Now for the main event: you’ll need either a commercial sanitizer (follow the bottle) or a simple bleach solution. I prefer bleach because it makes me feel like a mad scientist. Mix 1 teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water.
Pour that solution into the reservoir (and any removable tubing). Let it sit for five minutes. Five minutes feels like an eternity when you’re waiting for water. I usually count backwards from 300 while staring at the clock.
While it’s working, scrub the interior surfaces with a long-handled brush. If you don’t have one, a clean toilet brush works in a pinch—but please, for the love of all that is sacred, use a dedicated one. Your spouse will not appreciate the cross-contamination story.
Effective Methods to Sanitize Your Water Cooler for Clean and Safe
Step 4: The Rinse That Never Ends
Drain the sanitizer solution completely. Then fill the reservoir with fresh water, run it through the spigots, and drain again. Do this at least three times.
You’ll think it’s enough, but your nose won’t lie. If you smell bleach, you need to rinse again. I once rinsed five times because I was paranoid, and my water tasted like a swimming pool anyway. My coworker called it “communal lap water.”
