I don’t mean to sound pretentious, but I’m a pretty smart person.
I was a good student in school.
I know my random trivia facts.
I have a great sense of direction (for the most part).
I actually enjoy learning.
I like a good challenge for my brain.
But as smart as I might be, I can still amaze myself at how stupid I can be sometimes. I’m not a “street smart” person (sometimes), and I more often than I would like have ‘aha’ moments because something just. didn’t. click.
(source)
I had one of those moments recently, and once you hear about it — you just might not want to be my friend anymore. Please don’t leave me.
I’ve still been having stomach issues every day. I like to think I’m pretty in tune with my body, so when I can’t figure out what is wrong with me, I get so irritated. A little over a month ago, I cut out caffeine because I was having acidic stomachaches and was really feeling dependent upon coffee. I have been enjoying a cup every once in a while now, but not every day like I used to (I used to drink 2-3 cups in the morning!).
However, I was still having bloating and not so pleasant GI symptoms. I just didn’t get it. I was doing everything I was supposed to be doing and couldn’t put my finger on it. Needless to say, I was stumped.
Then, last weekend when I went down to St. Louis, my stomach started to feel better. On Saturday, it was almost normal. Sunday rolled around, and I couldn’t believe how well it felt. What did I do differently? I had eaten all the same foods. My mind was spinning.
Monday rolled around, and things were looking better than ever. Every day during the school day around 10:30 (yes I can put a time to it), my stomach gets bloated and uncomfortable until about 5:30, about a half hour before I eat dinner. After dinner, I’m usually good.
So, I got to thinking about it. Usually my stomach feels better on the weekends than it does on the weekdays. I rarely have this type of stomachache during the summer. Could it be I am allergic to school? Nope, not so much.
I sent out a tweet yesterday morning that probably puzzled a few.
Then it dawned on me — I’m a bad water bottle cleaner.
(source)
I leave a stainless steel, BPA free water bottle at school during the week and take it home on the weekends to clean it. I normally fill up the water bottle 3-4 times a day, 5 days a week. That’s a total of about 20 refills without a cleaning. Now that I’m starting to do the math, that’s just darn gross. I can only imagine the bacteria that has been breeding inside that water bottle each week. Just thinking about it is making my stomach churn.
So, yesterday I did some scientific experiments. I took one for the team and drank a full bottle of water out of my reusable water bottle. It had been cleaned this past weekend, but I’m sure if there’s something nasty hanging out in there, it’s in there for the long haul. The verdict?
Stomachache — 10:45 AM. Lasted until 4:45 PM.
I have no common sense sometimes. I am also 100% positive my mom is going to yell at me after reading this.
Needles to say, that water bottle is being thrown out. I am bringing my Shaklee water filter (like a Brita!) to school with me fro now on and refilling a glass each day.
Let this be a public service announcement to you all.
Clean your water bottles. Don’t be stupid like me. Enjoy happy digestive tracts.
The end.
Question: Do you use a reusable water bottle? How often do you clean it? OR Have you ever done something and later realized how silly you were?
PS — Don’t forget to enter my Larabar giveaway! It ends on Saturday, March 26!
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
I use the same plastic water bottle all week long. I start Monday off with it and throw it away on Friday…trying to be semi-green and all. But hmm, that’s just as gross, no?
Yeah, I’d say it’s just as bad!!!
Woaah - I have JUST started using are-usable, and I’ve used it 2-3 times without cleaning - now I will everytime! Thanks for the heads’ up
[too funny - my post, to be published in like 10mins, starts almost exactly the same as this :p]
Oh dear. I am EXACTLY the same as you (were)!! I reuse my water bottle and wash it at the weekends!! AAAAH I’m going to go clean it RIGHT NOW not even kidding!!
And your stumped face is brilliant by the way!
Why thank you!
I’ve definitely done this before, but thankfully I (somehow) didn’t get sick!
Glad you solved your mystery though
Hmm I probably should clean mine sometime soon…it’s been too long.
Maybe, the water at your school is bad!? Nothing wrong with the bottle?
No - the water at my school is fine. I just have the most sensitive stomach in all the world.
Hmm… going to clean my Camelbak asap!!
I’ve always wondered if something like that could happen from re-using a water bottle. I tell my 12-year-old not to re-use his water bottle, and instead to get a clean one every day, but I never had the proof until now. You’re very smart to figure this out!!
You better show him this!!!
Well, I’m definitely cleaning my water bottle tonight! Thanks for the heads-up!
I reuse one water bottle, like a plastic Poland Springs for 1-2 days, and then I get a new one and do the same, or I fill my reusable ones, but i’m pretty good about cleaning them. Do you really think that’s it? It seems like such a “duh” what else would it be, but I’m wondering if there could be THAT much bacteria in it to make you sick???
I am 97.8% sure that’s what is is. I have the most sensitive stomach in the world - and I’m sure there has been times where I haven’t taken it home over the weekend too. My stomach hates me.
Good call! I had a similar problem. Years ago I had a nalgene, and some college student told me they didn’t need to be cleaned. *Enter Stupid Moment.* I believed this person and thought I possessed a magic self-cleaning water bottle. Needless to say it got ultra-disgusting and I had to chuck it. Now I wash my water bottles out every single day after work. I totally lack those common sense smarts!
Oh no! Did you get stomach problems too?
This just occurred to me last week too! My stomach has not been happy lately and I didn’t know why but as soon as I changed my water bottle I felt better. I usually use the same one refilling it for about a week (wow that sounds gross) and then I wash it and use a different one for a week. I am going to be sure to wash my bottle every night now that I realize I’m not crazy for thinking that.
Wow! I’m so glad I am not the only one. I seriously thought I was crazy at first to think “that” was the culprit!
Whoops… I have a camelbak water bottle that I fill up all day and I wash it on sundays!! It is part of my cleaning routine… clean toilet, clean shower, dust, and clean water bottle!!! Pretty sure my mom has already told me that it was gross…… I am gonnna go wash it right now
Whoops… I have a camelbak water bottle that I fill up all day and I wash it on sundays!! It is part of my cleaning routine… clean toilet, clean shower, dust, and clean water bottle!!! Pretty sure my mom has already told me that it was gross…… I am gonnna go wash it right now
If this is the answer to my near-identical problem, I promise I will fly to America to shake you by the hand (and bring you lots of lovely things to eat!)
Okay, pleeeeease pleeeeease let me know what happens!!!
It’s upside-down on the draining board as we speak
wow, I would have never thought about that. I just might need to look into it myself. thanks Chelsey!
I don’t think that’s a “stupid” moment of you at all. It’s so easy to forget about the things that are practically already a part of our daily lives - like drinking water. I mean, do you think twice about it when you grab a cup and fill it with water? Of course, maybe I’m just saying that because I’m AWFUL about cleaning my water bottle, too. My mom always steals it away every so often to clean it. I tell her I was saving the algae because it’s expensive if I have to buy it otherwise
I use a refillable one, too. And try to clean it pretty regularly (every 3 or 4 days?). I don’t even want to talk about how grossed out I was when I didn’t do this and cleaned it for the first time (after a couple weeks- I know it’s gross).
oh my gosh this is all too real for me… only bc i’m a terrible water bottle cleaner and people always warn me! Yikess, tough lesson learned :/
Have a good night!
Becca
http://fromheretothereinpurple.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/rlustig
this is funny cause I always wondered how often I should clean my bottle. I have a plastic Camelback, which I love. I usually go 2-3 days without washing it, but then I just start to gross myself out. Does this mean you’ll add coffee back in to your diet or continue with that you’ve been doing?
I think I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing with the coffee. I don’t want to be dependent upon the caffeine, and I am really enjoying my lemon water in the morning! A cup every once in a while is a good treat!
Wow.
I’m glad you figured it out.
By the way, I have heard MANY times that I am “Book Smart and Street Stupid”…..yes. It’s true. Naive, trusting, gullible, lacking common sense.
I like to say that my mind was busy thinking other stuff when I was suppose dto learn the basics (always lock your doors, don’t substitute dish detergent for dishwasher detergent, don’t microwave styrophoam….)
My personal best was realizing that the numbers on the gas pump buttons are not the “price” …I was in college thinking gas cost 89cents…lol.
Oh lord - I remember when gas really WAS that cheap!
OK, I don’t think I would have been able to figure that out, so don’t feel stupid, I’m stupider! haha It would have been interesting/probably disgusting to swab it and put it on a petri dish before your threw it out. Seeing would probably stick with you forever, you’d never forget to wash them out after seeing that!
I haven’t thrown it out yet - I think I need to look into that.
Oh my gosh! That’s crazy!!! I’m so glad you discovered what it was!!! (Ok NOW I need to start washing my water bottle out more… oops)
Does this mean you can go back to drinking coffee??
I use a stainless steel bottle that I wash every other day…but I’m going to wash it every day now!! I hope this realization does help your stomach!
I lost all of my Nalgene’s..BOOOO! So i just drink out of a cup from the kitchen (explains my HORRID water intake..).
I am just as bad. I don’t ever think to clean my water bottles frequently.
Okay, I have the EXACT same stomach issues as you. Every single day (usually after lunch) I get so bloated until I eat dinner and then I’m usually okay. But on the weekends, I’m always fine.
But I don’t use a water bottle so I’m not sure what mine could be? Maybe I’m not drinking enough water?
So weird! Maybe the stress/anxiety of the work day is getting to you?
What an interesting cause for a stomachache! You would never think that drnking water (well, drinking from an unclean bottle anyways) could cause that! I am so glad that you have found out what was causing your stomachaches!
xoxox
Kathleen
I always use bottled water when I go out but this is a good little tidbit that I should keep handy since my stomach always decides to hate me at random moments
I’ve done this in the past when I was still at an office job. It’s an easy habit to get into - just refilling it! At least you’re drinking a lot of water and using a reusable bottle.
eww I definitely dont clean my water bottles I need to!
I never even thought about that! Hmmm…I definitely need to clean my water bottle more. I go 3-4 days between washing it! I’m totally going to start washing it more!
I’ve been having similar problems with coffee…too much acidity in my tumtum and definitely an overdependence…like I feel sooooo tired at school If I don’t have my daily cup (or two…) I’m working on cutting it out for the most part, so we can be in this together!
Have you switched to tea to help you switch over? I’m finding super flavored vanilla and blackberry teas are really helping!
Nope - I went cold turkey! It was easier for me.
Interesting! Glad you found the cause of your problem. I’m definitely not the best at cleaning out water bottles. :/
Oh my gosh!! I’m the same way and I have awful tummy aches. This is probably totally why. Thanks for sharing!!
Let me know!
oh.my.god. i never clean mine. i have stomach issues. you are a genius.
Let me know how it works out for you!
I have the same reaction to coffee too. I feel your pain… your tired, tired pain.
Haha saaaaame exact problem… although I’m sure I have additional causes for the bloating. I’m just totally lazy with rotating my water bottles… no reason why as I have a bazillion of them. I should follow your lead and WASH THEM!!
Chelsey, I’ve been experiencing the same stomach crisis. I am though, hopelessly in love with my huge water bottle. Any recommendations on what to use to clean it aside from good ol’ hot soapy water? Do such plastic container/bottle cleaning solutions exist? If not, you may be onto something there!!
If you use a solution of water and vinegar, I have read the vinegar will kill any mold spores that might still be lurking after being washed in soapy water. Mix some water and vinegar in your bottle and let it sit for a little while before washing it again.
That would probably work - Maria probably knows more than e!!
I probably never would’ve thought that a water bottle would be causing stomachaches! I always wonder how well I’m washing my water bottle; sometimes it’s just easier to rinse and go..now I’ll be more careful!
whoa, that’s interesting and something I’ve never thought about either…I just figured it’s water, it’s clean…so I don’t wash my water bottles very regularly at all. But I also haven’t noticed and tummy problems.
I will definitely be more conscious of cleaning my water bottles well now!
I clean my water bottle every day, but it’s just a bottle and cap. I couldn’t have one with a silicone sucker thingy, because I’d never get it clean enough.
I have to say I am probably THE WORST water bottle cleaner - I am like you… I just keep refilling it and refilling it… I am going home this weekend so I should probably hardcore wash it!
Nice job catching the little culprit on your own - too smart girly!
Okay… I totally suffer from the SAME thing on weekdays but never ever thought it was my water bottle. On weekdays I would fill 3 - 1L bottles with my reverse osmosis water from home and carry them around with me all day. I would clean them every once in awhile. But a couple of weeks ago I switched out 2 of the plastic bottles with glass mason jars and come to think of it, my stomach pains haven’t been nearly as bad….
This is interesting… You’re genius! Thank you!
I am the saaaaaaaaame as you! Book smart, but not so good with the street-smarts… yikes. I have a reusable waterbottle as well… i will be washing that baby out EVERY NIGHT now…. ahhhh the horror of what could be growing in there! goo.
I use a camelbak and I wash mine a couple times a week. I rinse mine a LOT though.
Hopefully that is the problem solved!
Way to go detective
Yeah, I may have that waterbottle problem too. P.S. 65 comments and counting? Sheesh girl, you’re popular!
Let me know if you figure out that’s what it’s from! I just like having friends.
Wow this was like a scientific experiment! Great post girl
That’s crazy that you can feel that crappy from a water bottle-but I guess when you think about-SCARY!
I buy the big jugs of SmartWater (yes, plastic=bad)…
I hope this solves your problems…nothing feels sexier than a puffy belly right?
Oh yes - puffy belly = very sexy!
I use a reusable water bottle and definitely don’t clean it as much as I should… I need to get on that asap!
I’m SO glad you have purchased a reusable water bottle! It’s so crucial to our health! Given their plastic type, disposable water bottles are designed for one-time use only. Over time, bacteria builds up in the bottle (more so when left in warm rooms) which can cause illness in whoever continues to drink from the bottle. The normal wear and tear from repeated use of disposable water bottles also causes chemicals to leach into the water you drink, some of which are cancer-causing.
I have always had a reusable water bottle - that’s the one I stink at cleaning! I don’t ever use disposable ones once but in a blue moon!
Wow I’ve never thought of that either! I use a water bottle at my desk and rarely clean it. I think I figure water=clean and just don’t think to clean it. I’ll definitely be making more of an effort now!!
That’s a very interesting observation!! I hardly ever clean my water bottles…I just figured since it’s just water in there how dirty could they be. I might want to re-think that : )
Yikes, I never clean out my water bottle!
That’s awesome you figured out the source of your problems though. Does this mean you’re going to go back to drinking coffee?
Ugh I need to wash mine more often, too! The water from mine has been tasting bad recently, which I blamed on the ice maker, but I’m pretty sure it is from whatever is growing in there. Sick. Sick sick sick.
Wait, I never clean my gym water bottle. Like maybe once every few weeks. Now I’m kind of freaking out haha. Definitely doing that before I go today!!
Hmm, I have one that I use every day at work and try to rinse it with some soapy water but don’t often hardcore CLEAN it (since I’m scared of the communal dish-cleaning brush that sits in the sink all day!). I might bring in my Tervis cup (no lid = fewer bacteria?).
OH my goodness, I never would’ve imagined that would be the cause of stomach aches! i do the SAME thing…refill my metal-like bottle and never clean it..because it’s always at work. GROSS. Thank you for changing my life!
I’m glad I changed your life. ahah!
Whoa crazy! Glad you finally figured that out!
This could be my exact same problem. Oh gross!! I’m cleaning my bottle out now!
I actually threw mine out because I was thinking it was pretty disgusting.
I threw out all my water bottles after this post. Bought new and have continued to clean them every day. So far, no stomach pain & bloating! I was having the exact same problems as you!
Wow! So glad to hear you’re doing better Stacy!!!
Oh crap, when was the last time I cleaned my water bottle?! This is a bad sign.
Thanks for sharing this, Chelsey! I’m kinda bad at the whole water bottle cleaning thing too - oops! I think my mentality was - hey, it’s just water. And does this mean that coffee is back?!
I bought a wide-mouth water bottle specifically because it is easier to clean. I never feel like I can get up underneath the neck of those narrow bottles. I wash mine out with hot soapy water after work and run through the dishwasher on the weekend to sanitize it.
You will have to keep us posted if this works. Also as I was drinking my water out of my reusable water bottle this morning while reading this I decided that maybe I should clean mine, I have the aluminum water bottle so dont normally see the inside of it. I will not even do into detail how gross it was but its getting a HUGE dishwasher bath tonight…Its been retired until then. I have been feeling bloat this week also so wondering if this could be why! Either way I will make sure to clean more often for sure!
I will definitely keep you update on this as time goes on! So far today I’m feeling GREEEAT!
ya know what, I may be doing the same exact thing!
I have a camelbak I only clean about once a week.. and on random days I notice a horrible stomach issue when I work out. I was chalking it up to bad pre-run foods and a mild case of IBS.
THANK YOU for being smart enough for all of us.
I bet more people make this mistake than you know!
I’ve been noticing that!!!!
HMMM, I rarely clean my refillable water bottle. I’m just gross, too! Nice catch - time to get a cleanin’ !!
-courtney
ruh roh… i never clean my bottles and i drink out of them every single day ………………………………
definitely needed this!
Um…brilliant! So glad you figured it out. I still am trying to figure out GI junk, and I spend a lot of time writing down times and symptoms and trying to figure it out. Nice work!
Keep us posted if your stomach keeps feeling better. In biology in college we had to swab something and grow bacteria in a petri dish. I did the inside of my water bottle and it was GROSS. Kinda forgot about that until today, seeing as I only wash mine out on the weekends too. Guess that will be changing!
I’m staring at my water bottle on my desk right now and racking my brain….but I’m pretty sure I’ve never cleaned it. How gross am I?
Believe me, I felt pretty gross last night.
I do the exact same thing- I’m horrible about cleaning my reusable water bottle!! I haven’t had any weird GI issues, though…but it’s still probably not a good idea/not safe/pretty gross. Good reminder, Chelsey!
Omggg me too! Ew I really should clean mine, you’re right, that is probably the culprit of mine too!
I do the same thing…same water bottle, refilled everyday and I’m too lazy to do the dishes sometimes. You are smart for figuring this out!
That’s crazy! I use Contigo water bottles and I always have one with me! I usually put them in the dishwasher once a week. <-I hope that's enough!
I would never even think of that! Glad you figured it out, hopefully no more stomachaches!
I use the same water bottle for about a week, but FYI St. Louis is known for having some of the best water in the country. Maybe that helped while you were here?
I drank bottled water while I was there!
This is SO interesting. I’ve never even thought of this. I’m really bad at cleaning my water bottle and often leave it on my desk and add fresh water the next day. I’m so lazy, though, haha. Thanks for this post, Chelsey!
Last semester I took a medical microbiology class. We did tons of fun stuff like culturing our cutting boards, reusable grocery bags, etc. We were going to culture our drinking water one day, and I forgot to get water from my house, so I just used the water from my water bottle instead. Forgive my lack of sounding intelligent here, but OMG!!! It grew out pseudomonas, which is a nasty, nasty microorganism. At first, I thought it was just our water. Until I realized I hadn’t cleaned my water bottle for about 2 weeks. So, long story short, clean them DAILY with hot, soapy water, and get a special water bottle cleaning brush. Ick!
totally about to google pseudomonas!!!
wow I do the exact same thing. except i don’t wash it over the weekend…i just leave it festering in my classroom fridge ’til Monday. wow i’m gross. definitely going to change my habits after reading this. Thanks!
LIGHTBULB!! Oh my gosh, I do the SAME thing! I have never thought about cleaning my water bottle more often…but now that you mention it, I kinda feel icky! Ok, so I’m going to go wash it now…like 20 times!
OH MY GOSH! I just randomly stumbled upon your blog and I am SO glad I did…I have been having weird stomach/bloating issues for a few months now and I cannot for the life of me figure out what’s going on. Like you, I havnt changed anything about the way I eat so it seemed so odd. After reading your post, I realized that I use the same two or three nalgene water bottles for WEEKS without washing them. And they get quite the beating between rowing, running, the gym, class, my gross dorm room. I know it seems so gross that I rarely wash them (we dont have a dish washer and washing by hand is such a pain, bad excuse I know) but I am literally going to scrub the heck out of all of them right after I post this comment!
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I will definitely be a regular visitor of your blog from now on!
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everytime i wash my water bottle I think about you.
for the record.
#notascreepyasitsounds!
Don’t feel bad for missing something so obvious! I also like to think of myself as an intelligent person, but I had digestive issues for over a year while living in two different cities and couldn’t figure out why. I saw doctors, did tests, and consulted a nutritionist. I exercise regularly, eat healthy, and drink water all day long. It took over a year for me to notice that it all started when I started drinking more water. I thought the water was contaminated, but my nutritionist and I thought about it for a few weeks. While she was thinking and researching, I had switched to filtered bottled water-I recycled every bottle-and all the symptoms went away. Again, I thought the water was contaminated. But she discovered the pitcher filter I used might have been harboring bacteria, after all, it was the common factor among my different living situations. And my cousin noticed that it all started when I started using a water bottle regularly. He shared that his mom/my aunt, a lab technician, works with bacteria in a hospital and always warns against unclean water bottles and cups. Though I move around and drink from different water supplies, that water bottle stays with me. What a profound coincidence it would have been if the water supply at every home I’ve had was contaminated with a substance to which only I am intolerant and my Brita pitcher can’t filter. That’s unlikely, and not as logical as the water bottle theory. It took over a year to piece together the puzzle, and it’s so obvious now. Diet and exercise are great for a healthy body, but a dirty water bottle (or pitcher) and sensitive stomach can ruin all of that.
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only one! Seriously, I felt so stupid once I figured it out.
haha!
I surely hope this is the answer to my prayers. I have had GI issues for the past year, so my doctor recommended miralax. It worked for the most part but I didn’t like its side effects. I have been using a 20 oz starbucks sippy cup as a water bottle for quite some time and have maybe washed it twice. I have tried multiple changes to my diet but nothing seemed to work. The other day I thought perhaps it is my tap water so I tried only drinking bottled water - that worked only until I started pouring the tap water in my reusable starbucks cup! I just bottle a camelbak this morning (starbucks cup broke yesterday) so I will be sure to be at the top of my game and wash this baby every night!
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