Fridge is your best friend. Cold slows down the germ rave. You can also keep it in a cooler bag if you’re out hiking. But here’s a pro tip: don’t share. Your germs + your friend’s germs = a bacteria orgy. Keep bottles separate. Label them. Use a Sharpie. Be that person.
And please, for the love of hydration, don’t leave a half-empty bottle in your gym bag for a week. I found one once. It had a smell. A smell that had opinions. I burned the bag. (Okay, I didn’t, but I wanted to.)
What About Those Big 5-Gallon Jugs?
You know, the ones on office coolers? The CDC is more lenient there, because the spout is usually clean and you’re not mashing your mouth on it. They say you can use them for two to four weeks after opening, if kept cool. But check the date on the jug. If it’s older than your Netflix subscription, toss it.
Still, I’ve seen office water coolers that look like they’ve been used since 1998. Just… use your nose. If it smells like “office,” it’s time.
