Hydration pack cleaning

[Swampy460]

Hi all, bought a denali hydration pack and after flushing it 5 times it still has a plasticky/rubbery taste to the water. I'm not keen on washing it out with soap as that may leave a taste as well.

Anyone got any ideas on how to get rid of the taste ?

Swampy

[gelandangan]

I fill mine with strong tea, it would mask the plastic smell with nice tea smell.

[forest]

Hot water and lemon.

Or vinegar and hot water.

[wayno]

i use baby bottle cleaner when i'm cleaning mine, then flush it a few times with water
what brand did you get? i prefer camelbak, they are silicon rubber rather than plastic, find theres little problem with aftertaste

[photohiker]

I've had plastic taste from Camelback but not tried Denali. It eventually goes away.

The only hydration system I've had that was taste free from the start is Platypus.

[wayno]

i fill it up. put a baby bottle cleaner tablet in seal it and leave it for a day, then flush a few times....

[Swampy460]

Thanks everyone, will have to find someone with a baby.

Swampy

[wayno]

i got my tablets at the supermarket, just follow someone with a baby....
guys at an outdoor shop told me, they think the camelbak cleaner is a rip and its basically the same stuff, a chlorine tablet....

[Tex]

I fill mine up with water and add a spoonful of Bi-carb, squeeze in the juice from a lemon then add the rest of the lemon. Close it up and leave it overnight then rinse it out in the morning. Works for me

[ryantmalone]

Hi all, bought a denali hydration pack and after flushing it 5 times it still has a plasticky/rubbery taste to the water. I'm not keen on washing it out with soap as that may leave a taste as well.

Personally, I'd put this down to the fact that its one of Anaconda's in house brands.

The quality of their in house brands has not gotten any better since I quit my job there back in the mid 2000's, to cut a long story short, I've never in my life worked in a job where I have seen more complaints about a single product line than when I worked there.

You can try the other solutions mentioned in the thread, however you wont have the same problem with a Camelback. Well... it will get a little skanky every now and again, but easy as hell to clean.

[michael_p]

The only hydration system I've had that was taste free from the start is Platypus.

Have to agree. My Platypus Big Zip was taste free from the word go. Best hydro bladder I have ever had.

[Onestepmore]

Slightly off track, but how do people clean and store their hydration packs?

I rinse mine out with water, wash the mouthpiece, use a flexible bottle brush cleaner for tubing. Then I flush with water and dilute mouthwash, and store it in the freezer so there is no possiblity of mould forming.

[wayno]

baby bottle cleaner tablet diluted in water.... open the nozzle when its full so the solution runs out a bit, allowing it to get properly into the tube and mouthpiece. empty and dry as best you can, mould usually isnt a problem.. but i only put water in mine, its a bigger problem if you've had any sugary drink in it esp if you can't flush the residual sugar out properly after use...
once apon a time i wasnt so studious at cleaning them, the mouthpiece would get mouldy, so i'd put a baby bottle cleaner tablet in the mouthpiece and put water in.
not sure if its still the case. camelbaks were coated with silver ions inside to inhibit mould and bacterial growth..

[Hallu]

I tested 2, the 360 and the Osprey, both 3L. The 360 is rubbish. Top filling, fragile (it leaks from the nozzle after 4-5 uses), no handle, too puffy. The Osprey is flat design, solid with a handle, filling from the side, with a magnet on the nozzle so you can attach it to your pack torso strap. The only thing I don't understand is why they don't make insulated bladders... You have to buy another pouch for this, this is ridiculous.

[andrewbish]

To get rid of the initial rubber/plastic taste in my new bladder I cleaned it with Polident, a brand of denture cleaner. Worked a treat.

[michael_p]

Slightly off track, but how do people clean and store their hydration packs?

I rinse mine out with water, wash the mouthpiece, use a flexible bottle brush cleaner for tubing. Then I flush with water and dilute mouthwash, and store it in the freezer so there is no possiblity of mould forming.

Wash in hot soapy water. Rinse thoroughly with straight hot water. Stuff bladder with paper towel, hang bladder and straw up to dry out. Store in cool dark place till next required. Never had a mould problem with this method.

Cheers,
Michael.

[madmacca]

After a 7+ hike with a bladder, I will normally flusah with clean waterm then a very mild bleach solution, then a couple of times with warm water.

I find a few drops of vanilla essence does away with any plasticy taste.

MM

[Mudmav]

Best bet is to drop some bi carb soda in your bladder with some luke walk water, shake and leave to sit for a few hours then rinse. This method has worked well for me for years