Tips on cleaning hydration bladder?

[mqd123]

How do you keep yours clean?

[wckalijkd]

Havent used or clean mine in years. But I remember adding a teaspoon of bleach or lemon juice.

U also gotta air it out. Walmart sells a bladder "expander" for $6-$8.
U stick this inside the bladder and it'll expand it.

Hope this helps.

edit: Found my cleaning kit. Made by Outdoor Products.
Comes with Hose brush, Bladder dryer, and bladder brush. 3pc kit

www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-Hydration-Bladder-Cleaning/dp/B003U3DWOA/ref=sr_1_31?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1341028524&sr=1-31

[mqd123]

Jun 29, 2012 19:48:26 GMT -8 wckalijkd said:

Havent used or clean mine in years. But I remember adding a teaspoon of bleach or lemon juice.

U also gotta air it out. Walmart sells a bladder "expander" for $6-$8.
U stick this inside the bladder and it'll expand it.

Hope this helps.

edit: Found my cleaning kit. Made by Outdoor Products.
Comes with Hose brush, Bladder dryer, and bladder brush. 3pc kit

www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-Hydration-Bladder-Cleaning/dp/B003U3DWOA/ref=sr_1_31?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1341028524&sr=1-31

Thanks!

[mievil]

I've been using mine off and on for anything outdoors for about 6 years now. No funky smell on the inside, no weird taste. I do wash the mouthpiece since it is the only exposed part, but the bladder gets blown out and air dried after every time out. We follow the same procedure with my wife's and it is in the same condition.

[ginrai357]

Hot water and lemon juice rinse will get rid of any bacteria. compress air to get rid of access water and use a couple 2" pvc rings to help with expanding.

[Deleted]

Just seems like a water bottle is way easier to take care of.

[mqd123]

Jul 25, 2012 6:25:09 GMT -8 @s13 said:

Just seems like a water bottle is way easier to take care of.

LOL. That's what i figured out but it came along with rig, had to try it out. I'm sure it'll come in handy in some situation.

[Deleted]

I can see it being useful in a situation where you have to sip very quickly from some awkward position, probably also hard to lose and doesn't slosh around. Otherwise, I prefer chugging out a bottle.

[wckalijkd]

3 Liter bladder is alot of water. I'd also carry my 32oz stainless steel Guyot water bottle. Mates perfectly to my MSR Miniworks EX water filtration unit and I can put my Guyot next to a fire for hot water or purification.

GUYOT.

jerkingthetrigger.com/blog/2010/09/30/review-guyot-designs-stainless-steel-nalgene-bottle/

MSR Miniworks EX.

www.backcountryedge.com/msr-miniworks-ex.aspx

[ginrai357]

I realize the benefit of the bladder when I finished toughmudder a few weeks ago. Going the 25 obstacles and 11 miles hike of changing elevations, you want something out if the way and holds a large amount of water to keep you hydrated. Every situation is different and it's up to you to test out your gear.

[Deleted]

I did Tough Mudder last year and didn't carry anything. It was freezing cold and a ton of people dropped out b/c they were too cold, especially after they got wet.

[Kel-Tec-Innovations]

Some bleach or lemon works. I sometime use soap, just make sure its rinsed out well. For drying I just disconnect the tube and shove it into the bladder to prop it out to let it air out and dry