how to clean a hydration pack

I pulled my hydration out of the cupboard and its looks a bit dusty and dirt down the tube. Is boiling water the best way to clean it?

Boiling water will clean it, but it might also damage the pack. Some packs may not easily come apart, and cleaning the reservoir may be tricky this way. I have infact heard of some packs melting!

The easiest way is simply to buy some Milton from your local super market – probably in the baby isle because it’s a steriliser – and use this. Let it sit in the reservoir and tube for a while. I also hang the mouth piece in a jug of it to make sure that is all clean all around it. Then after the prescribed time, job done.

I don’t do this after every use. Just if it hasn’t been used for a while. If you store it damp in the house your asking for bacteria to grow. Mine is stored on the boiler so it drys quickly and stays dry. Another, better idea is actually to store it in the freezer. Sounds weird, right? But nothing will grow in it there and you can just pull it out and use it any time.