How can I get rid of the odor and germs in a plastic water jug?

Question

My husband received a plastic 2 gallon jug for beverages to sit on his desk about 7years ago. Since then, it has been sitting in his office. He never used it, or even opened it. He just wants to throw it away, but I think that it would be great for the kids this summer. It has a little spout where they can get their own drinks. The guy who gave it to him only used it for water.

I opened it up last night and it really smells. What should I do to get rid of the smell and any germs? If I used bleach, would it absorb into the plastic? It is a made out of the same plastic that they use for 5 gallon water bottles that you buy at a store for a water cooler.

Answer 1

Use vinegar....just regular white distilled vinegar.  It kills the odor and will clean it well.  be sure to wash it with soap and water as well.  You can also use baking soda....it will help with the smell.

Answer 2

I DON'T KNOW! by the way have more kids

Answer 3

I'd recycle it and get a new one. I wouldn't want to take the risk if I had kids. Who knows maybe the guy peed in it.

Answer 4

buy a new one

Answer 5

best bet is lemon water... 2 gallons, i would probably use about 1/2 cup lemonjuice, and the rest water, and let it sit a couple of days...

if that doesn't work, put about 2 tablespoons of bleach with the 2 gallons of water, but remember to rinse it out well afterwards

Answer 6

bleach is fine to use, no it will not absorb into the plastic...

You really only need a small amount of bleach too... you don't have to pour more than a small splash into it, because it's only two gallons.  Bleach is probably the best thing you could use because it kills everything 99.9999 percent of everything.

just make sure you rinse it thuroughly before you use it and it won't be a problem...

splash a little bleach into it, fill it up with water and let it sit for an hour.  Pour some dish soap into it and then rinse it out with a hose.

done.

Answer 7

Soak it over nite with the bleach and water.Then turn it upside down and allow to air dry.The smell will leave when it dries...

Answer 8

Wash it with a liquid dishwahsing soap with an anti bacterial agent, rinse it with warm water, then with cold bleach water (a couple of cupfuls of bleach would do well for a 2 gallon jug).  This will take care of the sanitation, for the smell I would go with lemon water over night.