The Proper Way To Clean
Your Standard Water Cooler

A guide to cleaning your standard water cooler – your company’s most valued appliance.

Perhaps you already know that at PureAquaTek, we believe the modern office should not rely on the dated and dangerous 5-gallon and standard office water cooler.

But that is beside the point. If you are going to sport one of these ancient appliances, we want you to be safe. It’s somewhat ironic, but yes, a water dispenser needs to be cleaned to be safe and operate at peak efficiency. Microscopic remains of contaminants, toxins, as well as bacteria, lurk in your filters, tanks, and tubing if you don’t perform a routine and rigorous cleaning procedure. Before we discuss the process recommended by IBWA (International Bottled Water Association), we should answer some common questions:

How Does The Water Cooler Get Dirty?
Bacteria are microscopic organisms that live everywhere. They can be found in just about every environment and ecosystem on earth, making them nearly impossible to escape. Even before you unpack your new water dispenser, it may already have attracted these pesky yet necessary microorganisms. As the 2014 abstract explains from the Iranian Journal of Public Health, “Drinking water quality can be deteriorated by microbial and toxic chemicals during transport, storage and handling before using by the consumer .”

The surface, tubes, exterior, interior, and reservoirs all have bacteria. When you unwrap your water dispenser, put it on your countertop or kitchen, and plug it in, it begins accumulating bacteria lurking in your home or office. Just by handling your water dispenser, you are leaving bacteria behind.

Is Cleaning Your Water Cooler Really Necessary?
A study by scientists at Northwestern University in Boston tested the bacterial count in water coolers. Their testing revealed almost 4x the number of bacterial organisms limited by the federal government. Again, bacteria thrive in humid, moist conditions. Even after your water dispenser with the hot water tap shuts off overnight, it cools down. Inside, moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to develop and grow.

Meet the four common bacteria and viruses found in water.

Coliform: naturally occurring viruses, their presence indicates the possibility of other harmful bacteria
E. Coli / Fecal Coliform: their presence in water indicates the presence of other harmful bacteria that can cause short term health effects (cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, etc). Individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk
Enteroviruses: small intestinal viruses living inside people and animals which can lead to 62 non-polio viruses, including meningitis and gastroenteritis
Legionella: causes a type of pneumonia called Legionnaires disease

Too much of the wrong kind of bacteria can be harmful to humans.

Convinced you should clean your water cooler? Great, here is how IBWA would like you to do that.

Supplies Needed:

Clean rubber gloves
Paper towels
Lint-free towel
Plastic scrub brush (a long handle will make cleaning easier)
Teaspoon measuring spoon
Calibrated container (2-gallon pail)
Unscented household liquid bleach
Clean 5-gallon container filled with bottled water

Cleaning Instructions:

UNPLUG the power cord.
Remove the bottle from the cooler. If there is still water in the bottle, make sure that you cap or cover the bottle for re-use.
From the COLD FAUCET, drain all water from the cooler into a bucket and discard water.
Remove the cooler top. If the cooler is equipped with a no-spill device, it may need to be removed first. Look in the reservoir to see if there is a removable baffle (see reference image). If so, remove the baffle.
If there is remaining water in the cold water chamber, drain it out. If the reservoir has an ice ring in it, add hot water to melt the ring and completely drain the reservoir. DO NOT spill water outside of the reservoir into the interior of the cooler.
Prepare the cleaning solution in the calibrated container; add one teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach to each 5 gallons of water.
Wearing clean rubber gloves, immerse the lint-free towel and/or scrub brush in the cleaning solution. Squeeze all excess cleaning solution from the towel and aggressively clean all surfaces of the reservoir interior. DO NOT pour the cleaning solution directly into the reservoir.
To rinse the reservoir, carefully fill the reservoir with bottled water from the one-gallon container until it reaches 1/2 inch from the top of the reservoir. Next, drain the “rinse” water from the reservoir through the COLD faucet.
Use the same cleaning solution brush and/or cloth to clean the baffle, the cooler top, removable drip tray, and faucets. If your cooler is equipped with a no-spill device, it should be cleaned with the same cleaning solution. Use the clean 1-gallon container filled with bottled water to thoroughly rinse these parts.
Wearing clean rubber gloves, re-install all parts: baffle, cooler top, faucets if removed, and no-spill device (if equipped).
Place a bottle back on the cooler and drain two cups of water from each faucet or until there is no evidence of chlorine taste and/or odor. Dry any excess water that has spilled on the cooler and/or floor.
Plug the cooler back into the electrical outlet. Allow at least forty-five (45) minutes for the water to reach the appropriate temperature.

If you have followed these steps, you now have a clean cooler, and you have taken an active role in preserving the quality of the equipment you use to dispense your bottled water.

But if you want to skip this every six-week and 45-minute process, consider our bottleless solutions.

Is Your Water Cooler Making You Sick?

The Proper Way To Clean Your Standard Water Cooler

The Proper Way To Clean
Your Standard Water Cooler