A woman said she was accused of 'drinking mold' after admitting she rarely ever washes her reusable water bottle — while others found it highly relatable

• A TikToker said she washes her reusable bottle sporadically because it's only ever filled with water.
• Many were concerned about possible mold intake, while others found her admission highly relatable.
• After going viral, she acknowledged her critics and appeared unfazed by their concerns.

Earlier this month, the TikToker @jaceylmfao, who also goes by Jacey, ignited a hygiene debate after sharing on TikTok that she seldomly washes her reusable water bottle.

In the clip posted on Oct. 9 with 2.7 million views, Jacey sipped from a Stanley cup dupe and stuck out her tongue.

Text inserted into the video read: "Girl math is never washing your water bottle because if i only put water in it how is it dirty?" Her caption underscored the point: "Only once in a blue moon." 

As the clip went viral, many viewers condemned Jacey's cleaning cadence. "I can't, I have a fear of mold," one wrote, while another cited "bacterial build up." Another viewer concluded: "This isn't girl math, this is disgusting."

However, several commenters rushed to her defense. "I thought everyone did this till i looked at the comments," one wrote." Another countered: "I'm just so lazy (it gets washed once every 2 weeks it's better than a lot of people don't judge me)."

In a follow-up video two days later, Jacey — who did not respond to Insider's request for comment — addressed critics who she said had accused her of drinking mold. "It's ok [because] y'all giving me views and don't know me," she wrote.

In the comments, she clarified that she washes her water bottle "once a week or two."

This isn't the first time that water bottle cleanliness has ignited viral discourse on TikTok.

In May, another TikToker said she found black mold in her reusable straw and suspected it was causing her chronic stomach issues. 

David Denning, a professor of infectious disease, told Insider at the time that mold gives off mycotoxins, which are toxic to humans. While daily use could account for symptoms like fatigue and coughing, he said, the amount in the straw would likely be too small to cause gastrointestinal issues.

A food safety consultant told Insider it is important to clean reusable water bottles daily using hot, soapy water — or preferably a dishwasher.