How To Keep Your Hydration System
Clean
There is no need for your hydration bladder to become a microbiological
testing ground. With a few simple care guidelines and some basic household
supplies, it's easy to maintain a clean, fresh hydration system.
Cleaning
To clean a bladder made of food-grade polyurethane or vinyl you should:
- Fill the bladder and hose with warm water and no more than a teaspoon of
chlorine bleach.
- Soak overnight
- Rinse very well with warm water
To remove odors and flavors, try this easy method:
- Mix 1/2 cup baking soda with 1.5 cups water
- Pour this mixture into the bladder and shake well
- Holding the bag away from your face, add 1/2 cup of lemon juice and
shake. CAUTION: this will cause gas to build up in the bladder so be sure to
let it vent it well
- After the effervescence has settled (about ten minutes), expel as much
air as possible, cap the bladder and let it sit for about 20 minutes
- Rinse completely several times with hot water
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Storage
First and foremost, never, ever store a hydration bladder wet. Equally as
bad is storing a partially full bladder in a pack until the next time you plan
to head out.
If, after a particularly long storage period without proper
cleaning you discover your bladder is hosting mold and bacteria, the following
recipe may be enough to refresh it:
- Using one teaspoon of chlorine bleach for every liter of warm water,
soak the bladder for up to 12 hours
- Rinse the bladder very thoroughly and dry it completely before
storing
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