RISING WOMEN EXPERTS...

What should I be looking for when buying a stainless steel water bottle?
    By Barb Doran of Infinite Soulutions

This is a great question! To help you make an informed decision we have included the most frequently asked questions we get from our clients about what to look for.

How do I know if the bottle is stainless steel or aluminum? It can be tricky even for a trained eye to distinguish light weight stainless steel from aluminum. The first thing to do is to ensure the bottle is in fact stainless steel. Read the product information or ask the retailer. The second thing to check for is the grade of the stainless steel. 18/8 or 304 is the quality of stainless steel that is most commonly used in the hospitals for surgical implements and in the hospitality industry for safety and durability.

Is the bottle coated internally or externally? Many people buy stainless steel to ensure they are getting a bottle that will not leach chemicals of any kind and do not want a bottle that has been coated, particularly inside the bottle. Some aluminum bottles are coated internally. You may find product information on the bottle or alternatively ask your retailer.

How do I know what kind of paint was used on painted bottles? The primary health concern with painted bottles is the use of lead paint. Ensure the painted bottle you are buying has been painted with lead-free paint. Some overseas manufactures still use both lead and lead-free paint. It is the responsibility of the company ordering the bottles to ensure lead-free paint is used. If you are unable to determine or verify the type of paint used or if you do not feel comfortable with the information you receive you can always chose not to purchase it.

Painted bottles can look quite attractive and are very appealing to some people. The general comments we hear about painted bottles is “the paint easily scratches, chips and peels” turning your once very attractive bottle into... well, a not so attractive bottle. This often occurs when less quality products and procedures are used in painting the bottle.

If the whole issue of painted bottles is of concern, it may simply be easier to buy unpainted stainless steel. There are some nice bottles with a satin polished finish that are quite attractive in their own right.

We hope this information helps make buying stainless steel water bottles less confusing.

For more on choosing the right water bottle, contact Barb at 403.971.1019, email at info@infinite-soulutions.com  or visit www.infinite-soulutions.com