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Just wondering, I’ve never bothered to in past but got a new Evoc recently with a Hydrapak & would like to keep it fresh as possible.
I swear I have seen info somewhere on folk wacking their packs in fridge or freezer to kill off bacteria.
If so I guess freezer right?
Do I make sure that it has barely any water inside the bladder/hose?
I’m also guessing that a bit of fairy is alright to clean once in a while between use?
<h3>Myth #3: Freezing Kills Bacteria</h3>
Freezing foods renders bacteria inactive but doesn’t actually kill anything. That means if your food went into the freezer contaminated, once thawed it will still harbor the same harmful bacteria. Cooking it to the recommended temperature is the only way to ensure that your food is safe.
http://www.eatingwell.com/article/17876/6-common-myths-about-freezing-foods/
Freezing doesn't kill anything but it gets the water out easier as it freezes the the stuff in there, where as it's much harder to fully dry out the bladder in many situations. To clean it I normally use the baby bottle sanitising tablets and then a full rinse out.
Only use water, then clean with a Milton tablet every now and then. Tend to only use the freezer if I’m going out on a hot day, but that’s nothing to do with killing bugs
＋1 for Milton fluid…
Freezing will kill some bacteria but a lot will still survive like what is shown above. Use a sterilising tablet and keep it clean. Make sure it is dry before storage as well.
Milton
Thanks for the info guys and a tip of using Milton thingies-will look into them...
Freezing it will time lock the bacteria so it won’t grow whilst in the fridge it will grow but very slowly. I rinse mine out after a ride and freeze it and it’s been fine for a good length of time. I’ve heard that putting salt tablets encourages bacteria growth so I only use salt tablets in a bottle
The benefit is just if you've got it sitting around in the warm of the house and hasn't been emptied or fully dried out, bacteria will easily grow but shove it in the freezer and you slow the process down or halt it. Same principal for freezing food.
Even then, check the hose every now and again. That's where the worst of the stuff grows. Get a wire brush for it.
And a full disinfect, yes, Milton.
p.s. Freezer can cause some plastic to become brittle.
one of mine is nearly 3 years old and never been cleaned other than a quick rinse out after use and chucked in the freezer, until recently it was getting used 3 times a week and never did me any harm.
people get a bit to carried away about bacteria, if there's nothing visible its clean enough for me.
people get a bit to carried away about bacteria, if there’s nothing visible its clean enough for me.
Problem is once it starts it's hard to stop.
I drain the remaining water out within a few hours of finishing a ride then chuck it in the freezer. Oh and I only use plain water. Does the job for me.
I've been pretty lax with bladder washing over the years. I generally drink a water/apple juice mix and sometimes forget to wash it out after a ride.
My cleaning regimen is rinse out after use if I remember, hang it up, sometimes wash with fairy, good long soak in baby bottle steriliser solution maybe monthly. The hose gets the brush run through it monthly too. If the valve gets manky I put it in the ultrasonic cleaner.
Despite being manky, it's never made me ill.
I find that having any sort of energy drink in my Camelbak encourages mould, etc so I stick to water in the bladder and energy drink in a separate bottle. Otherwise I use a Milton-type product, the own supermarket own brand versions are just as good and much cheaper, although i think it's only diluted bleach!
people get a bit to carried away about bacteria, if there’s nothing visible its clean enough for me
oh dear lol
I only put water in mine and then after a ride empty the water and hang the bladder upside down overnight. Never been ill after 20 odd years of use. Not the same bladder mind!🙂
I find that so long as I use plain water only in my pack, then freezer if it's not going to be used for a while is fine.
Without exception, every bladder I have ever put hydration tablets or sports powders into has required special cleaning and eventually been ruined.
These days I factor this in as operating costs tbh, and assume that if I absolutely need to put stuff that isn't water in a bladder it's going to need replacing within a year.
As with all things especially health and hygiene, YMMV... 😉
people get a bit to carried away about bacteria, if there’s nothing visible its clean enough for me
oh dear lol
well its never done me any harm
i always put powder or tabs in my bladder as i don't like plain water and the rinse and freeze still works for me.
^^^^^This, always use hydration tablets, throughly rinse out and straight in the freezer.
Current one is nearly four years, think I used Milton in it a couple years ago but not 100% sure
Rinse and freeze works for me.
Wash with srarsan if it's been a while.
Anyone recommend a particular brush kit?
cheap one off ebay does the trick for me
Milton tablets work but the thing that works best is the camelback airing frame.
I leave the dregs of the previous ride's sugary energy drink in the bladder for a few days then just rinse it out and refill. If it gets too filmy inside I might Milton it once a year or so.
I don't get ill 🙂
I tend to clean the tube once I notice black stuff growing in there; my reasoning is it's got to be good for you to have the odd exposure once in a while.
I did once have some growth that actually started burning my mouth on the first sip after a refill. I then just spat out that mouthful and carried on. I got bored after a few months and cleaned it all out. Average about once every 3 years.