Quick tips to thoroughly clean a reusable water bottle and straw.

Many of us likely wait for a visual or olfactorial cue—black mold, a funky smell—before the internal alarm sounds and we attempt a good scouring of our reusable water bottles and straws.

Studies have shown, however, that harmful bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, can crop up in between washings — eek!

If you're already cleaning your drinking implements every day—bravo! If not, read on to learn more about why you should and how to do so. Then give yourself a pat on the back for having already made the switch to reusable bottles and strawsTEXT.

In a 2016–2017 study published in The Journal of Exercise Physiology, 30 water bottles and shakers from the patrons of two different gyms in Brazil were swabbed for bacteria. Eighty-three percent were contaminated with bacterial growth due to inadequate hygiene practices. This included harmful strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.

These findings not only indicate that cleaning our reusable water bottles isn't always top of mind, but that daily washing of reusable bottles, coupled with proper hand hygiene, is the best way to combat bacteria spread.

And although they didn't test for reusable straws, we recommend cleaning both daily, as you would anything that touches your lips.

If your water bottle and reusable straw are dishwasher safe, the fastest and easiest way is to pop your bottle in the top rack and your reusable straw in the silverware basket.

Be sure to remove your water bottle's cap, interior straw, bite valve, etc. as these hard to reach places are prime areas for mold and bacteria to hide and grow.

If your water bottle and straw are not dishwasher safe, then depending on the degree of washing they need, you have some options!

1. Don't forget about your reusable straw bag or container! This will also harbor bacteria if you're not cleaning your straw every time before you put it back in. Give it a wipe down or a wash, either by hand or in the washing machine, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Most likely your water bottle will have a rubber gasket to keep it watertight. Bacteria can get easily trapped underneath. Use a fine object such as a toothpick to remove your gasket before doing a vinegar or baking soda soak.
3. Check out our guide on reusable straws—ones made of different materials and the pros and cons of each. This is a good place to start if you're new to reusable straws or are curious about switching to a different type!