How do you clean and freshen a hydration bladder and hose? And what's a good way to keep it fresh and clean throughout a thru hike? Thanks!
_Lego_Water bladder - Appalachian Trail
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#1
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#2
Well, fresh and clean is a bit much to ask for. In town it's easy. Sink, hot water, paper towels are available. Out on the trail is a different matter. I use Efferdent anti bacterial tabs. Cheap, light and easy to find at any drug store. They are for cleaning your false teeth. Put filtered water 3/4 full in bladder add one Efferdent tab, slosh it around until it turns blue then drain out the drinking hose, rinse with filtered water and keep hiking. A cup of vinegar also works but where to heck are you going to find that out in the woods? For other methods check out Youtube.
_Francis_
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#3
If you think your water is starting to taste bad perhaps from contaminants in the bladder or hose, when in a trail town buy a small amount of liquid bleach. Fill the bladder up and place a teaspoon of liquid bleach into the bladder. Let it set for an hour and then run it through the hose. That is the recommended way to clean a water bladder or platypus.
_Ned_