‘‘I feel SICK’’: Woman finds black mold in her home’s Primo water cooler

Photo by@caseymadison4/TikTok Gecko Studio/Adobe Stock Africa Studio/Adobe Stock

After finding black mold in her Primo water cooler, a TikToker posted a PSA to remind customers to clean their water machines properly.

Casey Madison (@casey_madison) has garnered more than 3,000 likes on her popular video. In the caption, she informed her audience that this is currently being used for educational reasons. She also advised, "Please ensure your device is clean."

What lurks inside

In her 2-minute clip, Madison begins by recording her Primo Bottom Loading Water Dispenser and adding a voiceover of herself talking. As she lifts the top piece off the cooler and films the inside water pump, she then picks up a small white tube that had previously been pulled out. “This is where I originally found the gross stuff, floating in that little tank,” she says.

Subsequently, she takes off the cover from the water pump and elaborates that prior to this, she had thoroughly cleaned the interior. "There was an entire hose network inside that was infested with black mold, on a one-for-one basis," she mentioned, alluding to the white tube she had documented earlier.

Madison proceeds to discuss another hose that remains in good condition and is utilized for dispensing chilled water. Following the disconnection of the hose from the base of the water pump, she inspects the interior. The examination reveals that the transparent walls of the hose exhibit a faint brown tint.

“Not too bad compared to what you’re about to see,” she says.

‘Please clean your water machines’

She then includes another video in slow motion showing the other end of the hose discovering an increase in bacteria growth within it.

“Still not as bad as what you’re about to see,” she adds, “so disgusting, I get nauseous every time I watch this.” Madison shows the original hose that she said she found mold in by adding another slow-motion video focusing on the inside of the tube. The tube had multiple black spots growing on both sides, as well as clumped up brown dirt near the bottom.

“Please, please clean your water machines,” she insists, “I failed to do so.”

As she shifts to the rear of the cooler, she mentions that the most unpleasant discovery was what she uncovered at the bottom. She detaches another hose and uses her camera to reveal the interior covered in additional black mold patches.

“Just wait,” she says.

Adding in another slow-motion video, Madison squeezes the clear hose as liquid black mold oozes out and into her hand. “That is disgusting,” she says.

“Like I said, this is for educational purposes only, please clean your water machine,” she adds before ending her video. “I can not believe I was drinking this … I take full responsibility for not cleaning mine.”

In the caption of her video she told viewers, “UPDATE: I feel SICK.”

“Imagine soda machines that NEVER get taken apart,” a user mentioned in the comment section of Madison’s video.

“There is no way we are supposed to know this..” another said, “it has to be an alternative, I wouldn’t remember how to put all that back together.”

“But what about my fridge water dispenser…… how do I clean that!!!!” one added.

How do I clean my Primo Water cooler?

Primo Water mentions on their site that all the necessary items for sanitizing a water dispenser to stop mold from developing can be "simply located at home or at a nearby shop."

“You’ll need: two tablespoons of regular bleach or two cups of distilled white vinegar, one empty 5-gallon bottle, one 2-gallon bucket, and a Phillips head screwdriver,” they explain. In just 15 steps, Primo says “you can have peace of mind that you’re drinking safe, clean, and high-quality water in every glass.”

Primo suggests that you should give your water dispenser a 30-minute clean every quarter, and also advises to "spoil your dispenser!"

If you do happen to find mold in your dispenser, multiple other creators on TikTok recommend and agree that “the best solution is BLEACH water. A little goes a long way.”

The water cooler in question retails for about $180 at Sam’s Club.