Cue up Dua Lipa's "Dance the Night" because Barbie is nearly upon us. After months

Reusable water bottles tick many boxes. Not only do they help you stay hydrated and help save money, but they also help cut down on single-use plastic. They've almost become a fashion accessory, with chic stainless steel flasks and viral bottles going viral across TikTok. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Trying to hit the NHS-recommended eight glasses of water a day for adults is an excellent idea, of course, but did you know there’s one way your refillable bottle could potentially be detrimental to your health? According to a study from waterfilterguru.com, reusable water bottles contain an average of 20.8m colony-forming units (CFUs) of bacteria, which equates to 40,000 times more than the microbes on a toilet seat. So what might be the consequences if you continuously sip and refill without washing your bottle properly between uses? We asked health experts to talk through the risks… Bottling up bacteria “A common misconception when it comes to reusable water bottle hygiene is that as you’re typically filling it with pure water and it’s only coming into contact with your own mouth, there’s little need to clean it often,” says Dr Donald Grant, senior clinician at The Independent Pharmacy. However, every time you drink from the bottle, you’re transferring bacteria from your mouth, which can then multiply in the container. “Anything that is reusable can be prone to accumulating dirt, dust or debris and, as a result, bacteria,” says private GP Dr Suhail Hussain. “This is exacerbated by the fact water bottles are the ideal environment for harbouring bacteria due to being moist.” Hard-to-reach crevices – for example, inside a screw top or under a flip-up straw – could also develop mould, and then there’s contamination from other sources. “When you store it in a gym bag, for instance, it can pick up bacteria from the interior of the bag or anything else stored in it, while you can also transfer bacteria from your hands to your bottle,” says Grant. “If your bottle has a valve cap, you may need to lift or twist it with your fingers, and this can transfer bacteria you may have picked up from touching other objects or surfaces.” What types of microbes are found in water bottles? “These might be simple commensals such as streptococcus and staphylococcus, which normally live in symbiosis with their host (i.e. us) but can become problematic if they accumulate or the individual is under the weather,” Hussain says. “Bacteria such as E. coli – a common cause of urine and bowel infections – can often colonise the water bottle following repeated handling, such as taking the cap on and off.” These bacteria can potentially cause a variety of issues. “You may become sick and develop gastric illness, such as diarrhoea or vomiting,” Hussain continues. “Gram negative rods – another common bacterium found in unwashed bottles – can lead to urogenital tract infections and pneumonia.” Grant warns: “If there’s a build-up of mould inside the bottle, this can cause allergy symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, or red and itchy eyes. Symptoms might be more severe for someone with asthma.” How often should you wash your reusable water bottle? “To minimise your risk of getting sick, you should ideally clean your water bottle after each use,” Grant says. “As a minimum, you should aim to wash it thoroughly at least a few times a week.” Hot water and washing up liquid are all you need to banish bacteria on a daily. “Fill the bottle with hot soapy mixture and swill around, or leave to soak in a detergent mixture,” Hussain advises. “Remember to pay special attention to lids/caps and screw top regions – use a clean brush [to scrub them].” If you’ve neglected your bottle for a few days and it needs a deeper clean, Grant suggests: “Soak your bottle overnight in a solution of half vinegar and half water. Rinse the bottle and let it dry fully before using it again.” Storage is also important to help minimise nasty microbes. “Where possible, you should keep your water bottle out of germ-rich environments such as your gym locker or sports bag,” Grant says. “You should also avoid filling your bottle with anything other than water, such as protein shakes, energy drinks, or sugar-rich liquids, as sugar can stimulate the growth of bacteria.” Hussain adds: “Don’t leave a water bottle in the sun for long periods or sitting in the cup holder in the car – the mixture of warmth and moisture is likely to make bacterial overgrowth worse.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Lawmakers in South Carolina will reconvene Wednesday morning after debating for more than 12 hours on a bill that would ban most abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy.

Millie Bobby Brown has admitted she often cries over Instagram beauty pictures because she fears she will never look as perfect as the people she sees online

Nicole Kidman has once again spoken out about her viral Vanity Fair cover that sparked controversy in February 2022. The 56-year-old actor wore a micro-mini skirt and matching bra top by Miu Miu in the magazine cover shoot. She completed her look with calf-high socks and pointed leather loafers. At the time, Kidman’s magazine cover became the center of debates around ageism and beauty standards. Some fans of the actor criticised Vanity Fair for allegedly using too much photoshop on her photo. In a new interview with Australia’s Stellar magazine, Kidman opened up about the viral cover and why she chose to wear the controversial outfit. “I make the most random, crazy choices,” the Northman star said. “I call them ‘teenage choices’ because I just don’t ever think of consequences. “Part of my brain just doesn’t think like that. I just go, ‘Oh, I’m going to wear that; it reminds me of my school uniform.’ Or, ‘Oh my God, yeah, I’d love to do that,’ She added: “I try to [stay] in that place because I think otherwise you get scared or worried.” Reflecting on the online criticism, Kidman said she avoids looking at it. “Don’t tell me, I don’t really want to know – it will stop me doing what I want to do,” she said. “There are times when you hear things and you go, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s really hurtful’. “Because you can’t be under a rock,” she said. “But at the same time, I really try to stay free in the choices because otherwise, before you know it, you’re just closed off and you can’t step anywhere.” “I want for myself just to keep going, ‘Oh, well, I’m trying something or I wanted to do it. It was fun. That was my choice. And yeah, I own it. I’m accountable. Whatever. I take responsibility. Nobody else chose it,’” the Boy Erased actor acknowledged. This isn’t the first time Kidman has spoken about the magazine cover. In a 2022 interview with Australian director Baz Luhrmann, who worked with Kidman on the 2001 film Moulin Rouge, the Kidman revealed that her stylist on the shoot, Katie Grand, had prepared a different outfit for the cover. “I showed up and they had another outfit for me and I was like, ‘No, no, I like this one! Am I allowed to wear that?’,” she said. “And Katie Grand, who’s just fantastic, was on Zoom, and Katie was like, ‘You’re willing to wear that?!’ And I said, ‘Wear it?! I’m begging you to wear it!’” Luhrmann, who sat down with Kidman over the phone for Australian Vogue, said that wearing the outfit on the magazine cover was a “personal achievement” of Kidman’s. Read More Kylie Jenner and Jordyn Woods reunite four years after Tristan Thompson cheating scandal Fans swoon over Stanley Tucci cooking dinner for Robert Downey Jr at ‘Casa Tucci’ Alan Titchmarsh warns against ‘ill-considered’ rewilding trend in domestic gardens Pharrell Williams makes his Louis Vuitton debut in star-studded Paris show Oscars 2023: Why was Morgan Freeman wearing a single glove? Kim Kardashian reveals why she didn’t speak out on Balenciaga backlash

Walt Disney Co. releases its newest Pixar animated film on Friday, but the heart warming tale of fire

Windows 11 might be the latest version of Microsoft's operating system, but that doesn't mean

The Tesla Model Y is the first electric vehicle to rank as the world’s best-selling

Lawmakers and prominent social media personalities have in recent days rallied against a proposed New York City rule that some say would crack down on the city's beloved pizzerias.

An unprecedented infusion of aid money the U.S. government provided to schools during the pandemic has begun to dwindle

It's a staple on most people's dinner tables, though there has always been some contention over whether Heinz ketchup belongs in the fridge or the cupboard. Some people prefer the fresh coolness of ketchup from the fridge, while others favour ketchup that is room temperature and closer to the hot food they are consuming. Well, now the food processing company has weighed in to confirm where exactly you should be storing your sauce. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter But before Heinz had its say, it asked for people's opinions via a Twitter poll and out of the 6,772 people who voted (this number is accurate at the time of writing), there are mixed responses. Results showed 57.5 per cent of people who voted think the sauce should be stored in the fridge compared to 42.5 per cent who believe the cupboard is the correct way to keep your ketchup. In another tweet, HeinzUK gave their ultimate choice, it wrote: "FYI: Ketchup. goes. in. the. fridge!!!" according to the ketchup makers. If you check the label on the ketchup bottles, it does say that the sauce should be stored in the fridge once opened and needs to be consumed within eight weeks after this. Back in 2017, the Heinz US Twitter account further explained: "Because of its natural acidity, Heinz® Ketchup is shelf-stable, but refrigerate after opening to maintain product quality." This official stance from the company has only sparked further debate on the matter. One person said: "Cupboard as I hate cold ketchup on warm food. Do fridge dwellers eat cold ketchup? Or bring it out hours before a meal?" "So why is it on the shelves in supermarkets & shops then?" another person asked. Someone else added: "People keep it out of the fridge? *gasp*" "Who tf out here keeping opened ketchup out of the fridge," a fourth person commented. Well, there you have it - though it looks like some people are loyal to team cupboard despite Heinz having its say. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Thailand will allow Russian citizens to visit for longer periods in a bid to boost tourism during peak