Great Instructions to Take with a Pinch of Salt Hunt

dursley.donkey

powerRIP wrote: »

As a "scientist" I suggest you carry out a scientific investigation (if you know how to) before spouting out about something you clearly know nothing.

Scientist M.A. :rotfl:

I know it's not scientific (I'm a mathematician) but can you explain why no one ever gets ill from re-using water bottles for weeks without even rinsing them. Could it be because the tap water contains chlorine which kills the bugs? If my anecdotal evidence is not satifactory for you scientists, could you please refer me to some published experimetal evidence to tell me how likely I am to get ill from not sterilising my water bottle?

apsie

Kazza1 wrote: »

Our water tastes absolutely disgusting (as if someone has tipped TCP into it) so we use a filter jug to improve the taste of the water. If we went buy the indicator on top of the jug, we'd be changing the filter every couple of weeks. As it is, they last about 3 months before the antiseptic taste seems to get through. It is kept in the fridge the whole time.

Sorry but this is actually quite dangerous - if you use them beyond the recommended time you are risking bacteria building up in the filter, regardless of whether you keep it in the fridge. I'm a water chemist, and the TCP smell is chlorine - best way to deal with this is to run tap water for drinking into an open topped jug and keep in the fridge - the chlorine smell will be gone in about 30 seconds. The filter is mainly removing hardness salts such as calcium which fur up your kettle, but is actually better for you if it is in the water you drink.

thisisace

PixiePie wrote: »

But using a water bottle and just refilling it without washing it in very hot soapy water between each time is just like eating from an unwashed dinner plate or using the same saucepan each night without washing it, so just using common sense says it will be full of nasties and bugs if you don't wash it between uses

Yeah, but that doesn't make a good scary news story ... :rotfl:

TottyB

jap200 wrote: »

I'm sorry, but as a scientist, I have to tell you that is absolute nonsense. Think about it. The water in the bottle originally could be in there for months or even years before you drink it - and that is supposed to be safe. If you refill it from the tap, it is likely to be in there for hours or days - far less time for chemicals to leach out. This is a myth propagated by the bottled water industry!

What did we and our parents do before 'disposable' bottle of water? We filled up reusable containers!

Anyone concerned about bacterial build up should invest in a bottle of Milton sterilising fluid (the stuff for sterilising baby's bottles). Just follow the direction on the back to dilute a very small amout and submerge the bottles for a short time. I do this about once a fortnight with the fruit shoot bottles that I refill with tap water every day for my children. So far my bottle of Milton has lasted over 2 years and none of my children has become ill. To be honest it is only the sports cap bit that is likely to become contaminated anyway.

I have to disagree with this comment, I trained as a toxicologist and I know that there is potential for chemicals such as plasticers to leach from plastic bottles into the water, particularly if they they are accidentally placed near hot/v. warm places. However I do agree that the sterlising fluid can be beneficial as a cleansing method.

rootie_2

not really an instruction but is it just me being slow or what. i've just worked out that bread is much better to buy thin sliced - you get more pieces and noone really caes in my house and its better for you as you only tend to have 2 slices anyway thick or thin

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angry

I bought some (cheap) trainers, and was instructed that I should buy some new laces to go with them, because the ones that come with them aren't really strong enough! (I'm sure there's a whole other thread in that.)

I didn't buy extra laces.

The trainers have fallen apart before the laces have.

kim_ley

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

Cant remember the exact brand of water, think it may be Evian? Anyway, on the back of the bottle it says that the bottle is only designed to hold evian water and shouldnt be refilled:rotfl:

I remember when i saw this :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I think its because it can make the bottle explode

jeannie_1

Mariss wrote: »

Just a safety note about refilling your plastic water bottles:



source: http://health.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=254094

I buy small water bottles to mix up my strawberry juice for travelling, but choose a bottle with a pull top which just squeezes the jiuce into your mouth. I buy a new one every six months - had no problems.

My wife, however, only dribks water when we're travelling and she left her bottle, with some water in it, in the front of the motorvan (only for an afternoon) and the sun turned the bottle above the water level green. Algy we suspected, so she purchased a new bottle.

Normally at the end of the journey, the bottles get put in the fridge after washing out.

humblebumble_2

Large bottles of sterilising fluid can be bought from Poundland and so can boxes of those dental floss holding stick thingys!! (oh and plastic drinking bottles and 4 bottles of water!):T

jeannie_1

Wash tablets - I only put 1/2 a tablet in per wash and it does a good job. With the liquigel I put half the amount it states into the ball and have tried both putting it into the plastic ball and in with the washing and have also tried putting it into the soap powder compartment and both work well.

You have to watch it though when you pour it into the plastic ball, it's made to look as if you haven't put any in, when you probably have put quite enough in.

Toothpaste - I can't stand the taste of it, never have - so I use the tiniest bit I can get away with on my brush, and I always rinse out afterwards too to get rid of the tase - although I have read from the dentist leaflets that you should not rinse your mouth after brushing your teech. Ugh!! the very thought.