How to Clean a Hydration Bladder

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff |14 References

Hydration bladders are amazing for outdoor adventures like hiking and biking. It’s nice to know your fluids are close by, and you don’t have to deal with the bulk or weight of water bottles. However, if not properly cleaned, they can quickly become host to a nasty lot of bacterial growth.

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Fortunately, with the help of some common household items, you can make sure you’re quenching your thirst without also ingesting mold or mildew!

1 Make a sanitizing solution from baking soda, bleach, and water. You’ll need 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of bleach. The bleach will sanitize the bladder, and the baking soda acts as a deodorizer. Mix the ingredients well, and you’re ready to start cleaning! ^[1]
2 Purchase hydration bladder cleaning tabs. Many manufacturers of hydration bladders sell cleaning kits. These kits include special brushes for scrubbing each part of the bladder and a cleaning tab that will dissolve in water. The tabs contain chlorine dioxide, which functions like bleach.
- You can find the tabs at specialty outdoor retail stores and online through hydration bladder manufacturers.
3 Purchase denture cleaning tabs. You’ll need 1 tab per liter of water. This is a cheaper alternative to hydration bladder cleaning tabs. They are also easy to find since they are sold at grocery stores and mega stores. ^[2]

1 Fill the bladder with warm water. You’ll want to do the cleaning process over a sink to contain any spills. Be careful not to use hot or boiling water. Though hot water can help with sanitation, it can harm the bladder materials, so use warm water only. ^[3]
2 Add the cleaning solution ingredients or tab to the warm water. Once you’ve added the cleaning agent of your choice to the filled bladder, seal the bladder. Then, gently shake it to mix. Shaking will also help distribute the solution, so it covers all surface area. ^[4]
3 Let the bladder soak. It’s time to let the solution do the heavy lifting! If you’re using a bleach and baking soda mixture, plan to let it soak for 30 minutes. ^[5] If you are using hydration bladder cleaning tabs or denture tabs, consult the packaging to find out how long to let the solution set.
- Once the bladder is filled with cleaning solution and soaking, you can turn your attention to the tube and bite valve. ^[6]
4 Clean the tube and bite valve. Raise the sealed, filled bladder above your head. You need gravity’s help to get the solution into the tube. Make sure the tube and bite valve are positioned over the sink. ^[7]
5 Fill…