If you’re storing water for a zombie apocalypse or a hurricane party, don’t use the flimsy water bottles from the grocery store. Those are designed for a picnic, not a decade-long hibernation.
Grab some heavy-duty PET or HDPE plastic bottles (check the recycling number on the bottom). They’re like the Tupperware of the water world—sturdier and less leaky. You can keep that water for two years if stored in a cool, dark place.
Even then, rotate that stash like a DJ rotates tracks. Write a date on the bottle with a marker—2026 is fine, but 2029 is getting creepy.
The “I Found This in My Car” Test
That bottle that’s been baking on your dashboard in July? Pour it out. Heat is the plastic’s arch-nemesis. It speeds up chemical leaching and turns your water into a sad little chemistry experiment.
Also, check if the bottle looks deformed or feels greasy. If it does, it’s not water anymore—it’s a melted science project. Just say no.
Pro tip: A car in summer can hit 150°F inside. That’s sauna temperature. You wouldn’t drink sauna leftovers, would you? Don’t answer that.
