What's the most effective way to clean the water reservoir from a Camelbak hiking pack?

Question

I want to use something that I already have in my house. . . should I use a bleach sol'n or vinegar? I haven't used it in over a year and I don't think I cleaned and dried it very well the last time I used it (I see little mildew or something). Also what's the best way to clean/flush the tube portion???

Answer 1

i had the same problem. just pour in some diluted bleach and let it sit for a few minutes. then dump the bleach and rinse with water several times. let the bleach solution go through the tube by pinching it and letting it flow out. even the slow flow cleans it well.

Answer 2

I use chlorine bleech, same stuff you whiten your white clothes with, to disinfect the fresh water holding tank in our motorhome. It is a 60 gallon vessel and I only need about a half a cup so you won't need much. The key in my case is to have the tank completly full and then to draw the water & bleech mix through all the lines once it is mixed in the tank and then let it sit overnight. Then it will need to be rinsed well.

Go on line and after a couple of tries, with the right key words you will find a dilution rate suitable for the size container you are working with.

In fact, we have our own well system in the country where we live. If a well system gets contaminated, it is 'shocked' with, you guessed it, bleech.

Answer 3

Just a bit of bleach with water. Let it stand for a while. Then rinse it thoroughly.

I have a wire hanger bent in such a way that I can put it inside the bag so that the sides do not touch to dry it out. You have to dry it completely.

Good luck

Answer 4

Vinegar, because it is safe if you accidentally don't get it all rinsed out.
Also , vinegar is what the surgeons I work with tell their patients to use to disinfect sinus irrigation bags and foley catheter bags.

Answer 5

vinegar