Camelbak Cleaning Kit

Camelbak hydration bladders and sucker tubes and any hydration system need to be cleaned regularly after use. This kit has exactly the tools you need to clean and dry your Camelbak. The two brushes allow you to get rid of any buildup of bacteria or fungus. The deep cleaning tablets can be used once a month or so to zap any bacteria or fungus. I love the hanger and frame to prop open the hydration bladder so it can dry between uses. While you can cobble together most of the elements in this kit, it is very handy to buy the kit and get exactly what you need.

My favorite walking pack is the Camelbak Pixie, which has a 35-oz hydration bladder with a sucker tube. For most walks I just use water in it, but on longer walks I add sports drink. The sugars in the sports drink quickly set off growth of bacteria and fungus if you don't clean and dry the hydration bladder and sucker tube immediately after you walk. As a former microbiology lab technologist, I know and understand this, but it doesn't keep me from forgetting to do it promptly after a long day of marathon training.

Cleaning Your Camelbak Hydration Bladder

After each use, you need to rinse your hydration bladder and sucker tube and set it out to dry. Otherwise, you may begin to see visible growth of bacteria and fungus. Camelbak recommends adding mild dish soap and giving it a light scrub with the brush from the Camelbak cleaning kit. The hydration bladder brush is curved much like a small toilet bowl brush, just right for getting into the crevices of the hydration bladder. After cleaning, rinse well and hang up to dry before your next use.

Cleaning the Sucker Tube

I often see bacterial or fungal colonies growing in the sucker tube, and the tube brush included is exactly what you need. It has a stiff pipe-cleaner type brush at the end of a long stiff cord so you can scrub the entire length of your sucker tube. This brush alone is worth the cost the of cleaning kit.

Drying Your Camelbak

I love the included hanger and frame to prop open your Camelbak so it can dry completely between uses.

Deep Cleaning Tablets

The deep cleaning tablets should be used every few weeks to kill bacteria and fungus. They are basically bleach tablets, you put them in the bladder with a liter of water, allow them to work for 5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You may want to then rinse with baking soda to remove the bleach taste.