Mould in your drink bottle?

Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp environments, and it can pose serious health risks, particularly for kids. Ingesting or inhaling mould fragments or spores can lead to just in the short term can lead to allergic reactions, such as sneezing, red eyes, and skin rash. In some cases, it may even cause asthma attacks.

Some studies have also demonstrated the presence of general symptoms that include fatigue and headache and symptoms from the central nervous system so we don’t want our kids inhaling mould.

There are more than 100,000 types of mold and many are totally harmless, however the one that might appear in your water bottle is toxic. It is known as Black Mold colloquially however its proper name is Stachybotrys chartarum. 

Why does mould grow in kids’ drink bottles?

- Lack of regular and thorough cleaning.

- Using bottles for drinks other than water, such as juice or milk, which can leave traces that encourage mould growth.

- Storing bottles in dark, damp places or leaving them wet.

-Irregular cleaning of straws.

This freaks me out to think of and I’ve always cleaned mine, so if this isn’t something you are on top of here are my tips to prevent mould growth in your kiddo’s drink bottles:

1. **Regular Cleaning**: Clean their drink bottle daily, rinse under water use a bottle brush to scrub inside the bottle, paying special attention to the straw and all reusable parts.

2. **Deep Cleaning**: Once a week, do a deep clean. You can soak the bottle just enough hot water to cover it, a TSP of on guard cleaner concentrate + a few drops of Tea-tree for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, scrub thoroughly, rinse with warm water and again let it air dry.

3. **Dry Thoroughly**: Just in general always allow the drink bottle to dry completely before reassembling and storing it. Mould thrives in damp environments, so it’s essential to keep the drink bottle as dry as possible.

4. **Replace plastic parts regularly **: Drink bottles, especially ones with plastic straws or spouts, should be replaced regularly as they can become breeding grounds for mould over time.

If you have not checked your drink bottles regularly this is your reminder!

P.s: We made the move to stainless steel drink bottles for the kids years back, I am a big fan of the Klean Kanteen brand!

You can check them out out here and if you want a cheeky discount, use code: sara20