If I drink water out of a cup, how long can I leave the cup sitting out before I should probably wash it? I’m in a dorm so I can’t just lazily stick it in a dishwasher.
Experience and mistily remembered microbiology classes both say that if it’s just water you don’t need to. I wash my water glass if evaporation has left mineral stains on it and that’s it. If you are the kind of person who would think to ask this question you’re fine. Neither water nor glass are conducive to bacterial growth.
If you’ve got a proper water bottle like cyclists or gym bunnies have and it starts to stink (happens more often and faster with plastic, enclosed containers and UV opaque stuff) just leave it in a dilute solution ofg vinegar overnight before washing.
Yeah, I used to go to the gym too. Vinegar kills almost all bacteria purely by virtue of being acidic. Probably salt water or a baking soda solution would both work too. It’s all about making sure those bacteria are dead, and their stinky byproducts are gone. Both baking soda and vinegar will react forcefully with almost anything organic and on average they won’t smell as bad as previously. Don’t mix baking soda and vinegar. Not dangerous, messy.
If I drink water out of a cup, how long can I leave the cup sitting out before I should probably wash it? I’m in a dorm so I can’t just lazily stick it in a dishwasher.
Experience and mistily remembered microbiology classes both say that if it’s just water you don’t need to. I wash my water glass if evaporation has left mineral stains on it and that’s it. If you are the kind of person who would think to ask this question you’re fine. Neither water nor glass are conducive to bacterial growth.
If you’ve got a proper water bottle like cyclists or gym bunnies have and it starts to stink (happens more often and faster with plastic, enclosed containers and UV opaque stuff) just leave it in a dilute solution ofg vinegar overnight before washing.
What’s the theory behind why the vinegar works? I am one of those “gym bunnies”.
Yeah, I used to go to the gym too. Vinegar kills almost all bacteria purely by virtue of being acidic. Probably salt water or a baking soda solution would both work too. It’s all about making sure those bacteria are dead, and their stinky byproducts are gone. Both baking soda and vinegar will react forcefully with almost anything organic and on average they won’t smell as bad as previously. Don’t mix baking soda and vinegar. Not dangerous, messy.