When it comes to staying hydrated during outdoor activities, hydration reservoirs are a delightfully innovative piece of gear. These durable bags hold ample liquid and fit snugly into a pack so you can sip comfortably through a tube, hands-free. They can be a real game changer whether you’re hiking, biking, skiing or walking the dog.
But Jennifer Krupey, vice president of marketing at reservoir and bottle manufacturing brand HydraPak, knows there’s little worse (when it comes to hydration at least) than sucking water through your reservoir tube for the first time half a mile up a steep climb just to get a mouthful of funky, skunky liquid—that may also contain mold, mildew, bacteria and microorganisms—all thanks to the fact that you haven’t washed it since last season.
It’s understandable. Hydration reservoirs (also known as bladders), though extremely convenient, tend to have a few more parts, pieces, nooks and crannies than conventional water bottles, making them harder to clean. But washing—and drying—should happen at least as often as you clean other hydration gear. Here’s how to do it so water tastes fresh, your reservoir doesn’t get slimy, and you don’t end up drinking harmful bacteria.
How often to clean a hydration reservoir
First things first: if you don’t think your reservoir needs cleaned, you’re probably wrong. It doesn’t take long for reusable vessels to build up more bacteria than you’d find on your computer mouse or kitchen sink. So while ideally you should wash it after each use, Krupey says doing so at least once every six uses or so is acceptable, but only if all you put inside is water. If you’re adding other beverages like juice, electrolyte mixes, or recovery drinks to your bag, you should fully clean it after every use.
That’s because studies show that these ingredients provide a feast for bacteria that multiply more quickly. What’s more, ingredients like sugar don’t easily…
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