That viral 'self-cleaning' water bottle I got on TikTok was just a gimmick
I bought one of those UV light bottles for $45 after seeing it everywhere. Used it for a week on my desk at work. Day 5 I noticed a funky smell and when I opened it up, there was mold growing in the lid seal. The UV light does nothing if you don't take the whole thing apart to dry it. Has anyone else had one of these fail in a gross way?
The UV light is supposed to be a secondary sanitizer, not your main cleaning routine. You still have to hand wash the bottle and let it dry out completely before sealing it. Leaving moisture trapped in any bottle for five days is going to grow mold regardless of what tech is in the lid.