There's black mould in my Camelbak tube. It's been there for many years and it hasn't affected my stomach at all. In fact, now I'm pretty sure it's dead as I have used Milton and just now caustic soda to try and shift it. The ensemble is now pretty clean and taste-free, I can even drink plain water from it with pleasure, but the black marks are still there.
I thought that if it were bacterial slime it would come off with washing and/or something alkaline, but if it's actual mould what is it made of and can it be destroyed?
I have three options:
Strong alkali
Bleach
Acid
What's the best approach?
Or Milton.
Feed a wee bit of wire down tube, attach cotton wool ball, pull back though, voila.
Feed a wee...
I totally went in a different direction until I read the rest of that post.
Soak in bleach? get some pub line cleaning product and flush that through? They have some pretty strong detergents for cleaning pipes and lines that can't be disassembled and have to be squeaky clean.
I've got the tube brush, I've done it - doesn't come off. It might be ingrained in the plastic. I've chucked every random household chemical in already, looking to apply chemistry to the problem.
I had this for years and thought it was minging, but no ill effects.
Vinegar gets repeated on here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CleaningTips/comments/eayhfq/camelbak_water_sprout_has_black_mold_growing_in/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
P.S.
It's all physics 🙂
#mouldgrips
TBH, if you've hit it with Milton and and physically scrubbed it with a brush, plus not died yet from using it, just carry on, or replace the tube if it's offending your OCD. You can probably get a camelbak-like tube for a fiver on ebay.
Actually I haven't tried acid, come to think of it. So I might - and there's an endorsement on that post.
I wish people wouldn't just say 'baking soda and vinegar' for everything ever. Just makes sodium acetate. Baking soda OR vinegar I could understand, but using the right one for the right job requires a bit of knowledge.
I'm pretty sure it's dead, and I'm about to use it again - just curious to see if I can get rid of its 'body'.
On my bite valve the black slime grew inside the silicone. Literally impossible to shift
if neither strong chemicals or manual cleaning removes it you will either have to replace it or put up with it
I do wonder if all the chemicals you have been pouring down it have damaged the plastic inner surface allowing the stuff to stick
Vinegar.
Some of the cider ones hit 12% acetic acid content.
Shoe lace with a not in the end has always worked for me.
If it doesn't come off with manual cleaning it won't come off when you drink either so no need to worry.
I wouldn’t try full on acid, it’ll destroy the plastic. Base is a better choice for plastic.
BUT, I’d just leave it. More chance of poisoning yourself mucking about with chemicals in something you drink from than any ill effects from the dead mould.
EDIT: of course, this does depend on the type of plastic and the specific acid. They’re not all the same.
Camelbak tubes are probably made from Tritan, you can use this sheet to see how well it resists acids etc.
I do wonder if all the chemicals you have been pouring down it have damaged the plastic inner surface allowing the stuff to stick
I didn't stick chemicals in it before there was mould in it, did I? Why would I have done that? 🙂
Obv a new tube is the solution, but I thought I'd try some chemisty. I have citric acid in the cupboard, that feels stronger than vinegar when you get it on your fingers and in your mouth.
Plus it'd be nice to know for the future. Hydrogen Peroxide is another possibility.
Fill the Camelbak full of vodka?
I could never get rid of it either, but apart from the cucumber taste, never had an issue. Tend to use water bottles now though
I trialled water bottles but it was a PITA so I went back to Camelbak for MTBing. I don't know what's inside my water bottles, they are opaque 🙂
Cut open any water pipe in your house and its full of that black mould.
The issue is not health, its purely aesthetic.
buy a new tube
I don’t know what’s inside my water bottles, they are opaque
Wrap the tube in electrical tape and problem solved. All nice and out of sight, out of mind.
Apols if you know this already but as far as prevention goes, don't ever put anything other than pure water in your Camelbak. I trashed loads by putting sports drinks or SIS type tablets in them. IME once you use anything with a trace of sugar in it, it's doomed to a mouldy demise. Even if you rinse it. Even if you sterilise it. Even if you keep it in the freezer. Since I've just used water in mine I've had no issues with mould for years, even if I leave it half full for weeks after a ride/hike.
