A hydration bladder is a sports drinking device that replaces water bottles. During outdoor trips, adequate hydration is essential, so a good hydration bladder is indispensable. It is also one of the convenient water storage solutions that won’t exhaust your energy. However, it can be a bit tricky to maintain.
Cleaning
Clean by rinsing the entire hydration bladder with hot soapy water. If the effect is not satisfactory, use a mixture of 1/4 dry baking soda and 3/4 water, shake for 30 seconds, then add 1/4 cup of lemon juice and shake for another 10 seconds. Loosen the cap to release gas. Repeat this process three times to expel as much gas as possible, then soak for 20 minutes and rinse three times with hot water. Warning: When adding lemon juice to dry baking soda, bubbling and a vacuum effect may occur.
Disinfection
For disinfection, add one ounce of household bleach to one liter of clean water. Mix for 10 seconds, then pour the solution into the hydration bladder and let it sit overnight. Finally, rinse thoroughly and allow it to air dry naturally.
Boiling: Submerge the hydration bladder completely in a pot of water. Ensure the bladder does not touch the bottom or sides of the pot, and do not cover the pot. Pay attention to pressure changes inside the bladder during boiling. Do not place the hydration bladder in a microwave.
Maintenance
The bite valve is too loose, what should I do? To achieve the most secure fit between the two, the best method is: first remove the bite valve from the hydration bladder. Then, cut off a small portion at the end of the bladder, lick the end of the bladder, and replace the end with the back part of the bite valve. Once it dries, there will be excellent friction contact.
Pathfinder Travel, an outdoor adventure and self-driving travel website.