Hydration Pack Question
06-09-11, 01:40 PM
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Hydration Pack Question
This may be stupid, but I just bought one & I'm wondering how to care for it. My father-in-law always keeps his full of water & just puts fresh water in when he rides. That seems like a good way to get sick. He washes it out once a month with bleach. Is he doing it right?
06-09-11, 01:46 PM
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I clean it out about twice a month. it just depends how long water is sitting in it. I think if water is always moving in it and getting replenished then once a month might be ok. Sometimes I leave mine laying around for weeks with water in it and then I will clean it and let it dry. I have this cleaning kit that has a long wire with some brissels on the end that i can run through the tube.
06-09-11, 05:08 PM
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Yeah, water is probably OK but mildew is still a possibility. Examine the bladder and tube for any black specks on the surfaces. If you put any drink mix in it you defo need to thoroughly rinse/clean it asap after using it or you will grow nasty things.
06-29-11, 07:33 PM
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I clean it out about twice a month. it just depends how long water is sitting in it. I think if water is always moving in it and getting replenished then once a month might be ok. Sometimes I leave mine laying around for weeks with water in it and then I will clean it and let it dry. I have this cleaning kit that has a long wire with some brissels on the end that i can run through the tube.
06-30-11, 05:36 AM
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I only ever put water in mine. Avoiding drink mix in the reservoir (not "bladder", for Retro's sake 
) wards off a lot of trouble. I'm convinced of that.
During the riding season, I generally begin each ride by dumping out the old water and refilling the bag. Then I suck the old water out of the tube and spit it into the sink. (I'm not worried about cooties at that point, but only about the taste--water fresh from the tap tastes better than water that's been in the tube overnight). When the ride is over, I hang the bag up with whatever water is left in it. That approach has worked well. Maybe it helps that my water is chlorinated.
During winter I stuff a coiled up coat-hanger into the bags, hang them to dry, and I leave them that way until the next season.
) wards off a lot of trouble. I'm convinced of that.During the riding season, I generally begin each ride by dumping out the old water and refilling the bag. Then I suck the old water out of the tube and spit it into the sink. (I'm not worried about cooties at that point, but only about the taste--water fresh from the tap tastes better than water that's been in the tube overnight). When the ride is over, I hang the bag up with whatever water is left in it. That approach has worked well. Maybe it helps that my water is chlorinated.
During winter I stuff a coiled up coat-hanger into the bags, hang them to dry, and I leave them that way until the next season.
07-07-11, 11:53 AM
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A lot of reservoirs are made out of a surgical type of material that resists ickys and will let you just refill it next time you wanna go.
A couple times a month clean it with the specific kit and don't put anything but water in it and it'll stay good for quite a long spell (it takes a long time to wear em' out)
P.S; scrub the heck out of the mouthpiece, it gets the grossest.
A couple times a month clean it with the specific kit and don't put anything but water in it and it'll stay good for quite a long spell (it takes a long time to wear em' out)
P.S; scrub the heck out of the mouthpiece, it gets the grossest.
