Is it safe to drink from a nalgene that had laundry detergent in it?

Question

The detergent was in there for about three months when the bottle it came in broke and I had to find a replacement. Well, I finally used it all up, and I've washed it about eight times with dish soap and it still smells like Ocean Breeze or some ****. Is it safe to drink from? Are the detergent molecules locked in the plastic or is there some method to get rid of the stink? I'd really rather not throw this nalgene out, it's got such character!

Answer 1

Science TIME!!!

Your beloved nalgene is made of plastic, a material made of carbon and other atoms all bonded together. Nalgene makes a harder plastic than other bottles which allows you to re-use the bottle over and over again. However, this hard plastic is not entirely stable and when it interacts with certain chemicals the plastic will change. The fact that your nalgene smells like detergent means that some of chemicals have bonded themselves to your bottle. You have removed the majority of the chemicals with water and soap (lots and lots of soap) and to get the remaining chemicals out you bottle you will need different chemicals. New chemicals may destroy your bottle completely, though nalgene started as a hard plastic for waste disposing so the chance of destroying the bottle is slim.

If you continue to use this bottle you won't die, but it may make you sick. Actually it probably won't make you sick because of the very low dose of harmful chemicals you are receiving, but there is still a chance. I wouldn't feel comfortable drinking from it, but it's your bottle. Just don't use it all the time and you'll run an even smaller risk of becoming sick.

Summary: May become ill... probably not.

Advise: Don't die.

Answer 2

All Free and Clear is really good since its a mild detergent. All makes a baby care detergent similar to Dreft. I would avoid anything like Tide or Gain for the first few months. Around 3-5 months (with both of my kids) I switched over to Gain after using mild detergents because the clothes just looked cleaner with less stains. You can use am mild detergent as long as you want. I have a friens that didnt stop using Dreft until her son was well over a year. I guess most people didnt realize that you were asking about the BRAND ALL. Not asking if every laundry detergent is safe.

Answer 3

If the smell is still there that means the chemical is still there. It's likely that drinking a little bit of laundry soap probably wouldn't hurt you, but I think it's best to get a new bottle.

And I know what you mean about not wanting to replace it. I got a new lid for mine rather than buying a new one, even though the new lid was expensive in comparison to the cost of a new bottle.

Answer 4

Get liquored up invite some men over for an orgy and give it a go! By the way don't mess with drinking out of bottles with chemicals. Tha shirt can't be good for you.

Answer 5

no its not safe to drink
if it still have the chemical smell
don't throw it out, just reuse it for something else

Answer 6

Throw it out. Don't risk it.

Answer 7

try useing bleech to clean it then it will be safe.

Answer 8

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DRINK OUT OF IT AGAIN ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! JUST USE IT TO STORE PRODUCTS SAFELY!!!!!!!!!!! BUY ANOTHER ONE JUST FOR DRINKING OUT OF!!!!!!!! DAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!