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Camelback / Bladder best practice

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I have a water bladder system for a rucksack. Used it a couple of times then left it in a drawer.

What is the best way to look after these things in terms of hygiene?

What I'm worried about is stagnant water in the pipe or the bag. I've washed it through with hot water but is that all that should be done or do they need sterilising? If so, what's the best product and/or method?

How do I put it away completely dry in the future?

In other words, if anyone uses one can you tell me how you maintain and use it on a daily/weekly basis so I can avoid getting ill by drinking from it.

Thanks.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
johnnyh, You can use a sterilising solution - (sterilising tablets dissolved in water). Follow the instructions which usually call for the items to be submerged for at least 30 mins. You can also buy cleaning accessories which consist of narrow flexible brushes which you can insert into the hoses, and a spreader which you put into the bladder to help it open up to dry after cleaning.


Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Mon 11-03-13 18:37; edited 2 times in total
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
johnnyh wrote:
if anyone uses one can you tell me how you maintain and use it on a daily/weekly basis so I can avoid getting ill by drinking from it.


The problem comes from filling it with water. If you instead fill it with a fairly strong mixture of water and ethanol, it is naturally self-sterilising.
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Just use Miltons fluid, made for cleaning babies bottles so perfect for bladders. Cheap too.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Remove the bite-valve and wash separately.

Wash the lot thoroughly in Milton.

Then hang up to dry with the filler cap open and the end of a rolled up piece of kitchen towel pushed into the lowest point so it acts like a syphon. This also holds the two sides apart so the water can drain.

OR

Store in freezer between uses.

OR

Just buy a Nalgene bottle instead. Wink
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I hang mine up with a wooden spoon inserted into it so the spoon is turned 90 degrees so it's holding the bladder sides open and as apart as possible. I'll also mop up any water with some kitchen roll. Once it's completely dry, it's fine to store wherever, but leave the cap off so it can breathe.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
what a faff!
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Serriadh wrote:
johnnyh wrote:
if anyone uses one can you tell me how you maintain and use it on a daily/weekly basis so I can avoid getting ill by drinking from it.


The problem comes from filling it with water. If you instead fill it with a fairly strong mixture of water and ethanol, it is naturally self-sterilising.


Does that taste better than just tap water though?
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Rinse out with a Milton solution and store in the freezer. Simples.
snowHead
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self edit.


Last edited by Ski the Net with snowHeads on Sun 10-03-13 23:21; edited 1 time in total
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Freeze it in between use, don't use anything but water.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
kitenski wrote:
Freeze it in between use, don't use anything but water.


This.

I have a Camelbak for mountain biking and all I do is blow the water out of the tube back into the bladder, rinse with water after use and freeze it. It does have some nifty little plastic bits to dry it out which get used occasionaly.
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+1 on the freezer route. We don't have any of the drying / cleaning gadgets, we just put the camelbaks in the freezer
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
I used one years ago for skiing, promptly fell over on it within 5 minutes, and an hour later my son pointed out that I had a frozen waterfall down my back. Hence never needed to clean it... sorry
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Watch out for a potentially fatal fungus which nearly killed a piper Skullie http://www.scotsman.com/news/health/bagpipe-warning-over-threat-of-fatal-fungus-1-2828835
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
I can't remember the last time I gave mine a good clean....it's a wonder I'm still alive!

But I do always make sure it is devoid of as much water as I can before chucking it in the cupboard. We have some Miltons left over from our toddler's baby bottle days, maybe I should give it a clean.
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I never clean mine either, if it hasn't been used for awhile just give it a quick suck and don't forget to spit.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Other than a bit of a post-ski hol wash out with washing up liquid, a good rinse and a thorough dry, I never resort to "proper" cleaning either.
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Chasseur, I'd have thought your bladder gets a good regular clean out. Toofy Grin
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Thanks - it all seems overly complicated compared to a bottle of water. Will try and clean mine and use the freezer route as that seems less painful than bottle sterilisation.
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