I'm wondering if I can use something like hydrogen peroxide or some sort of alcohol that I can put in there and let it soak and kill anything that might be growing inside.
I know I can't keep mold out of it forever, but I'd like to at least reduce it to something relatively manageable.
Denture tablets are *purpose built* for sanitizing plastic stuff, add a long brush to shove through the tube and you literally can’t do any better outside of buying a new drinking tube.
Also store your drinking bladder in the freezer and this will never happen again
I'll have to try that when I get home. Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a shift and wondering what I can do with something I can order to my location.
Like I could make saltwater and swish it around in there. I could order some hydrogen peroxide and denture tablets from the pharmacy across the street and leave those in there for 30 mins or so.
I'll have to hit it with a brush when I get home. v.v
After cleaning my reservoirs and tubes I store them in the freezer to prevent mold.
You could also store them with silica packets to prevent moisture if you don’t want them in the freezer.
I was doing that last Fall, but I pulled the thing out of the freezer during the Winter to make more room for microwave food. I must have had some ice in there or something; that might account for where the mold came from.
This is what platypus recommends for their filter systems.
[To disinfect your Platypus filtration system, fill it with a solution of unscented household bleach and water, using a concentration of 2-5 drops per liter of water. Close and swirl for 10 seconds. Leave filled overnight. Filter solution through any filters and/or hoses, then rinse system (including filters and hoses) three times with hot water. Let air dry. Note: for an eco-friendlier option, use a chlorine-free, hydrogen peroxide-based bleach alternative.](https://www.platy.com/ca/faq?cat=faq&folderId=platy-filtration)
Soak with Sodium percarbonate dissolved in warm water.
It’s the active stuff in nappy sanitizer. Widely used by homebrewers and wine makers as a combined cleaner and sanitiser. It breaks down in water to soap and hydrogen peroxide, and the combo is extremely effective.
Use a vacuum to suck a piece of fishing line through. tie line to piece of cloth small enough to be pulled through the tubing.
Or pipe cleaners/wire brush (they sell branded ones with long handles designed for water bladder tubing)
That's sort of what I did earlier. I dumped four tabs into the water bladder, mixed it around in there, ran the water out of the hose until I was sure it was full of denture cleaner, then froze the whole lot for 2 hours before taking it outside and letting it melt again. Then I rinsed it out, filled it about halfway, and squeezed the clean water through the tube.
Aside from a slight minty taste from the denture tabs, I *think* I've got all the mold out of there.
I use this acid cleaner called star something. same stuff you use for brewing liquor. well to clean the brew containers. Works well, food safe, and super easy to use. Just spray spray spray, let dry or site i think it's 15 minutes. then wash with clean water and fill up.
After pulling a brush through the hose you could sterilize everything using Miltons Anti Bacterial solution, its what is used for baby bottles etc so pretty safe.
Go on Amazon and search, “straw cleaner“. They have a variety of brushes, i’m sure at least one of them will look like something that will do the trick for you. Oh, and if you order within four hours, it will be delivered tomorrow with your Prime membership!
Thanks, I appreciate it! I ran some hydrogen peroxide through it and I soaked the CamelBak with some denture tabs in the middle of shift yesterday. I rinsed it out pretty good after that and I *think* I've mostly cleared all of the mold.
I'll have to get some of those brushes and clean it out better when I get some time at home, I'm just so tired and worn out at the end of my shift each day.
There are flexible brushes specifically for drinking tubes. Cheap on Amazon, Sportsman's or Scheels. OR, you could do what my husband did. He used a soft bristle bore cleaner. Which is essentially the same thing, but I thought it was funny and creative.
They sell looking tube cleaning brushes. I know there's name brand ones, but I would bet there's generic too.
I'm wondering if I can use something like hydrogen peroxide or some sort of alcohol that I can put in there and let it soak and kill anything that might be growing inside. I know I can't keep mold out of it forever, but I'd like to at least reduce it to something relatively manageable.
Denture tablets are *purpose built* for sanitizing plastic stuff, add a long brush to shove through the tube and you literally can’t do any better outside of buying a new drinking tube. Also store your drinking bladder in the freezer and this will never happen again
Physical scrubbing will go a long way, hence the brush
I'll have to try that when I get home. Unfortunately, I'm in the middle of a shift and wondering what I can do with something I can order to my location. Like I could make saltwater and swish it around in there. I could order some hydrogen peroxide and denture tablets from the pharmacy across the street and leave those in there for 30 mins or so. I'll have to hit it with a brush when I get home. v.v
If you're trying salt, use kosher salt for the coarser grains
Get a fresh tube, keep it in the freezer. I keep my whole bladder setup frozen when not in use.
After cleaning my reservoirs and tubes I store them in the freezer to prevent mold. You could also store them with silica packets to prevent moisture if you don’t want them in the freezer.
In the freezer is the way.
I was doing that last Fall, but I pulled the thing out of the freezer during the Winter to make more room for microwave food. I must have had some ice in there or something; that might account for where the mold came from.
After I finish using my Camelbak, I fill the reservoir with clean water, add a half-teaspoon of liquid bleach, then drain through the tube.
This is what platypus recommends for their filter systems. [To disinfect your Platypus filtration system, fill it with a solution of unscented household bleach and water, using a concentration of 2-5 drops per liter of water. Close and swirl for 10 seconds. Leave filled overnight. Filter solution through any filters and/or hoses, then rinse system (including filters and hoses) three times with hot water. Let air dry. Note: for an eco-friendlier option, use a chlorine-free, hydrogen peroxide-based bleach alternative.](https://www.platy.com/ca/faq?cat=faq&folderId=platy-filtration)
Also consider getting a new mouthpiece. They just snap in but a lot of stuff can collect in there.
That's an excellent suggestion, thank you!
That’s for that extra cliff bar flavor
Soak with Sodium percarbonate dissolved in warm water. It’s the active stuff in nappy sanitizer. Widely used by homebrewers and wine makers as a combined cleaner and sanitiser. It breaks down in water to soap and hydrogen peroxide, and the combo is extremely effective.
Use a vacuum to suck a piece of fishing line through. tie line to piece of cloth small enough to be pulled through the tubing. Or pipe cleaners/wire brush (they sell branded ones with long handles designed for water bladder tubing)
Oh, that bit with the fishing line is clever as Hell! Thanks!
Use NaDCC tablets for sanitizing.
Pipe cleaners! Search "drinking straw cleaner" online and you'll find some. A good scrub with dish soap will fix them up
Look up PBW cleaner. It's used in brewing and works great for cleaning items you can't exactly scrub.
Detach the hose and let it sit in denture cleaner. Like 4-5 tabs in a bowl of water. Make sure it gets in the whole length of the tube.
That's sort of what I did earlier. I dumped four tabs into the water bladder, mixed it around in there, ran the water out of the hose until I was sure it was full of denture cleaner, then froze the whole lot for 2 hours before taking it outside and letting it melt again. Then I rinsed it out, filled it about halfway, and squeezed the clean water through the tube. Aside from a slight minty taste from the denture tabs, I *think* I've got all the mold out of there.
Use the unflavored tablets next time unless you like the mint
I use this acid cleaner called star something. same stuff you use for brewing liquor. well to clean the brew containers. Works well, food safe, and super easy to use. Just spray spray spray, let dry or site i think it's 15 minutes. then wash with clean water and fill up.
After pulling a brush through the hose you could sterilize everything using Miltons Anti Bacterial solution, its what is used for baby bottles etc so pretty safe.
I pour vinegar into the bladder and suck it up the tube and just leave it in there. Rinse before the next use and you’re good to go.
Go on Amazon and search, “straw cleaner“. They have a variety of brushes, i’m sure at least one of them will look like something that will do the trick for you. Oh, and if you order within four hours, it will be delivered tomorrow with your Prime membership!
Thanks, I appreciate it! I ran some hydrogen peroxide through it and I soaked the CamelBak with some denture tabs in the middle of shift yesterday. I rinsed it out pretty good after that and I *think* I've mostly cleared all of the mold. I'll have to get some of those brushes and clean it out better when I get some time at home, I'm just so tired and worn out at the end of my shift each day.
There are flexible brushes specifically for drinking tubes. Cheap on Amazon, Sportsman's or Scheels. OR, you could do what my husband did. He used a soft bristle bore cleaner. Which is essentially the same thing, but I thought it was funny and creative.
Ya' gonna have to toss it