clean_hydration_pack - 1

Let's face up it: hydration pack reservoirs–AKA bladders–tin can get pretty nasty after a while. If you've started noticing dark spots on your hydration pack reservoir or forth the tubing, I detest to intermission information technology to you merely you have (or had) a mold problem. Stop drinking from that funky bladder and follow these tips to get your reservoir back into pristine status!

Prevention

Before I go to tips for cleaning a hydration bladder, it'due south important to empathize how bladders actually get infected. Peradventure the most common cause of mold in a hydration reservoir is balance saccharide from sports drinks. Mold loves to chow down on sugars, and any liquid y'all put into your reservoir seeps into every nook, cranny, hose, connector, and valve. If yous stick to just water in your pack, your bladder is far less probable to get funky in the first identify. Drink tablets from companies similar Gu, Nuun, and fifty-fifty Camelbak are mostly carbohydrate-gratuitous, so employ these if you want something other than water on the trail.

Mold also thrives in warm conditions, and then riders aren't doing themselves any favors by leaving packs in hot cars for days on end. Just recall: afterwards the ride, bring it within! In my experience, estrus also brings out more of the plastic-y gustatory modality from the reservoir, which is not pleasant and probably non adept for the body either. Some riders, including our own Greg Heil, have had success storing hydration bladders in the freezer when not in utilise in society to eliminate bacteria growth.

clean_hydration_pack - 2

Finally, mold and leaner generally need h2o to thrive, so washing with soap AND drying a hydration bladder after each use is important. Washing isn't too difficult, simply few of us have the patience to dry every piddling part of a hydration organisation. In that location are, however, a few methods you can use to make the process slightly less maddening:

  • Camelbak makes an official reservoir dryer, which is designed for hanging a make clean bladder out to dry. Riders also report using modified coat hangers to accomplish the same thing.
  • Some bladders, like the ones from Hydrapak, take a huge opening on ane cease, which makes it possible to basically turn the bladder inside out to dry. Once inside out, use a paper towel to wipe any residual moisture, or hang upward to air dry.
  • Take information technology apart! Remove the hose and seize with teeth valve if possible and dry each part individually. With the bladder disassembled, you can apply this method from UtahMountainBiking.com that involves threading a derailleur cable and newspaper towel through the hose.
  • A few years ago a company was selling an electrical fan that could exist attached to a Camelbak reservoir for drying purposes. I really tested one and found it to be really loud and basically ineffective, despite hours of apply.

Get the Funk Out

clean_hydration_pack - 3

And then, you've failed at the prevention bit, and your hydration reservoir is all funked up. Here are some tips for reservoir mold abatement:

  • Invest in a brush kit. Again, Camelbak sells a kit tailor-made for the job, which includes a small, snaking brush for the hose and a larger, angled brush for cleaning the reservoir itself. Use the brushes to dislodge mold and gunk, keeping in mind that you might take to scrub pretty difficult.
  • Drop in some Camelbak Cleaning Tabs. The tabs contain Chlorine Dioxide, and some riders have reported that bleach and blistering soda piece of work just as well. The Camelbak tablets are said to work in just 5 minutes, making for a potentially quick and piece of cake solution.
  • Don'tattempt to sterilize your hydration float with boiling water or in a microwave. This might exist tempting, simply there'due south the possibility that parts of the bladder could melt, or toxic chemicals might exist released from the bladder fabric.

Nonetheless seeing mold spots? Camelbak's website seems to suggest it's not a trouble:

If there are still spots left behind, these are permanent mold stains that may not be removable. However, your reservoir is however safe and usable afterward you've cleaned it.

Personally, I'm non a fan of having my water flow over mold stains on its way to my lips, fifty-fifty if they are but stains and not bodily mold. Fortunately, if but one portion of the reservoir organization–say, the hose or seize with teeth valve–is stained, in that location are often replacement parts bachelor. It'southward also possible to buy a new bladder without having to purchase a new pack and you lot can even put, say, a Nalgene reservoir in a Camelbak pack.

Moldy hydration systems have plagued mount bikers ever since the offset bladder rolled onto the trail, so don't feel bad if yours goes foul. Just follow these tips for cleaning and maintaining your system, and you'll enjoy years of use out of your reservoir!

Your turn: What tips do you have for cleaning or maintaining your hydration pack reservoir?