Bottled Water Question

[WiseOwl]

Here at Wise Owl Manor (lol) we save all of our empty water bottles and empty gallon milk jugs. Is it safe to refill water balls and milk jugs if I clean them with 1 billion degree water (just very hot) and then refill them and put them in my storage? I really dont trust the google monster and I know that a lot of yall are more intelligent.

And if the water that I am saving could not be used for drinking, I know as bathing and cooking it would suffice.

Also, I have heard somewhere that you can use empty 2 Liter Bottles to store Rice and Beans. Is that true and if so, what is the shelf life of that?


Thanks in advance folks

WiseOwl

[protus]

i would pass on the milk jugs. The others you can use. The milk ones are hard to clean, and they break down faster than 2 liters , so they will form cracks and leak. As for food storage. it would be a short term solution.

[Ryn]

The best type of plastic for longer term storage is PETE plastic bottles which are the 2 liter soda bottles. They are thick walled and are made to store liquid for long term thengths. Milk jugs and some water bottles are thin and will leak over time. I collect some of the soda bottles from friends as I am not a huge soda drinker and clean them well with dish soap and a teenie bit of bleach rinse well then set out to dry which takes several days. I store water and other items in them like beans and rice. The later two I add oxygen absorbers.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I save water jugs and soda bottles and use them for holding water for my wife who can't lift alot. I will use them for drinking for 6mths then "if" I keep them they become flush water. I try and rotate them with new ones but have had some for as long as 2yrs. Anything longer they crumble.
Milk jugs should be passed on for holding water IMHO however they are good for starting plants, running short term jug lines, protecting seedlings when cut etc.
The rice and beans I dunno, i hear it alot, but its not recomended by the folks here and i trust their judgement. Bucketing correctly is too easy and safe to mess with bottles IMHO.

[Ryn]

I save water jugs and soda bottles and use them for holding water for my wife who can't lift alot. I will use them for drinking for 6mths then "if" I keep them they become flush water. I try and rotate them with new ones but have had some for as long as 2yrs. Anything longer they crumble.
Milk jugs should be passed on for holding water IMHO however they are good for starting plants, running short term jug lines, protecting seedlings when cut etc.
The rice and beans I dunno, i hear it alot, but its not recomended by the folks here and i trust their judgement. Bucketing correctly is too easy and safe to mess with bottles IMHO.

I store my long term foods in a 5 gallon bucket but when I open a small bag or beans to use in my kitchen I store them in the soda bottles and it works perfectly fine. They are made of PETE and food grade and fairly dense. It keep anything out of them and I don't have to go purchase fancy plastic containers for my everyday use.

[Tina]

for long term storage of drinking water (no mold, floaties, scum, swimmers, whatever) and you don't have barrels - use glass - and water bath it (for the seal)
utensils:
any glass jug, jar, bottle, etc... that has a lid with the little rubber seal inside can be canned if your pot is deep enough
check the lid - if no rubber seal (white compound? whatever it is) chuck it and the glass except for short term stuff (cabinet storage from your long term)
2 large stock pots ( 1 for the jars 2" taller then the glass, one to boil your water)

Fill the pot for the jars half way, put jars in (some water in them keeps them from floating), heat to simmering/steaming

If it has a nice rubber seal in the lid:
sterilize the glass (boil for 10 min, give it a bleach bath, however) keep them hot
put the lids in a pan, cover with water, bring to a boil, turn down heat and barely simmer (tiny bubbles) while you get the water ready (this softens the seal)


how many jars/bottles/whatever you have - put the water in the other stock pot
Boil for 10 min, turn off/remove from the heat - let sit 10-20 min to cool to help prevent breaking of the glass
pour the boiled water in your jars, put the lids on right away

set them in the stock pot that has been half filled with HOT water
add more water if you need to to cover ( I usually have to remove water to prevent slopping)
boil hard 10 min (to create the vaccuum)

remove, place on a towel, let cool, store

If you can keep extra jars hot, (in the oven) your water bath water can be poured into these so you're not wasting water - if the jar is not clear, boil 10 min and filter before using

[MustangGal]

Use your old milk jugs - filled with water - for target practice!