Health Advisories and Other Guidance

Tips for Boiling Water

Water Use Suggestions

Preparing and cooking food:
- Wash fruits and vegetables with cooled, boiled, or bottled water.
- Boil water for 2 minutes before cooking.
- Use boiled water for drinks like coffee, tea, and lemonade.
- Wash food surfaces with boiled water.
Feeding Babies and Using Formula:
- Use ready-to-use formula if possible.
- Prepare powdered or concentrated formula with bottled or boiled water. Disinfect if boiling isn’t an option.
- Sterilize bottles and nipples before use or use single-serve, ready-to-feed bottles.
Ice Making:
- Discard ice made from tap water.
- Make ice with boiled or bottled water.
Bathing and Showering:
- Be careful not to swallow any water when bathing or showering.
- Use caution when bathing babies and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
Brushing Teeth:
- Avoid swallowing water.
- Consider sponge baths for babies and young children.
Washing Dishes:
- Dishwashers are safe if they reach 150°F or have a sanitizing cycle.
- For hand washing:
- Wash and rinse dishes with hot water.
- Soak in a basin with 1 tsp of unscented bleach per gallon of warm water for 1 minute.
- Air dry completely.
Laundry:
- Laundry can be done as usual.
Pets:
- Provide pets with cooled, boiled water.
Water filters:
- Boil tap water even if it’s filtered, as most filters do not remove bacteria or viruses.

Provider Health Advisory