In my 20s, I lived with a man who believed towels didn't need washing because you use them when clean. He graduated from Oxford and Cambridge and holds a high-powered job, but common sense was lacking. I teased him mercilessly. Now, I have a confession: I am also a nitwit.
About a year ago, I replaced my clear plastic water bottle with a trendy stainless steel and silicone model. With its gasket, straw, and parts not dishwasher-safe, cleaning was a hassle. I wasn't diligent, thinking it was just water. I added flavored electrolytes a few times, not realizing they feed bacteria.
Last week, I deep-cleaned and stared into the abyss of my bottle—mould stared back. Mould in the straw, bottle, and presumably inside me. I frantically Googled diseases from drinking mouldy water. Good news: I'll live.
My wife, who often told me to wash my bottles, was unsympathetic. She was even less so when I announced I'd warn the world. Through Googling, I found many shocked by dirty water bottles.
"Please don't write about this," my wife said. "People will think you're gross and stupid." She's probably right, but it's too late to spore you the details. At least I'm cultured.
Arwa Mahdawi is a Guardian columnist.
