Drying out your water bladder to put it away

JJHACK

Lil-Rokslider
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Jan 31, 2014
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I live in Wa. State and in Elisrass South Africa
This is frequently a pain.

However I thought of a way to simplify it. Get a bag of those balloons the clowns use to make balloon animals. The long skinny ones.

Inflate and insert through the opening. I found it easier to inflate them inside the bladder. This opens the bladder up inside and allows it to dry and then no funky mold or nasty tasting water later. The balloon is sacrificial by the way.

Hang upside down and in a day it will be air dried! I hang mine on a plastic coat hanger in my closet.
 
I might give this a try. I've used a bent hanger in the past but looks like I've for mostly plastic ones now. Thanks for the tip
 
Many ages ago I bought a camel back that came with a cleaning kit. That had a wire spreader hanger. My issue with it is one little bump and it spins and closes up letting the wet surfaces touch.

The ballon idea is great.
 
Good idea, I'll have to try this. I normally just permanently store the hydration system in the freezer.
 
I use a bent wire hanger in mine, works great. The balloon idea is an interesting one.
 
Interesting idea. Personally I have never found it to be an issue just hanging them upside down, but if it makes you feel more confident that everything is drying out go for it!
 
These days we use big zips, so I usually just put the big blue part that slides over the zipper into the opening to hold it open while it dries. Works fine, we have never had problems with mold or mildew. When we used to use camel backs I simply rolled a clean dry dish towel up and put it into the opening and down into the bag. It worked to hold the sides apart, and absorb some of the excess moisture. I usually removed it after a day or two and found the inside of the bladder dry. I also have the cleaning kit Ray described above, and have used the hanger/spreader part with mixed results. The dish towel seemed to work as well or better, and I always have a bunch around anyway. I do use the straw brush that came with the kit, it works well in all kinds of bladders.
 
Years ago I found a kit from camel back that came with a cleaning kit like mentioned previously. This kit also came with a plastic hanger that collapsed and then expended so that you could slide it through the mouth of the bladder and then it expanded inside to keep the inner surfaces from touching. It works very well.
 
I Just keep it in The freezer. Way easier
 
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I just empty it out and if it's been awhile since I last used it, I just rinse it out with a little bleach in the water then rinse it really well a few times. Never had an issue of taste or bad water in it in over 10 years of using it......Camelback 3L.
 
I have now switched to Geigerrig bladders. I just turn them inside out and put it in the dishwasher to clean. After it's dry I put it back "inside in" and store. During the summer I always store it in the fridge full of water. I use is a couple times a week so the water never gets nasty.
 
I just tear off a few paper towels and roll/scrunch them up. Then feed though the open end of the bladder and hang upside down. The towel not only keeps the sides of the bladder apart, but also act as a wick drying the bladder faster it seems.
 
I have a 7 year old bladder that's never been dried or cleaned...i keep it empty in the fridge, never a problem, bad taste or any fungi growing. But i ONLY use water in it, nothing else.
 
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