How do you clean your hydration bladder ?

[Alphatreedog]

I know that this is probably not the part of the forum for this but fuck it . This is home to me . Any way , theres lots of ways . What's your preferred and why . And do you have a limit on how long it sits dry and clean before cleaning to use again .

 

[ArmyJerry]

Clorine tablets

 

[hlee]

Only ever put clean clear water in it. Empty it and throw it in the freezer. Nothing will grow in it. So long as the tube and valve are not full of water they won't break.

 

[ForgeValley]

I just put increasing amounts of bleach water in it until all the black shit is gone.

 

[Mike Casselton]

They make an actual cleaning kit for them that includes a tube brush and bladder brush.
The freezer with the empty tube is your best bet.

 

[ophious]

Bleach.

 

[Headquarterz]

Vodka, orange juice and peach schnopps does the trick

 

[Slash0311]

I found some tablets that clean very well. Drop them in with hot water and they dissolve. I've been happy using them.

 

[EchoDeltaSierra]

~10% bleach+hot water solution; cleans, kills, and de-stinks.

I also triple rinse afterwards. I do this periodically will all my bottles / bladders / Yeti mugs.

 

[Alphatreedog]

Vodka, orange juice and peach schnopps does the trick

Do you then refill after cleaning with the same solution to make sure that the taste has not been compromised. ?

 

[Rthur]

One of the reasons I bought the version I did.
Fill hole is large enough to use hand/brush to clean.


R

 

[Dougie308]

I know that this is probably not the part of the forum for this but fuck it . This is home to me . Any way , theres lots of ways . What's your preferred and why . And do you have a limit on how long it sits dry and clean before cleaning to use again .

Cap full of chlorine, fill three quarters with water and shake vigorously. Hang upside down to dry.

 

[Strykervet]

I only use water in mine, I have a Source bladder and they have that glass like finish inside, so really try to avoid using a brush. Haven't needed one yet. I just rinse with hot water and dry, may use a bit of bleach if necessary but that's it. If you only use clean water they stay pretty clean.

Other shit goes in a bottle of some sort.

 

[sandwarrior]

White vinegar, then rinse it.

 

[Frankly]

I have a collapsible hanger made for them, it folds so it goes through the throat then expands so everything can dry out nice.

 

[Alphatreedog]

Thanks for all the replies . I have a camel back and a no name that came with a pack . I usually do the baking soda followed by lemon juice and was curious to see what others did . Vast amount of experience and knowledge on this site so why not .
The freezer for storage looks cool .

 

[WATERWALKER]

Dish soap & water. Scrub the bladder as best you can & rinse accordingly. As for the tube, the cable & brush work well. Again, rinse as needed. I only use clean water in mine & have had zero problems. I have used mine daily for years as it is a necessary part of my everyday gear.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Sodium Bicarbonate.

Eliminates all odors and tastes, and leaves the bladder as clean as you'll ever need it to be.

Greg

 

[Frankly]

Boresnake it!

 

[thejeep]

Burling waters

 

[1J04]

Depends on the build up for me. Bleach is my last resort. Baking Soda, Mild Detergent (Dawn because I use it in my Stainless Tumbler), follow up with Lemon Juice/Water. REI and others even recommend using Lemon Juice with Bleach and/or Baking Soda solution. Definitely follow up with Lemon Juice solution at the very end. You can't do it wrong really. Again, it depends on the amount of build up as far as I'm concerned. As stated above, do not overlook 'properly' cleaning out your bite valve and tube.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-clean-a-hydration-bladder.html

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[Bender]

Cranberry juice and stay close to a bathroom.

Wait.

What was the question?

 

[Alphatreedog]

Cranberry juice and stay close to a bathroom.

Wait.

What was the question?

What lube do you use ? ?

 

[powdahound76]

Just pee in it.

Then drink it like that jackwagon on TV.
Saw a meme of him about squeezing “drinking liquid” from elephant poop.
Bear Grylls or something. Total fool

 

[clcustom1911]

I get about a 1 cup of bleach and pour it in the bladder. Then I fill my 100oz bladder almost full. Leave a little room to slosh around.

Proceed with aforementioned sloshing for a little bit.

Once the aforementioned sloshing is complete, let bleach water run out of tube and bite valve. Let sit for a couple hours.

Let bleach water drain from tubing. Refill with clean water, slosh, drain. Refill and you should be good.

If you taste test as this point, you shouldn't taste any bleach. If you do taste some bleach-y taste, you have two choices:

1. Keep drinking and prepare to have a colon cleansing.

2. Rinse out until your taste test doesn't reveal bleach taste.

I recommend choice # 2, but it's your body and sometimes a colon cleansing is cool too. We're all full of shit to a certain extent.

 

[mtwarych]

Three tablets of your favorite denture cleaner.

Throw them in, slosh them around while they are fizzing, let sit overnight and rinse in clean water.

 

[Threadcutter308]

What lube do you use ? ?

 

[hermosabeach]

I only use water in mine- rinse out- dry

if smells funny- fill with water- add 2 tablespoons bleach - let it stand for 30 minutes- rinse 3 times - dry

 

[pmclaine]

Buy the bladders LBT and Tactical Tailor sell.

The tops are completely open.

They seal by folding the top over than a sort of railed sliding clip seals the bag.

To clean you can turn it inside out and wash it in warm soapy water.

Than dry it inside out so no skank water is left in the bladder.

The drink tube is the only confined space but it quick disconnects from the bag so you can pour out standing water to let it dry and prevent skank growth.

 

[Va_Gentleman]

WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. This cannot be right. None of these methods can be right. It is a physical impossibility for any of you to be right.

I clean mine with a 10% Bleach to Hot Water Solution. Before hunting season, I was cleaning the bladders for my daughter and me and my wife says.... "You cannot put bleach in something you are going to drink out of !!!" "My daughter is not going to be drinking something that had bleach in it... " Nag Nag Nag..... etc....

And as you know... she can't be wrong.

 

[SilentStalkr]

I pee in it and rinse with hot water. ????

 

[PDXGS]

Same as funky water filters....eferdent tablets in water, in the bladder overnight.
Rinse.....

 

[pmclaine]

WAIT. WAIT. WAIT. This cannot be right. None of these methods can be right. It is a physical impossibility for any of you to be right.

I clean mine with a 10% Bleach to Hot Water Solution. Before hunting season, I was cleaning the bladders for my daughter and me and my wife says.... "You cannot put bleach in something you are going to drink out of !!!" "My daughter is not going to be drinking something that had bleach in it... " Nag Nag Nag..... etc....

And as you know... she can't be wrong.

Tell her to stop drinking out of the tap than 'cause standard practice when installing new CLDI water line is handfuls of chlorine in the tube with a 24 hour set and passing a bacteria test after flushing.

 

[pmclaine]

I pee in it and rinse with hot water. ????

Wait isnt your pee at least warm making the hot water kind of redundant?

Simplification seems in order.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

I know that this is probably not the part of the forum for this but fuck it . This is home to me . Any way , theres lots of ways . What's your preferred and why . And do you have a limit on how long it sits dry and clean before cleaning to use again .

Lemon or Lime juice in you water all the time keeps many things out. Plus there are added benefit's to the body.

 

[MtnCreek]

Tell her to stop drinking out of the tap than 'cause standard practice when installing new CLDI water line is handfuls of chlorine in the tube with a 24 hour set and passing a bacteria test after flushing.

That's correct, but something else for the chlorine adverse to ponder... There's enough chlorine in city water that just flushing the line will get a clean bacteria test.

 

[MtnCreek]

Vodka keeps the bladder fresh and makes you invincible.

 

[MtnCreek]

Vodka also makes you a good dancer.

 

[Va_Gentleman]

Tell her to stop drinking out of the tap than 'cause standard practice when installing new CLDI water line is handfuls of chlorine in the tube with a 24 hour set and passing a bacteria test after flushing.

Who me? I ain't telling her anything while she drinks "purified water" from a plastic bottle.... I am just trying to get to my gun room and lay down in a fetal position in the darkest corner.....

You marry a young girl... and you make it to 22 years and that's when Aunt Flow's Personality becomes a 4 year ordeal. Bless Her Heart!

 

[SilentStalkr]

Vodka also makes you a good dancer.

Dancer for money!

 

[Kickin45]

Once cleaning is done, I always put several paper towels and an Arm & Hammer tablet in the bladder for storage

 

[Jsmith410]

I have a collapsible hanger made for them, it folds so it goes through the throat then expands so everything can dry out nice.

I have the same thing. So far mine has worked well.