One of my Jazzercise friends approached me during class this morning wondering if her plastic Nalgene waterbottle was BPA-free and therefore safe to drink from. Nalgene makes a line of BPA-free water bottles, so as long as her water bottle came from that product line, I would consider it safe to use regularly. (More BPA-free products here and here.)
“I do put it in the dishwasher,” she confessed next.
Here’s the problem: the dishwasher can overheat plastic, causing microscopic flaws in the material. These flaws allow the plastics to microscopically disintegrate and leach chemicals into the foods or liquids placed in them. Nalgene (the company) recommends using these methods to clean water bottles:
- Soak in warm soapy water
- Soak in warm water with lemon
- Soak in warm water with baking soda
In our house, we now hand-wash anything we use that is made of plastic — including travel coffee mugs, food storage containers, and water bottles. We’ve got a pile of non-BPA-free water bottles waiting for the next garage sale and have transitioned the kids completely to glassware and ceramic dishes.
While we do not have a plastic-free house by any means — yet –, we are trying to eliminate BPAs little by little in our journey toward living naturally and robust health.
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I have the microwave sterilizer, and using it keeps me from having to do a load more than once a day. I also use the Medela sterilizer bags for my pumping supplies.
But if the dishwasher heats the bottles too much, wouldn’t the microwave as well? Is there really a difference?
Thanks!
Thanks for your answer. This is something that I too struggle with, especially with the fact that we cannot recycle most BPA containing plastics here, too. I’m always trying to find out what others feel about the subject. I’ve been throwing a lot of BPA plastics away because ours are mostly baby bottles from when I was a pumping mom. Even though I know others may not be concerned about it, I can’t stand the thought of selling something that may potentially hurt the baby it is being used for. Other containers is where I struggle with what to do.
Abi,
I feel for you, washing all those bottles for twins! I wish I had a good idea for you. It looks like Dr. Brown’s offers a bottle sterilizer that works in the microwave (http://www.handi-craft.com/products/accessories.htm), and a brush and drying rack for hand washing.
When I used bottles for my babies I was unaware of the BPA problem and so did not look into it. If you find any solutions, please let me know so we can pass along the info!
Good question, D. It’s one I struggle with, certainly, and I have conflicting feelings here.
First, I hate to actually throw something away into a landfill when it still may have use for someone; hence we have garage sales every summer.
Secondly, while I may try to eat organically, live naturally, etc., I recognize that it is not my place to impose my personal practices on others, however ardently I may believe in them.
Many people, including the FDA, are not concerned about BPAs. You may choose to read my writings and agree with what I have to say, but that is a choice you make, not one I impose upon you. I think there are many people who might find our old water bottles useful for a variety of purposes, and hence extend their lives out of the landfill.
I wish there were a good way to recycle non-recyclable plastics. Maybe I should look for a craft project that uses old water bottles instead. Any ideas?
I find it odd that you are eliminating BPA for your family’s health, but have no issue selling the same things your consider too dangerous for your family for others to use with their families. Why not just get rid of the BPA containers altogether?
What about baby bottles? I use bpa-free Dr. Brown’s bottles (well, I admit, most of the bottles are bpa free — some are hand-me-downs) and with twins, washing all those bottles by hand is a lot of work! Plus, there’s the whole needing to sterilize the bottles thing. Your thoughts?