A college student from Georgia recently shared a harrowing experience on TikTok of how she ended up in urgent care multiple times because of her reusable water bottle. In a viral video, she recounted her terrifying ordeal after neglecting to clean her reusable water bottle thoroughly.
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Kae’s video, which garnered over 3.2 million views, begins with a caption urging fellow Owala water bottle owners to remove the silicone piece for cleaning. She explains that in August, she fell ill with what seemed like a minor cold. However, the symptoms persisted, leading her to seek medical attention at urgent care. The diagnosis was bronchitis, and she was prescribed an inhaler and antibiotics. After three weeks, Kae finally started feeling better, the Daily Mail reported.
Unfortunately, Kae’s relief was short-lived, as she fell ill again three weeks later, this time with a sinus infection. Once again, she visited urgent care and received another round of antibiotics. It was during this period that Kae made a crucial discovery. She cleaned her water bottle thoroughly while on antibiotics for a sore throat. To her horror, she realized that she had been neglecting to clean a silicone piece inside the bottle, which was covered in mold.
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‘First of all, I know I don’t clean it as much as I should. No one does. I know it’s full of bacteria. Everyone’s like, “remove it.” Covered in mold. Covered in mold. It even embedded itself into the silicone. Of course, I immediately order replacements on Amazon. So, I didn’t know it came out, so I’m horrified, of course. Once I cleaned it, got better. Haven’t been sick since. I had mold poisoning from my water bottle. So this is a PSA to anyone who owns one of these things.’
Kae immediately ordered replacements and cleaned her bottle, and since then, she has not experienced any further illnesses. The video resonated with viewers, who flooded the comments section with shock and shared their own experiences. The video serves as a wake-up call for those who may overlook the importance of proper hygiene practices. By sharing her story, Kae has sparked conversations about the potential health risks associated with neglecting to clean everyday items.
Other TikTok users said they had a similar issue with the water bottle. ‘This is insane to me bc (because) I freak out at the thought of mildew or mold in my bottles… so it gets cleaned or AT LEAST rinsed with hot water & soap,’ one user wrote.
