[at-l] my water bladder cleaning adventures

[wb4pan@mindspring.com (Chase Davidson)]

Hey, try vinegar

	I soak my bottles/bladders in water with a few drops (or more ) of bleach, like most folks. However this would not remove the odor from my Lexan pint size nalgene. I had often left a slurry of coffee grounds in it for extended amounts of time :-). A solution of vinegar and water did freshen it much better. I prefer replaceable soda bottles for water bottles in the winter when drinking hoses tend to freeze up. You can always just get a new one when needed. Just do not add boiling water to a soda
bottle. They are made of heat shrink plastic. You could create a bomb.
	Nalgene's are pretty heavy but I do enjoy carrying one pint size as a multi-use bottle. I stick it in a foam beverage can holder and use it as my thermal hot beverage cup. It is a soaker bottle for veggies. Best of all it has really come in handy on those mornings that I have woke feeling cold! I boil a pint of water and stick the hot water bottle in the bottom of my sleeping bag. Actually this hot water bottle works good stuck inside your jacket on those nights you stay up sky watching etc.

chase


Paul Miller wrote:
> 
> I have an odd bug spray deet flavor or maybe an old pack taste to my water
> in the bladder after about 15 minutes. the taste reminds me on of one time I
> accidentally put my pack straps, after 2 months of use, in my mouth to hold
> it for just a second.  in other words it is just nasty stomach turning
> tasting. I have used bleach and soap and sun and let it dry for weeks but I
> can not seem to remove it, it always just comes back given time.
> 
> if I go out hiking if I put new water in it in 15 minutes it takes like
> pack. it is pretty odd stuff and I don't really know what to do. I might let
> the bleach soak for a while and if that does not fix it I am thinking of
> calling up the manufacture and figuring out what they suggest. I have NEVER
> put beer, drink mix, sugar, fruit juice, pee, anything other then water
> inside it. it is pretty odd I think. I am led to guess the inside grows an
> odd algae or something bad tasting I don't know what to think.
> 
> it is really annoying and to bad as I really like the ease of use of having
> a bladder and it has treated me wonderfully except this odd problem.  it
> seems to be getting worse. I have hung it from a wall to let it air out
> hoping that may fix it.  I am thinking that if I can not get it to work I
> might just use it as back up (stay at home gear) and have to go buy a new
> one. I have been using a indestructible nalgene instead but it is not the
> same as I don't have a good place to hold a bottle
> 
> wisperlight
> 
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