The Secret To A Clean Water Bladder
I am very picky about how I store my water both on and off trail. I have spent a lot of time and energy weighing the pros and cons of different water bottles and storage containers. Plastic, glass, or stainless steel? Flip top or screw on? Insulated or non-insulated? With thousands of different options on the market the search can be overwhelming.
Personally, I need my on-trail water storage solution to be functional not just for drinking but also cooking and cleaning. I also need something lightweight and easy to clean. That last part is really important to me. I hate the idea of small crevices that never quite dry all the way and then start growing mold, mildew, and who knows what else. This is why I tossed all my water bottles that have that little rubber o-ring around the inside of the cap. It’s impossible to get that seal completely clean and dry!
This need for a complete and easy clean is also why I decided a long time ago that water bladders just weren’t for me. The bladder itself has more nooks and crannies than even the most difficult water bottle, and that is without even considering the hose and bite valve. The fact that many bladder manufacturers sell a cleaning kit containing a special brush and drying rack is enough to turn me away.
Recently however, I became very aware of the fact that I am not always drinking enough water on the trail. Most packs don’t allow me to easily reach my water in the side pockets and, as much as I love my current bottles, I am not very good at drinking from them while walking without spilling all over myself. I was choosing between stopping briefly for a drink or keeping on to maintain my pace and momentum. More than once I found myself feeling dehydrated even though I was carrying plenty of water. In hot weather or adverse conditions this can turn very dangerous very quickly.
When my water bottles are out of sight they are truly out of mind so for me, the answer is having that bite valve right there on my shoulder. Luckily, I have found the secret to keeping my water bladder clean and mildew-free in between hikes.
Step 1 When you return home, the first thing you need to do is clean out your bladder. It is important to do this soon, so don’t dump your gear and leave you water bladder sitting in your pack for days. Put some warm, soapy water in there and shake it up. Take all the pieces apart and clean them individually. The bite valve often sees a lot of dirt and grime so I like to really give it a good scrub.
Step 2 Rinse everything very well unless you like the taste of soap!
Step 3 Let it dry for at least 24 hours in a cool, dry location. Don’t leave your bladder out in the sun or in front of a heater. Depending on what type of bladder you have you may need to find a way to prop open the opening to allow for air flow. Keep an eye on it and move it around occasionally to make sure that water isn’t pooling too much in any one spot. After 24-48 hours everything should be mostly dry. It’s ok if there is some moisture in corners or crevices but it should not be soaking wet.
Step 4 Now it’s time for the most important step. This trick will keep your water bladder fresh and clean until your next trip even if you can’t get every drop of water out of every nook and cranny. Roll up your bladder, coil up the hose, maybe throw a rubber band around them to keep everything together, and stick it in the freezer. Yep, the freezer, tuck it right in next to that pint of Ben and Jerry’s. The freezing temperature will prevent the growth of mold and mildew and when you pull your bladder out for your next trip it should be clean and odor free!
Now that you know it seems so obvious, doesn’t it? Yet most people are still spending days trying to get everything completely dry (which is practically impossible) before putting it into storage. You should know that freezing does not kill any germs that may be on your bladder or bite valve. Viruses and bacteria may go dormant in the freezer but many will survive and become active again when thawed. That is why it’s important to wash everything before storing.
Have you tried this trick? Do you have any other advice for maintaining and storing your water bladder? Any other hydration solutions that work for you? Leave a comment below!
That’s an interesting idea… I have the same problem – I just don’t drink enough because it’s hard to reach or put the bottles back into the backpack while it’s on. And, again same as you, I worry about the cleaning thing. Have you tried this method for a longer time? I wonder if the freezer doesn’t damage the bladder’s material?
– Ioanna
Hi Ioanna, thanks for stopping by! I’m not completely sold on the bladder idea yet but someone else in my household definitely is. We have a Platypus bladder that has been in the freezer for a couple years now and shows no signs of damage. (So far, so good for us!) I would definitely make sure to get everything as dry as possible before freezing though. Good luck finding your hydration solution that works for you.
– Michele
I generally wash my bladder with soap and water. After rinsing out the soap, I rinse again with pure lemon juice. Kills germs and leaves a fresher smell. I also run all this through the hose and bite valve.
Rinsing with dilute vinegar will also help keep bacteria counts down or absent. I also try a blow dryer to get the bladder as dry as possible.
Thanks for the tips Dave! I like to idea of the blow dryer, especially to get the last bits of moisture after drying for a while. It’s important to get it as dry as possible but it takes forever!
I have a question. Would putting purification tablets in the. Camel pack help stop the mold?
If you’re talking about Aquatabs or iodine tablets I don’t think so. These treatments make backcountry water safe to drink but I’m not sure how they would prevent mold or mildew growth while your hydration reservoir is in storage.
I have found that putting a folded paper towel or small wawhcloth inside it will absorb any hidden moisture once it’s airdried for several days. I also rinse the bladder thoroughly before I fill it for my next trip.
Thanks for sharing Marie! Getting it completely dry is definitely the hardest part. I sometimes put something inside to hold the opening open and increase airflow. Using something absorbent like a washcloth would serve two purposes 🙂
I use empty paper towel tubes to keep the bladder open while drying
After washing well with soap and water, I fill the bag with warm water again, and throw in a couple of denture cleaning tablets, filling the tube with the solution as well, then rinsing really well after allowing it to sit for an hour or two. This works well at killing bacteria I think. I then air dry for several days, propping the bag open with a wire whisk from my kitchen. . Before using the next time, I repeat the denture tablet routine. I’ve never had any problems.
Thanks for sharing Beverly! I’ve heard of others also having success with the denture cleaning tablets and I love the whisk idea.
Wow that’s a great tip! I never thought of putting it in the freezer after cleaning. I’ll definitely try it after my trek 🙂
Actually, I avoided the problem somewhat by [1] only having pure drinking water (either boiled or mineral water) in the bladder [2] emptying after a hike and air drying it in indirect sunlight conditions & [3] then store in a cool dry place.
My bladders have lasted for years. Only trashed one as it broke.
I do take apart the bite valve & tubing & clean that separately.
Actually, I find that that creates more problems. I always have to re-assemble the bladder and fill it up with water the night before and leave it on the kitchen sink overnight in case it leaks. (Happens before, once in my bag pack when I forgot to check first!)
I have one of those stands to do beer can chicken . Never used.. perfect to upend the bladder on to dry!!
I have a Geigerrig bladder which you can literally turn inside out to clean & dry. Drinking tube is removable. Best tasting water. Love it!
I put a paper towel or light weight kitchen towel in the bladder, making sure that the end is exposed to air. It helps hold it open and acts like a wick to let the water evaporate completely. I do put it in the sun while it dries. Everything always manages to get completely dry. I put a new towel to store it just incase there was a drop that got missed.
Question:
How do you get rid of the plastic taste from the valve?
I use an old hunting boot trick. A piece of plastic pipe long enough to stick in the bag and still have about 6″ sticking out when I am done rinsing it out. The tube allows for it to dry and not get nasty inside.
Go to the dollar store. Get a cheap balloon inflator air hand pump. Remove the mouth piece. Stick the air pump into the hose and pump air into it to push the excess water through. 20 pumps or so pushes the large drops out to the bag.
This is after the bag has already been washed and drained and shaken as much water off. I then stick a long tong to create space to allow air flow along with a paper napkin to expand the seam nearest to the bladder opening which has a tendency to keep stick.
All dry 24-48 hrs.
Did someone mention using Efferedent Crystals? I don’t know there I read that. Pour the little pouch in with really hot water, sit for three minutes then flush the whole system several times.
After I clean my water bladder and hose plus bite valve I fill it back up with water and put a half capful of bleach in and shake it all up for a few minutes then drain and air dry using old paper towels tube’s in to let it air dry. Have never had anything growing in them and they last a long time. Although I do keep a backup one just in case, especially when they are on sale
If hydrogen peroxide does not adversely affect the plastic, I would use that to disinfect it after washing it.
I take the whole thing apart, soak it in a large bowl with vinegar water. I rinse and hang it on the side of my cupboard and use a paper towel to inflate and absorb any remaining water. iI’s all quite dry the next day. I pack it in a paper bag if I’m not going to use it again soon.
A dilute Clorox (original – not low splash or scented) solution. Allow to soak several minutes. Drain. Rinse *thoroughly*
Put it in a boot dryer