My 'naivity' is constrained by the purpose of the thread, rather than going for pages on the limitations of bleach.
If one is inclined to put anything other than water in a camelback bladder, they shouldn't be using one.

Antiseptic mouthwash.

I also meant to mention that CamelBak has a series of articles on caring for ones bladder(s) and bottle(s):

http://www.camelbak.com/Military-Tactical/Support/Product-Care.aspx

Peeling off or melting or something - I don't really know how hot an autoclave gets.

121C/19psi for 20min.

my bottles get really beat up on the bike ... the paint starts chipping from the first ride, so I don't mind a little more chipping/discoloration.

i just don't like the feeling of a plastic bottle ... glass and metals are OK though

+1. I occasionally use diluted bleach after cleaning then rinse well, but this is mostly for the tube and mouthpiece.

Honestly, if it's had water sitting in it for years, I'd just get a new bladder, tube, and mouthpiece. $35 and no need to worry about mold or bacteria.

I agree with you completely about that. After 20 years of using various versions of Camelbak's hydration packs I recommend that users put only clean water in the Camelbak and put their energy/recovery drinks in a standard water bottle.


I agree with you completely about that as well. I have purchase several additional bladders that I use in a North Face backpack and waistpack and I consider them to be pretty cheap overall. If you shop around a bit you might even find a replacement bladder for a lot less than $35 too.

Google

I've used antiseptic mouthwash before and then rinsed it out. Got one of those bottle brushes on a long flexible wire to clean out the tubing. If it can handle boiling, I'd do that. Or just buy a new one. But yeah always store dry and if possible store in the freezer.

I just got here myself and was surprised it took 32 posts for somebody to suggest this.

I've found my camelbak growing mats of black stuff after leaving gatorade in it. No big deal. Rinse it out, fill it with fresh water, then add a capful or two of bleach. Make sure to drain the tube so that the bleach-water mix gets into the tube and mouthpiece and let it sit for a few hours. Then rinse a few times with fresh water, dry and you are good to go. No need to add a perfectly good camelbak to the landfill.

I have not had the time to read everything in the thread. I just a quick slim over. The the camel only held filtered tap water only to answer some of the questions on what water was in there. I it has always held water and nothing else. I

I would like to know what is the therlization time if I use the blsTh method.? I forgot if it was. 2 or3l cMelbak. I bts sorry if the reply is a bit off. I I am using a new kkphone and the not used to the key oRd and it won't let. E see the reply area while typing.

I need this cMel Bak for use I am the next f8-10hrs for an event so the sooner the better. I don't have any of the camel Bak brushes and no time to go out hunting it. Thanks in advance.

I'm sorry, but where do you work that you have a cryo freezer and an autoclave, let alone one that you feel comfortable storing food (strictly speaking, food safe items) in?

Bleach doesn't need sitting time. The camelback brushes are nice, but for much less you can use a narrow drinking glass brush found at the grocery store. I'd fill the bladder half full, add about 1/2 tsp., then brush and shake. Repeat several times then keep rinsing until your arms hurt. There should be no residual bleach that could harm you. (I've used 8 drops per gallon as a water purifier in a pinch in the boundary waters - the water filter broke)

All the rinsing of bleach seems excessive given that, as mentioned, it can be used as a water purifier.

can you buy a new bladder??? when my bottles start getting funky I replace them for 6 bucks a pop, not very green but thats the truth.

If you want to actually sanitize it, I'd suggest going to a local homebrew supply shop and asking them for the smallest bottle of Star*San they have. Dilute by package instructions. The stuff's edible, food safe, non-rinse sanitizer used to sanitize all the bits we use to make beer. Otherwise you can order some from NorthernBrewer.com.

Seriously, in the product demos the guy just drinks it. It's not tasty (it's an acid sanitizer) but it's non-toxic. When I'm brewing I just fill a bucket according to package directions, and then fill a spray bottle from the bucket. Stuff lasts a good long time, it'd be decent for storing your stuff in (if you're gonna use it to store, use distilled water to dilute instead of tap).

Way safer than bleach for you and your clothes if you're a bit sloppy. Kills germs. Not as well as an autoclave (99.5% of germs instead of 99.99999%) but it'll get the job done.

Or just buy a new bladder. They're not particularly expensive.

Eppies... I'm always in a rush when I'm checking out the thread. I've not checked out all the posts but a quick once over. Bleach needs no sit time to sterilze? I always thoguht and this is from water purification mind you that if purifying water for drinking you need a 30min sit time. I thought that if you do say 3-4x the water purification dose (2 drops/gallon ) you end up with a solution that can sterlize the bottle with the same 30min sit time.

I'll check the thread later as I'm late. Thankies in advance and hugs to all.

My son left his Camelbak sitting with water for two weeks before I discovered it. :mad:

Bought a bunch of pipe cleaners from Michael's, cut off the hose at the hose barbs on both ends and threaded these pipe cleaners in bunches of three through the hose until I scrubbed it clean. Used more pipe cleaners on the bottom fitting and as much as I could on a mouthpiece. Scrubbed inside of the bladder with a bottle brush and soap. Rinsed. Then filled kitchen sink with diluted bleach and let the whole assembly sit there for a while and rinsed like heck after. Dried bladder and hose and reassembled the hose.

So far the kid is alive and well.

As far as my own water bottles go - I just run them through the dishwasher with lids upside down and mouthpieces open.

When it comes to sanitzer used for brewing, I like Iodophor. Mix some of it it with water, slosh it around for a minute or so in whatever vessel or other item you wish to sanitize, and rinse. I'd use it with confidence for the OPs purpose.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/btf-iodophor.html

There are sanitizing tablets available. If it's been sitting for years with water in it, I'd be ready to replace it if I wasn't comfortable with the sanitizing suggestions.
One thing I didn't see mentioned is lemon juice. I use a capful of Realemon in the Camelbak between usage. I just rinse the bladder and mouthpiece, put a capful in with a cup of water, swish it around suck a little into the hose and leave it. The citric acid will prevent bacteria growth and all I have to do is empty it and refill it with fresh water next time. It leaves a little lemony flavor to the first fill up, but that's not a bad thing.

Marc

Lots of good suggestions here but just to clarify, sanitizing water is a different issue from sanitizing the non-pourous bladder that contains the nasty spores that HELD the stagnant water. Not familiar with brewing sanitizers, but it seems more expensive than bleach. I've used a careful dillution of bleach for years without any problems.

I would suggest vinegar and water,it does a fine job,I use it on mine.They use a mixture of vinegar and water to clean out patients catheter bags in the hospital and long term care settings.Some people use lemon juice.The acidic content will kill alot.of germs.The idea of bleach and water and having the residue floating around in the bladder and hose doesn't sound like a mix a would like to have in my camel back.

Can't speak to camelback bags, but I've been just washing my plastic bicycle water bottles with dish soap, the hottest water I can stand, and a bottle brush. Works great. I also use the same combination on our stainless steel bottles. Sometimes I run the plastic bottle tops through the dishwasher, but usually wash the bottles by hand as I just described.

Surg tech? I would advise against SIGG bottles...I've been through a couple where the plastic lining tore along the mouth of the bottle, meaning that water worked its way in between the lining and bottle every time I took a drink. That's just asking for some funk.

A couple of drops of bleach in the full bladder may work; don't use too much or it will taste like chlorine for a while. If it's sunny, leave it outside with a clothes hanger proping it open to dry out and let the UV kill of any residual bacteria. This usually works for my camelback.