Cleaning a hydration bladder

[jdemott]

After many years of using nalgene bottles for drinking water, I'm trying out a hydration bladder (an Osprey). After using it the first time, I found that it is pretty difficult to get it completely dry after rinsing it out, which seems like an invitation to growth of bacteria, etc. I see that Osprey sells a hydration cleaning system with two tools and a custom drying rack, plus special cleaning tablets for soaking the bladder. Compared to the ease of washing nalgene bottles in the dishwasher, that whole cleaning system looks like a big pain (plus another expense).

How do you clean and dry your hydration bladder? The manufacturer's system? A DIY alternative? Rinse and hope? What...you're supposed to clean them??

Have any of you tried hydration bladders and later abandoned them as being too fussy?

[n.bumppo]

Have any of you tried hydration bladders and later abandoned them as being too fussy?

Yes. The cleaning hassle beat out the convenience of sipping while I walked. I like electrolytes in my water and getting them cleaned out of the bladder became too hard.

[potato]

When I used hydration bladders I liked to blindly assume that the materials were microbe-inhibiting and so it didn't need to be cleaned. Worked OK for me

I did abandon the bladder for some simple 1-liter plastic drinking water bottles. Nothing compares to the ease of refilling by just dunking your bottle in a stream! I occasionally miss the convenience of a bladder, but I probably drank too much water (like a nervous habit) when I always had that tube hanging by my face. I also like the bottles because they are lighter than bladders and because I store them in the side pockets of my pack... even if they leak, it won't get any of my important things wet.

[kelkev]

I have a Deuter Streamer 3 liter bladder, made in Israel for Deuter by "Source". I've never had any problems with mold or mildew, I always wipe the inside of my bladder dry with paper towels before storing it. The tube is treated with something to inhibit mold/mildew, and it seems to work. I typically use the bladder on 10+ mile day hikes, but for shorter hikes I just use my Nalgene bottle(s) and sometimes throw in my Minworks EX MSR filter pump.

[xrp]

I use CamelBak's cleaning kit with hot soapy water.

I've found that in between uses if I leave it in the refrigerator there is virtually no bacteria build up.

[Crusak]

I bought the cleaning kit for my Platypus 2L bladders but I've never used it. I think the Platypus products have some sort of antimicrobial treatment in the plastic, at least the stuff that the hose is made out of.

But I only drink water from the bladders. I've given it a good rinsing with super hot water after each time I use it, and then before I refill it again for the next trip out I wash it with hot water and little soap. I force the hot soapy water down the tube and out the bite valve.

I give the bite valve a good washing before every trip. So far no issues, except that on my last hike (after 70+ hikes) the bite valve started doing the slow drip... time to replace it, I think.

If I was putting anything but water in it I'd probably use the cleaning kit...

[forester]

This post has been deleted.

[Crusak]

Good stuff! Perfect way to clean a hydration bladder - lemon juice & baking soda.

[jessbee]

Oh shoot, are you supposed to clean those things?

I probably haven't washed it more than a handful of times in the 3+ years I've owned it. And I take it out almost every weekend. I empty it out after every trip and air dry it.

I also never put anything but water in there.

[Koda]

I also never put anything but water in there.

this is the key...

I boil some water then pour it right in then close the lid, shake it like crazy, then pinch the bite valve and let it drain. Rinse with cold and stuff a Nalgene dryer (expands the inside) and let it air dry... takes several days.

Its a PITA compared to cheap water bottles. Someone makes a tube and bite valve that screws onto a hard nalgene bottle... my friend has one but I think it was exclusive or no longer made.