Let’s face it – if you use a water bottle on a regular basis, you’re probably not cleaning it nearly as often as you should be.
While it’s undoubtedly a good habit to keep a reusable bottle, studies have found these containers can harbor all sorts of potentially harmful bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli.
But for whatever reason, many of us still remain lax about the upkeep.
A San Francisco startup is hoping to offer a convenient (albeit pricey) solution with what it says is the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle.
The $95 LARQ bottle uses patented UV-C LED microchips built into the cap to purify your water and sterilize the inside of the container no matter where you are; according to the company, the technology kills off up to 99.9999% of bacteria.
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LARQ uses patented UV-C technology to quickly eradicate bacteria and viruses. It offers two modes of cleaning: Normal Mode and Adventure Mode. The latter gives a more thorough cleanse; this clean cycle will 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses
Once you get past the price tag (yes, personal UV sterilizers don’t come cheap), the LARQ bottle is a straightforward piece of low-key tech that fits right into your daily routine.
The bottle itself is sleek and durable, and it really does keep liquid cold for hours on end.
It doesn’t leak or ‘sweat,’ so you can toss it in a bag without worrying about ruining your other belongings.
But most importantly, it zaps bacteria and viruses that typically thrive in moist environments.
After three weeks of daily use without any additional cleaning beyond its own built-in capabilities, the bottle never once developed a muggy smell.
And, almost a month in, the battery has yet to die since its initial charge.
LARQ uses patented UV-C technology to quickly eradicate bacteria and viruses. It offers two modes of cleaning: Normal Mode and Adventure Mode.
The latter gives a more thorough cleanse; according to the firm, this clean cycle will kill 99.9999% of bacteria and 99.99% of viruses.
The 280 nanometer UV light emitted by the cap taps into the same photochemical reactions used by hospitals to sterilize the surfaces in patients’ rooms.
‘When UV light is absorbed, it breaks the DNA’s chemical bonds and kills the bacteria or virus,’ the company explains.
It purifies without a filter, mercury, or ozone, making it the ‘world’s only mercury-free portable water sanitation system,’ according to LARQ.
The 280 nanometer UV light emitted by the cap (illustrated above) taps into the same photochemical reactions used by hospitals to sterilize the surfaces in patients’ rooms
In practice, engaging the self-cleaning system is about as simple as it gets: tap once for Normal Mode, and twice for Adventure Mode.
The bottle will also run a short clean cycle on its own every two hours. When this happens, you’ll see its blue ring ‘breathing’ for about 10 seconds.
LARQ had its technology tested independently at Harrens Lab in California to see how effective the technology really is.
A report on the analysis shows it was able to kill off E. coli almost entirely – at 1 minute, it killed 99.9775% of E. coli, 99.9998% at 2 minutes, and 99.9999% of E. coli at 3 minutes.
As LARQ’s purification system is designed only to work with water, you’ll still have to give it a regular soap and water wash if you put another liquid, such as juice or coffee, in the bottle.
Otherwise, if you’re only using water (which should be clear to the eye to begin with, with no heavy sediment, the company notes), there’s no need for additional cleaning, and the battery lasts upwards of one to two months.
With the health benefits considered, not to mention the convenience of not having to clean it, the LARQ bottle definitely lives up to its price tag.
The bottle itself is sleek and durable, and it really does keep liquid cold for hours on end. It doesn’t leak or ‘sweat,’ so you can toss it in a bag without worrying about ruining your other belongings
