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How to Clean a Hydration Bladder

Hydration bladders are an excellent way for campers and hikers to remain hydrated while away from home. Replacing these can be expensive, so they will need to be cleaned every few months to ensure the purity of your drinking water. Cleaning these bladders is a relatively simple process that can be achieved with a few common household objects.

Things You'll Need

Wire hanger
Bleach

Instructions

- 1
  Dump all liquid out of your hydration bladder. Fill the bladder about halfway with clean water, add one or two capfuls of bleach and fill the bladder the rest of the way with more clean water. Drain some of the mixture through the drinking tube to ensure that it is treated with the bleach mixture. Let this sit for several hours.
- 2
  Dump the liquid out of the bladder. Refill it with clean water and drain some of the mixture through the drinking tube. Repeat this step three or four times until the smell of bleach is completely gone.
- 3
  Bend your metal hanger so you can hang your hydration bladder on one end of it to dry. Place gum or something soft on one end of the hanger to avoid puncturing the bladder. Allow the bladder to dry overnight and it will be cleaned and ready for use.

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