Gross video shows black mould growing inside Frank Green water bottles

A gross video has gone viral for showing how the popular bottles can cause serious health issues when not washed properly. 

If you don't have a child who has BEGGED you for a Frank Green water bottle to take to school, are you even a parent? Even a gym or elevator selfie isn't worth taking without one of their giant and colourful two-litre bottles... if you're a wannabe influencer. 

Yes, Frank Green water bottles are all the rage at the moment and no one is really sure why because the keep cup range and insulated bottles have been around for quite a while.

But the craze lives on and while they are aesthetically pleasing to look at, some people have issued a warning about ensuring they wash the bottles thoroughly. 

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Frank Green water bottles are all the rage at the moment. Image: Frank Green

Gross videos show what is potentially growing inside your Frank Green bottle

TikToker @lilli.madsen recently caused a stir when she posted a gross video on her discovery inside her bottle.  

"It may have been weeks/months since I’ve given it a good clean," she wrote. 

In the footage, she uses a cotton tip to wipe the inside of the straw and what remains on the swab made many following online gag. 

The video has been viewed over 325K views on TikTok and while some claimed they would "never buy" the bottle because of the potential mould build-up, others shared how their experience cleaning out their own bottles at home looked disgustingly similar. 

"Mine was sooo bad," one follower commented. 

"This happened to me the other day 🤮," added another.

And another shared that this video was actually tame compared to what she managed to clean out. 

"I had to use 4 ear buds because they were coming out covered in black stuff every time I put it inside the straw 😭😭."

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The cotton tip test on the Frank Green straw is just gross. TikTok / @lilli.madsen

This is what happens when you don't wash your bottles regularly

Another TikToker @slimshaydy__, shared a similar video - this time showing how mould can easily grow inside the bottle and around the grooves of the lid if not cleaned regularly. 

“Don’t be a refilled and straw washer like me & WASH your bottles REGULARLY!!!," she warned. 

The video then goes on to show a speckled layer sitting at the bottom of her pale pink bottle and black mould beginning to grow around the straw insert of the lid. 

The post was also flooded with comments - over 1400 to be exact. But this time it wasn't all about hating the brand, but rather a warning to ensure that everyone cleans their bottles regularly. 

"Girlies please wash your water bottle, even if it’s just water, things you eat and bacteria go in the water bottle," one person urged. 

Another couldn't believe that others weren't already doing this. 

“Am I the only one that cleans mine once a week with a bottle burst and straw cleaning brush?" someone asked. 

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Check inside your Frank Green bottle for any nasties. Image: TikTok / @slimshaydy__

How to clean your insulated water bottle to prevent mould

If you've ever purchased an insulated bottle - Frank Green or any other brand - you'll know there is a straw cleaning brush that comes along with them. Please use them! 

When Kidspot reached out to Frank Green for advice, they emphasised how important it was to wash the bottles regularly - as well as all the attachments. 

"As with any food or drinking products, we advise our customers regularly clean their frank green products," a rep for the brand said. 

"For an easy clean, customers can pop the lid on the top shelf of the dishwasher. For a more thorough clean, we recommend soaking the lid overnight in warm water with a dash of bi-carb soda and vinegar and then using a straw cleaning brush to clean inside the premium, food-grade stainless steel straw." 

Meanwhile, other fans had some great tips that work well for them.

"Gonna sound weird but trust me! Add a denture clear tablet to it with warm water. Let soak then rinse. Comes up sparkling. I do it to all my bottles," one person posted. 

And they weren't the only ones pushing the product. Another agreed: "Get denture tablets drop that in the bottle fit it with hot water and the pop the straw in. Put the lid in a bowl with one."

If you're unsure, give it a run through the dishwasher (check labels first) or soak in good ol' Milton solution. 

This article was first published in March 2023 and updated in November 2023. 

Originally published as Gross video shows black mould growing inside Frank Green water bottles