Not that one…. My hydration bladder!
So I bought and have an EVOC hip pack, I used water in it for a while then started putting cordial in it (as nobody wants to drink just water) , well gradually it’s got to the point the pipe especially around the bite valve inside which seems to be unreachable is groce and nothing I can do will clean it and even the clip to clip it to the bag has pretty much seized solid! I was advised to use food grade lube on it which I bought but it hasn’t worked.
I bought an USWE the other week and wondered what’s the best way to treat it to avoid the same fate? Just water in it? Can’t I treat myself to flavour? Or do I have to just meticulously clean it if I do use juice by Miltons after for example?
Will the freezer trick stop the bite valve from going black if after I’ve cleaned, putting in in the freezer?
Yep, give it a quick flush out at the end of a ride and bung it in the freezer until you need it next.
just need to give it 5 minutes when you get it out for the bite valve and the tube to defrost enough to be usable and you are good to go.
Have got bladders that are getting on for 10 years old and still good using this technique but the key is to clean and freeze straight away, leaving it until the next day or worse just results in you preserving the mould in the freezer but it doesn’t kill it.
Using super free electrolyte tablets instead of squash works too.
Quick rinse and job done.
quick rinse out with water and straight into the freezer has kept mine good for years
Rinse and freezer here too.
Been using the same bladder for over a year without washing it. Take it out the freezer during the day. Fill and ride with it in the evening. Drink it all, then back in the freezer that night. Rinse and repeat. Works great. Only use water with it
Does each water fill (and draining into me) count as a wash I wonder?
Brilliant thank you, definitely where I’ve gone wrong as I know there’s been squash left in there on more than one occasion. I just used to think it was ok miltons’ing it the night before then rinsing and using. So it’s my own fault really but won’t make the same mistake twice, great advice about the electrolyte tabs too rather than squash as they actually hydrate you properly so I’ll get some in stock…
I've got two Source bladders that are several years old. Never washed either, apart from a rinse once in a blue moon. Never put them in a freezer. Never used anything other than water.
Thanks Reeksy, that’s just plain water? No tabs or anything? I suppose if I convince myself I get my kicks out of the snacks on a ride rather than the tasty juice that’s ruining my bladder pipe then that works 🤣
Strictly speaking the freezer will only slow down the growth of bacteria, so you can still get ill.
Denture tablets are an effective way to clean everything out without nasty chemical residues (I get the lemon ones).
Yep, I don't add anything to water to any ride less than 3 hours. And we're on rainwater too. If i'm doing something longer i'll take a bottle with a couple of tabs.
As Reeksy. Or air dry. All organisms need water to survive. Remove sufficient water, organisms die.. Keep the bladder open and ventilated whilst in storage, all ports open, no liquid in pipes.
If you are proper worried, fill with a Milton mix and store in the fridge or buy an anti-microbial bladder.
I don't even do that tbh. I literally use it, take it off, leave it in a hot car all day regardless of the temperature (most of the year it's +25c ambient here), by the door when I get home again, fill it up again when i need to.
And you are in that ther Australia, where EVERYTHING is out to kill you innit? If your method works it must surely be good eh?
Give it a good rinse before storing if its had cordial or electrolyte in it to avoid things getting gummed up. usually store the bladder hanging open in a cupboard to allow it to dry out properly. Tesco fred and flo sterilizing tablets are £1 for 56 tabs, I use them sometimes.
From time to time I use Milton on mine. I've never kept mine in the freezer. After I use mine it gets emptied and hanged up on an airer and left. I only use water.
I was advised to use food grade lube on it which I bought but it hasn’t worked.
Who advised you to do this? That sounds minging
And you are in that ther Australia, where EVERYTHING is out to kill you innit? If your method works it must surely be good eh?
Bloody oath!
When your drinking water pours off your roof into a tank and only passes through a filter before coming out of the tap anything else tastes very chemically. The Source bladders don't seem to give the plasticy taste that some do.
Ha, I read it on here. The connection between bladder and pipe got really stiff and someone said to use food grade lube, I bought a small tube of it and it’s like jelly, it seems to have done absolutely nothing.
My main issue is that bite valve inside where you just can’t get in to clean it. For the EVOC i might try a couple of pairs of rubber gloves on me and then try pouring boiling water just between the solid plastic and the squishy bit to try and break the stuff down.
Don’t get me wrong I’ve never got I’ll using it, but it just doesn’t look nice and can’t be good for me sipping drink that’s passing through what’s essentially dirt/mould
Milton? 🤮 horrible bleach-like stuff.
Use just water. Simple and refreshing.
Rinse the bladder after use. Store fully open so that air can circulate throughout the bladder and tubing.
If you have used flavouring or some sugary goop then you’ll need to give the bladder and tubing a scrub. Use washing up liquid, ‘dental appliance’ cleaning tablets, or bicarbonate of soda in the washing water. Use those fancy brushes to clean inside the bladder and tubing. Rinse thoroughly.
Shake dry and store open so that air etc etc.
Freezing sounds like a groovy wheeze, but I wouldn’t put a used and manky cup in the freezer before I used it next. Why would I do that with a bladder?
I’ve found just sticking to water only has worked well for me. With squash even if I rinsed the whole lot out I seemed to get mould.
If I want anything else like a hydration tab I just stick that in a small bottle on the bike.
I found that making sure my bladder dries quickly was the most effective solution, as mine is Hydrapak I just turn it inside out after rinsing and only ever use water.
If I want anything else like a hydration tab I just stick that in a small bottle on the bike.
This. Water only in the bladder, store in the freezer and a bottle with tabs on the bike if need be.
Just water here. I don't empty or dry mine (Camelbak) after a ride. Just store it in the garage (fairly dark, no light for plant growth is my theory), empty it and rinse with boiling water before next use. No bacteria, no funny tastes, not dead yet!
I'm not sure boiling water and a plastic bladder is a good idea from a chemical perspective.
great advice about the electrolyte tabs too rather than squash as they actually hydrate you properly
Check out the ingredients of most/all hydrotabs and they contain artificial sweeteners which often have a laxative effect. And if Torq is to be believed, they don't actually improve hydration bar making the water taste more palatable.
Only water goes in my camelback. Been using the same bladder for over 10 years. Never put it in the freezer. Lives in the cold dark shed. A few times it’s needed a decent wash and rinse out but only with washing up liquid.
Whereas for bottles the go through the dishwasher after every use as they tend to be coated in filth in the outside at least…
Keep the bladder open and ventilated whilst in storage, all ports open, no liquid in pipes.
I do the opposite, but I make sure that there is no air in the bladder. Go out for a ride, hang backpack up in the garage. Before next ride, empty out old water, quick rinse, put new water in. Then hold the bladder so the tube exit is at the highest point and suck all the air out. Most of the things that might grow in there need light and air, and they get neither. Current bladder is 10 years old, no issues.
