Yes, you do need to clean your water bottle. Here's why and how

0:00 0:00 1x

This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here .

NEW YORK — You keep your trusty reusable bottle filled with only clear, delicious water. Do you still need to wash it?

Experts say reusable bottles get grubby no matter what liquid they’re filled with, and it’s important to clean them regularly.

Water bottles pick up germs from our mouths when we take a sip, and from our hands when we touch the straw or lid. They’re covered in tiny, tough-to-reach nooks and crannies that can become breeding grounds for mold, bacteria and other microbes if left unscrubbed.

“It seems like something mundane, but it is extremely important,” said nurse practitioner Michele Knepper, who works at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Unclean wa