Cleaning a Camelbak

fergo

Hi

Camelbak bladder needs a clean, ive seen the cleaning 'camelbak' tablets on CRC, wondered if anyone has any tips on how they clean there bladders (sounds weird that!)

Cheers

angry_bird

Milton baby sterilising stuff will do the job. Dare say it'll be cheaper too.

specialeyes

Yup, Milton for me too!

schmako

Mine lives in the freezer, avoids any ming forming!

Paul 8v

Mine always gets frozen after a ride but Milton is good for cleaning it out, especially if you've had something other than water to get rid of the taste.

cooldad

Nothing goes in mine except water, then in the freezer.

Nick Dastardly

Mine's been sitting for nearly two years, although I did clean and dry it out after its last use. Does anyone dare me to give it a rinse and use it again or should I just bin it?

chiefinspector

+1 for the Milton. Works well for me.

Tim.s

Rinse out with hot water remembering to flush loads of water through the tube then dry inside and out with a tea towel.

Try to avoid using it for sugary drinks like squash and never put milk in it

keppy

Simplest i've found is to rinse out immediately after use with water, then put straight into the freezer. Every half a dozen uses i also wash it up like anything else, then rinse out the Fairy bubbles with cold water before sticking into the freezer. Hate the taste of Milton...

TheEnglishman

Milton then sodium bicarb takes any taste away

papertech202

Another vote for milton.

mikeyj28

Yep another vote for Milton

Majski

I'm crap at this, I use mine in the alps then it hangs in the garage for a year, I find it mouldy a year later, thow it away and buy a new one. Done this about 5 times now

Gazlar

I have a source one so its easy to scrub out and dry, but I read somewhere cheap denture cleaning tablets work a treat on them, never tried it so can anyone confirm and or deny this rumour?

Chunkers1980

Tick.

plugp7

Gazlar wrote:

I have a source one so its easy to scrub out and dry, but I read somewhere cheap denture cleaning tablets work a treat on them, never tried it so can anyone confirm and or deny this rumour?

I've used denture tabs for years. Use every two or three rides, rinse out well then straight into freezer. Could use un-perfumed household bleach then rinse out and freeze.

If you use flavoured drinks the taste never goes away completely. Not a problem for me. If you want water only, then get a second bladder.

BigBazz

I haven't used mine for a few years, was going to buy a new one. The bladder itself isnt too bad because its easy to clean, its the tubes that get nasty and are hard to clean, and I'm thinking it might be a bit too far gone ^^.

Never thought about putting it in the freezer though, definitely an idea I will be taking on for the future.

cooldad

Gazlar wrote:

I have a source one so its easy to scrub out and dry, but I read somewhere cheap denture cleaning tablets work a treat on them, never tried it so can anyone confirm and or deny this rumour?

I have teeth but you could borrow some off Sheeps mum next time you go spend a fiver in Rhyl.

Mojo_666

Milton tablets, simples.

YeehaaMcgee

I use the milton fluid, and soak the mouthpiece in neat milton if it's been left for a while.
I have 3 camelbaks, so generally, two of them are always in a hell of a state.

fat_homer

I use own brand baby bottle steriliser, much cheaper then Milton.

YeehaaMcgee

Really? A big bottle of Milton must have cost about a fiver, but it's lasted me 4 years or so, since it's hardly ever used anyway.

victoriac

I just chuck mine in the freezer but am considering getting a tube brush so i can give it a proper clean once in a while - good intentions and all...
http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/xtre ... aid:143231

YeehaaMcgee

It's worth pointing out, I suppose, that most modern camelbaks have a surprisingly effective antibacterial bladder.

bamba

Rinse out after use with hot soapy water,rinse with hot water,hang some where to dry positioned so it stays open,i clip some pegs inside, when completely dry stuff a bit of kitchen roll inside to absorb any moisture.
Every now an then soak in a water with a bit of bleach.
No potions to buy,dont have to make space for it in the freezer,no after taste,never had any issues with mould.

YeehaaMcgee

But your bleach does exactly the same job as Milton, albeit slightly more dangerous.

fergo

Thanks for the advice, Camelbak cleaned with Milton and kept in the freezer!

boris113

I couldn't find any Milton last week, but used some denture tablets...think they may be called sterident? Left them sitting in it for about 15mins and it totally removed the green stuff from the bladder and hose (not been used for 2 years). It's worth buying a set of cleaning brushes to scrub inside the hose -I got mine on offer from Halfrauds.