Cleaning hydration systems?

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

Help, I loaned my camelback out and it came back with black mold in the mouth piece. I don't generally clean my bladdars, I will open them and hang them to dry after use.

How do you clean these things and how do I get rid of the black mold? I could replace the mouthpiece, which I still may do, but now I want to know how others clean their systems? TIA, Mary

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

I run a bleach mixture through mine, hose mouthpiece and all, before hanging it to dry. 1/4 cup bleach to about two quarts water.....Rinse very thoroughly after. I also take the mouthpiece completely apart to dry and disconnect the hose from the bladder and from the mouthpiece.
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GTG · Posted: 5/26/2004, 12:09 pm Post subject: cleaning

Baking soda with a handfull of raw rice shook around for a few minutes inside will clean and scrub things pretty well. I've read that denture cleaner tablets do a fine job too.

Wow, black mold? That's some pretty nasty backwash there Shi.

GTG
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Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I think the camelback was left in a warm place with water left in it. I know black mold can be real nasty on the body. I'll try these, to see if it will work. Mary

GTG · Posted: 5/26/2004, 12:34 pm Post subject: bleach and such

That mold will leave a stain forever I'm afraid. Don't leave the bleach mixture in the bladder for more than an hour or so. The bleach will stain it a pretty, chlorine, yellow color. Don't use no name bleach is my experience. WalMart bleach made my bladder taste like diazinon. That's bug spray. Those effervesent tabs for dentures might pull out the stains.

GTG
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desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

Mary

Check this out
http://www.rei.com/online/store/Search?storeId=8000&query=*&cat=4500805

I have the long scrub wire that works well in getting the black stuff out of the hose.
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evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

SUN_HIKER · Joined: 05 Dec 2003 Posts: 1057

Mary, get a cleaning kit. I always use hot soapy water and run the brush through the hose. I also brush out the inside with hot soapy water. Then for the mouth piece, I put it into a bowl periodically in hot water with a tbs. of bleach and let it sit for a couple of hrs. After that I scrub the inside with a pipe cleaner to get any remaining mold out.
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roger · Joined: 13 Aug 2003 Posts: 262 Location: phoenix

Trishness · Posted: 5/26/2004, 4:26 pm Post subject:

Mary.....

I seem to remember this topic creeping into our campfire chatter up on the rim. I agree with the above and use a diluted bleach/water solution and then hang it up to dry. I have one bladder I use strictly for water and clean after every few times of use, the other I put Powerade, Gookinade or Gatorade in it and clean after every use.

Black mold is not a good thing and I would seriously consider replacing the tube and mouthpiece completely.

Mr. Green

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SUN_HIKER · Joined: 05 Dec 2003 Posts: 1057

Trish I've had it in the mouthpiece of the bladder that I normally fill with Gookinade. After washing in hot soapy water, scrubbing and soaking in the diluted bleach/water it comes clean. Now that I know the electrolytes are a major cause for the mold built up, I keep on top of it, and like you I clean it after every use, that seems to take care of the problem.

GB
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GTG · Posted: 5/26/2004, 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: bleach and such

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I agree with the black mold, I know it can make you very sick. I'm not willing to test that out on a trail, so I am going to replace the mouth piece. I just want to get the slime out of the bag. I think the 2 solutions above will help. I don't put anything other than water in my bags. I'm sure it will be just fine. Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm was literally clueless. Mary

desertgirl · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ

I ususally have a Nalgene that I use to have my electrolytes ...Its way easier to clean and I dont have to worry about mold due to adding electrolites in my water baldder
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Davis2001R6 · Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy

After I did my Rim-Rim-Rim I didn't use my daypack for a month. The bladder had been left almost empty with Gookinaid mix in it. I didn't see any mold but I saw some crazy goo/ameiba/jelly fish like stuff floating around in my Nalgene bottle and all it had was water in it. I just used some bleach to clean it out and it seems fine now.