc!

[@bernadettehauw9763]

Steve, you didn't wash the cap 😂

[@wilddragonchase]

i have 3 shaker bottles that i alternate between because i use them everyday. i also got a special brush to clean the lids because i did notice that they would form mould in the cap... and that has gone away ever since i used the brush.. so this is very validating lol

[@Hyejin.park23]

I can’t believe why I spend 20 minutes watching on a video that suggesting you to brush your tumbler with soap 😂 . My 3 years old baby sister knows it better that you should wash thoroughly everything that you used with water and soaps 🤣🤣

[@KJ_2020]

welcome another ocd

[@dianatran464]

I would suggest testing a Stanley. It has many small components and so hard to clean.

[@scope1122]

Probably a good idea to let it completely air dry between washes before refilling as well

[@DD-bf2ch]

We wash the water bottle inside out ( also the cover and spout) everyday and use the long brush to get to the bottom to wash it. Or even put it in the dish washer.

[@Faris-qu2gk]

My boy Jethro 🤩

[@elliotw.888]

what makes this guy a water bottle expert exactly

[@marsheemallowz8622]

Aside from daily washing, its best to use wide mouth water bottles where you can easily reach the insides to clean. Also, consider designs with easily detachable parts such as gaskets to clean thoroughly. Japanese water bottles have the best designs functionality and hygiene wise.

[@choo928]

Cyanobacteria thrive with light as they can produce their own food via photosynthesis, so ideally you need a bottle without light penetration.

[@misssmith7225]

So another aspect in the equation is that scratches on the inside of the bottle are possible, and would affect the biofilm tenacity.

[@teas7063]

anyone knows what that brush is called? 21:41

[@annehealey9988]

When I was young, a teacher taught us to put in a small amount of raw rice and add some water to the water bottle and shake it to get rid of mould and then rinse it thoroughly with hot water. It always work

[@honeytang3066]

hey...same principle... I use egg shells with diluted dishwashing detergent. Works for glass bottles too...sparkling after a mad shake (leaving the egg shells well crushed too)

[@zhenwenlu2607]

Rinse the bottle often with vinegar.

[@LunaLei]

I'm glad to know I'm cleaning my water bottles very well. XD

[@blehbleh1260]

So you're telling me. Majority of people doesn't wash whatever container they use for drinking? That speaks volumes on people's hygiene more than the product. Don't blame the product, blame the people who doesn't wash their water bottles.

[@priyankasrinivaskrishna4951]

i got cough and its not going away,then i figure about this...just rinsing seems not enough. i come back to nice sturdy plastic bottle from steel bottle,i put it to dishwasher weekly twice.

[@tianchoree]

I use baking soda instead detergent to wash it, is this method good enough

[@watiu9lei]

the brush that uses to brush the bottle also has lots of bacteria after washing those bottles :p

[@clarencelai4143]

I am going to buy a brush tomorrow!

[@godsamazinggrace5331]

My goodness Look at the water running from the tap

[@janegarnham]

Yes as an Australian … I feel heart sick at the water going down the drain!

[@ClaudiaJeanneMurrin]

I used glass sake bottle, the ones that are very dark in color, almost black, for my water bottle for a year without proper washing, no scrub, just rinse. It has a very narrow opening, and I can't look inside. No smell, no nothing. When it broke, I found the insides are still squeaky clean, no bio film, no smell, no mold.

[@IrisKmeow]

Won't the brushes used by the water expert, too rough for the plastic bottles? Will it make tiny scratches and harbour bacteria?

[@crabsoup]

Should test on copper bottle as well

[@clarencelai4143]

I have been using glass bottle. But I cannot understand why the inner glass always has a rough surface (prior to scrub/clean) whenever I pour out the water

[@purberri]

The bottles with sip lids are really difficult to clean. You have to wash your bottles every day with soap.

[@BobbyWang-rp1lm]

I use glass bottle and often use vinegar and salt to soak and wash

[@enolaesnow]

I think it’s just another habit people need to add into their life. Every night before I go to bed I wash any dishes, including my water bottle so it’s ready for me in the morning. I’ve always just treated it like a glass or mug - I wouldn’t reuse one of those the next day!

[@mikolah2880]

I am surprised that half of the users dont wash their bottles everyday. I don't buy bottles with complicated mouth piece, hard to wash. Or bottles with small opening. There was a time when those square water bottles with a small opening was popular but my reaction was 'isn't that super hard to clean?' 🤣Also, take out the O shape rubber around the rim of the bottle cap and scrub it, lots of dirt trap there.

[@MrNamesNoMore]

We should probably test those jerry cans used in military camp, they are NEVER washed with soap and seldom rinsed by the soldiers using them.

[@twohumm2445]

This is a concern i had recently. I keep scrubbing and the dark mold is still there in certain parts

[@faithite]

Just replace often. I wash it as I can't stand odour building up.

[@DN2Aria]

what if there's no mouth contact with the bottle? lol

[@JohnsonChiw]

How about ceramic? Scrub also cause scratches where more surface for bacteria to grow.

[@commentsarefree4311]

Was the dring water tested at various locations. Is the water chlorinated or UV treated?

[@lucretius8050]

As mentioned it is usually from the action of drinking directly that introduces the food source and bacteria.

[@Qwertytsuna]

Those give the water their flavor.😂

[@ianl.9271]

What about rinsing with boiling water?

[@jtf267]

Any difference with metal bottles vs plastic?

[@celestialstar124]

I am totally shocked when i heard how these people reply regarding how often they wash their bottles and how they assume it's safe with their poor cleansing habit. My god, at 13 i already know bacteria in bottles and stop bringing plastic water bottle as water bottle. I use mineral water bottle and throw away it after 1 to 2 uses.

[@TmTrinidad35968]

Clean thoroughly then dry under the hot sun to disinfect further. Washing should be daily and frequently after emptying. Just put water, not juice, coffee or milk.

[@EagerCompass-mm7gj]

Missed opportunity- they should also review bottles with in-built UVC lamp.

[@tenki-no-ko]

Mold is bad but is it that bad to some traces of bacteria in our bottle? I also feel like if we’re hyper sterile, our body would no longer be acclimated to fending off germs. Just wondering.

[@zigazigaah5184]

I believe it also depends on the way you drink. i don't let water backflow from my mouth back into it and, bottle mouth never touch my lips.

[@AngDarren4182]

How about using hot water (80dc) to rinse the metal bottle?

[@Ace-cv1xd]

this is why i never ever buy bottles with tons of weird contraptions, rubber straws, multiple cap openings. just 1 cap and an empty bottle. simple. i wonder why no one talks about that.

[@Yubbuipxs]

What about water dispensers? Nowadays the tank is made of plastic. How often are we supposed to wash those??

[@Leonidas04052]

Problem with water bottles is that every time you drink from a bottle, a little bit of liquid flushes back from your mouth into the bottle. The mouth contains a lot of disgusting microbes and these end up in the bottle. So all the disgusting crap in reusable water bottles is mainly because it comes into contact with your mouth. So unless you drink straight from the tap and spit some of the water back into the dispenser, you should be good. This is assuming we are talking about distilled water you can buy at the store. If not, then you should boil the water before filling it in, should have the same effect.

[@skywoo6580]

what about the NS green water bottle ?

[@addicted2me]

Not rinse. Wash with soap and bottle scrubber if Ur hands hands can't reach the bottom I was everyday after use. I'm kinda OCD.. And I'm very observant of the crevices Just rinse it no use. Cos got the slime effect when water is always there. Soap is needed. Basic cleaning

[@misslen575]

I think I’ve always known glass was harder for bacteria growth, i noticed it doesn’t grow any grime in the cap and it doesn’t really have this slick film on the inside between washes Too bad i shattered mine, i just set it down on the table and it just disintegrates on the table, very confused but i will get another one

[@DulyDullahan]

I’m kind of bewildered that there are people who don’t wash their bottle after every use. Every time we finish any type of water in the bottle, we always wash it. The mouth cap is especially disgusting if you don’t wash it after every use because it starts to smell from your saliva.

[@SpecJack15]

Wah, you pour iced lemon tea and soft drinks in your SAF Admin Bottle? Knock it down!

[@ttan7293]

best is put in water bag. Cant even see

[@hintofsweetness48]

Personally, I don't like using bottle brushes or sponges. Most of the water bottles are not straight in design especially at the neck. Most of them have curves for suiting the hands. Therefore, it's possible to have missing spots when comes to the curved areas. Wash clothes are more flexible and can cover more areas inside the bottles. The easiest way for getting rid of mold is to soak the water bottles with 1:99 ratio of vinegar. Soak the bottle and don't forget the lid. I usually soak my water bottles not only on the right side, I also soak it up side down for the lid. Then open the flap and soak the lid up side down mainly is for the drinking spout & the inside of the flap. It's time consuming but it should be clean enough to use. It's nothing when you have more than one water bottles for switching.

[@victoriang6317]

I’m surprised by how rare people wash their water bottles. Growing up I was taught to wash it everyday, thoroughly exactly like how it was shown in the video. Now that I’m older, I get lazy sometimes so I only wash it every 2-3 days and even then I feel like it’s pretty gross. I’m not judging, I’m just pretty surprised by the stats of how often people wash their bottles with soap. I’m also surprised that people think rinsing the water bottle does anything 😳