How to Clean Your Hydration Reservoir! | Miranda in the Wild

Has your hydration reservoir developed an odd funk? Do you detect a spot of mold in the middle of the tube? It’s probably past time to give your reservoir a deep clean. I’ll walk you through how to clean your reservoir, prevent bacteria from growing again and some tips for storage.
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[@nickpro1]

Tip from a microbiologist. I store my reservoir in the freezer and barely ever clean it or dry it. I’ve been doing to with the same Nalgine pouch for over 5+ years.

[@arsemania14]

Great idea! May do this after I clean mine.

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

You stole my tip. 😁

[@joshy9707]

@@solitaryrefinement6787 yeah but are you a microbiologist 😒

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

@@joshy9707 No. But I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night. 😊

[@ianauvarova2136]

Thank you for the tip! It’s brilliant! Do you store your silicone straw/tube in the freezer too?

[@AndrewB416]

Dear REI. Give Miranda a raise. This is good stuff.

[@bryanhikes]

Props to Miranda and REI. It's not all about selling more stuff. REI carries the equipment in the videos but never pushes those items. 0:52 "You can also use a kitchen brush, anything you could use to clean a water bottle." My local REI has even suggested gear they don't carry. That's the sign of a great organization.

[@familybettencourt9932]

Even with the open top models it is so hard to get them fully dry. The wet storage method is great! After cleaning, fill with water and a little vinegar. Let the acidic water into the hose and then store wet. Before using, empty and fill with fresh water. If you forget to empty and refill, worst case scenario is that you have some tangy water. But no mold or mildew!

[@aaronfuentes5919]

Video topic, mundane. Video Execution & editing, extraordinary. Golden content. 👍

[@Team5TL]

Denture cleaning tabs do a much better job than soap, easier to rinse out and cheap

[@timdion7834]

Works great on coffee stained thermos as well

[@MikeWood]

@@timdion7834 i was told this the other day and tried it on my Klean Kanteen travel mug and it's a brilliant solution. Great on any water bottle that has got funky. Hot water is better than cold too it seems.

[@saladking2370]

I remember using those on my retainers. I'll have to try these on my coffee stained mugs

[@jesseobrien5864]

You're a genius 👏

[@Anya-mc6cx]

@@timdion7834 Wow! Going to try this right now!

[@bsh1967]

I'm glad Miranda recognizes the reality that most of us don't clean our water reservoirs as often as we should. Now to clean mine this weekend and teach my kids to do the same with theirs.

[@anthonyabella5189]

I love how they shot the video in the van, but could you do a video of the van itself? Would love to see how everyone does their setup!

[@rei]

Happily! I'd love to do a van tour. Thanks for the suggestion! - Miranda

[@JRodizAwesome]

I use an osprey water bladder. I usually just take it appart, rinse it with just tap water after every use, and hang it out in the sun to dry.

[@Golddragon214]

I thought shooting this Vid in the van was cool. Shows how easy it is to clean your things with out fancy fixtures and such. Another great episode Miranda!

[@jamesbynion9534]

I agree with Anderw B! Give this girl a raise. Awesome tutorial and she kept me laughing

[@3434rocky]

Your enthusiasm kept the stoke going for learning how to clean the thing! Thanks!

[@LWilli5]

Yay, another super helpful Miranda video.

[@hiroprotagonist850]

Miranda makes the best videos, LOVE IT!

[@WillChill2000]

I just bought a reservoir! Perfect timing!

[@jamiepizz]

Great video. I don't use bladders anymore, but when I did I used to store them with some paper towels folded up a few times to soak up any residual moisture. Never had mold or funky smells. Keep up the videos!

[@StephHartMN]

My old Camelback cleaning system came with a modified plastic hanger that squeezes enough to fit inside, then pops back out to keep the interior of the bladder open so it can dry better. I'm faithful about using that every time I get home or won't be using the bladder for a few days. If it dries well and I take care of the mouth piece, I feel like I can go a bit longer before having to take it all apart for a deep clean.

[@MikeWood]

Those hanger expanders are a great idea. Anything with an X shape works if it can fit inside. Dries really well.

[@arocker23]

Miranda is great! I store my empty reservoir in the freezer and that does a great job of keeping it clean from bacteria and mold.

[@rei]

Great tip! This is an awesome way to store a reservoir. - Miranda

[@salty8752]

This is genius. Thank you.

[@HunterAtheist]

I would worry about the plastic being brittle from this.

[@arocker23]

Hunter Green I use a Camelbak reservoir and drinking tube that I bought 10 years ago and have been doing this ever since I bought it. It has held up well!

[@mdrichards]

I love that the van isn't all #vanlife #glamvan. Much more approachable.

[@rcg5317]

Miranda gets all the gross topics. She's awesome. And she didn't say "poop" in a full four minutes and forty-nine seconds.

[@realfakehiker7714]

Sure she did, but they beeped it out.

[@rcg5317]

real fake hiker LOL! That was ‘poop’ as class, not a thing. And I HOPE it wasn’t in the hydration line.

[@cmcer1995]

@@realfakehiker7714 I think she said the expletive version of poop even though that seems to be her favorite one.

[@robote7679]

Thanks for all the tips. Best of luck to you in all your adventures.

[@robadventure3500]

Very nicely done, as usual; you have a clear, playful, and engaging presentation style. I find that it take days to fully dry a bladder like yours (I have the same one) unless I roll up a fresh dish towels and stick into down each side of the bladder to absorb 90% of the moisture and then hang it upside down in the sunshine. This way it's not an odd house decoration for any longer than needed and doesn't stay wet long enough to start mildewing again. And I agree with your choice to get the cleaning kit. Anything complicated that you have to do on a regular basis it's worth spending a few bucks to make it a lot easier. Thanks again!

[@ameliaa2302]

Perfect straight forward explanation

[@aaalllen]

With the Osprey tips, you can push the red part out and clean/dry both parts separately. That should get all the sand out

[@savethebeeeez]

Super helpful. Thanks Miranda!

[@titanpreparedness]

Great information. I know a ton of people (i was one of them) who never clean the bladders. This is one of the reasons i stopped using them. you cant know how much water is left is another. Ive got a whole video dedicated to why i dont use them coming soon

[@traviskretz2779]

Super jealous of the van!!! 😍😍😍

[@Antenox]

Pro-tip: If you can, turn the reservoir inside out to both scrub it more thoroughly AND let it dry faster.

[@HunterAtheist]

Most have an internal baffle that prevents this.

[@jhandsky]

Thanks, Miranda!

[@sandralutz-rodriguez2864]

awesome video

[@tim42310]

Another great one by Miss Miranda!

[@carldrechsel544]

These are awesome videos ... M does such a great down to earth instructional experience ... I use store brand denture tablets ... cheap .. easy to clean rinse... again. Thank you

[@cmcer1995]

I also clean mine about as often, but when I do it is pretty much as you demonstrated Miranda. I saw the freezer idea below as well, sounds good for bacteria growth control, but still needs manual removal of dirt and organic/inorganic materials. Hey, a little left over soap might be healthy for bowel cleaning you know.

[@adventuresinnature5082]

Thanks for the video. Very helpful.

[@rei]

Thanks for the support!

[@socaljoe]

I think it helps if one can to make the bladder inside out to dry or at least as much as you can and as someone else mentioned, hang it upside down so the water drains out. My particular bladder can be flipped totally inside out for cleaning and drying

[@joyfaithlove]

I think this has been brought up, but a topic about Leave No Trace would be phenomenal. I come across many who don't respect LNT and throw their food/waste on the ground because it is "biodegradable." Thank you so much again for the helpful video, Miranda!

[@lydiajlong]

Thanks for this!!

[@peraltaesteffany]

Tour of your van!!

[@oneringtorule2032]

Lol, I liked and subscribed after “it’s my show gosh darn!”

[@christianklampfer4746]

Quick Tip: Using a mouthpiece cover will help keep the mouthpiece clean and make it last longer. You can get these mostly from the "tacticool"/ milspec reservoir-manufacturers e.g camelbak, source etc. It also helps ( in conjunction with a neoprene hose-cover) to keep it from freezing in lower temperatures.

[@meredithanderson3386]

They dry better if you turn them inside out! Or, at the very least, prop it open so some air can get in there and the sides aren't touching each other. The top slider halfway in works pretty well to prop it open.

[@malonek3679]

Van tour time!

[@hindenburgminsky7638]

Thank you for sharing. I was gonna throw away my Hydration Reservoir ! The tube is bloody mouldy ! You just saved me a couple of hundreds bucks!

[@rei]

That definitely sounds like it needs a deep clean! We hope this helps clear everything up.

[@NyanKitty23]

Topic Suggestion: emergency preparedness, i think what to have in an emergency overnight kit would be very helpful :)

[@rei]

Great suggestion! I'll see what I can do! - Miranda

[@MrHerks]

Definitely 2nd this awesome suggestion

[@nk6197]

3rd that’s a really good one

[@mervs-verves]

That’s great! Too many day hikers don’t prep for the overnight emergency. They take a small detour to see some flowers, or a lake, and end up either lost or a misstep that leaves them stranded, possibly injured. No spare layers to keep them warm and no signalling device if their only smartphone gets busted during the fall. Rescue comes in when someone notices they’re not back home, but that’s about Day 2 or 3 of the ordeal.

[@JoeScottsdale]

I bought a cheap long handled dish cleaning brush. After every trip, I empty the water out and put the brush inside the bladder making sure it is propping open the bladder to dry in storage. Never had a problem with mold, mildrew or bacteria.

[@rabbitdadthings]

Ha! This exact subject was on my short list of videos to make.

[@EliasKolovos]

You can also use baking soda diluted in vinegar or vinegar solution in boiled water. :)

[@ModernScientist]

After I clean my bladder, I hang it upside down and shove a plastic cup in it to keep it wide open. It let's air in to dry it out quickly.

[@carlosmorales7565]

Great video! You are so likable! How do you know when it’s time to let it go and buy a new one?

[@cybrarian9]

Miranda, remember water flows to its lowest point. It's a gravity thing. :-) But you hung your bag with the opening "up" as opposed to "down" to let the water run out of the opening, which it won't do as you hung it. The hose you did right with both ends down, but I'd have removed the bite valve from the end of the tube. Also, for me, I often will use a metal hanger formed to keep the bag open or I'll take a bottle or something else that will fit into the mouth of my water bladder to stand it upside down or I'll use a dry cloth or paper towel to balled up to absorb the water and keep the bag open for air circulation. Just a few handy dandy tips. And I'm not a real "hiker" or "backpacker." I'm just a guy who uses water bladders of different sizes and kinds when I horseback ride on trail or go bike riding and sometimes when I'm out just for a short few miles in the woods (nothing long distance or overnight. Stay safe, stay clean, and stay hydrated. And keep up the great videos.

[@salty8752]

I feel goTenna mesh network devices, needs some attention. These devices are great for hikers that go in groups and not to mention the emergency benefits it can provide. Either way keep up the great work. Looking forward to the next video.

[@wanderingearl01]

If you're planning a van tour. Could you please explain what the different colors of the states represent on your map on the back door of Vince? Cheers.

[@pdxcorgidad]

Could be wrong, but it appears to be a scratch-off map of the United States with the names of the National Parks in the large circles. My guess: Miranda has been to Washington, Oregon, New York, Virginia and North Carolina and has visited Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic, all in Washington, and Shenandoah in Virginia but has not yet made it to Oregon's Crater Lake. Also looks like she MIGHT have been to Denali. My partner gave me a similar map for Christmas last year. It's a bit different in that only the national parks, represented as evergreen trees, scratch off, but it's an amazing map. Even though I've been to many of the parks, we decided I would only scratch off those we've visited together. So far: Big Bend (twice) and Mount Rainier. Much more in our future! Sorry for the rambling but hope my answer helped!

[@darkhunter2216]

I’m more tempted to get a reservoir now

[@MrHerks]

Anyone else store there’s bladder in the freezer?

[@joeisawesome540]

no but I store protein shakers in it

[@laornyc]

Jeff Hadley yes & I just rinse it with vinegar

[@amber-lamber]

Me!

[@johnnorris7702]

Yep. Saves a lot of time. I rarely have to clean it.

[@SlyDz420]

Storing in freezer only delays bacteria growth, not prevent it. Fyi

[@davegrenier1160]

Q-Tips work well on mouthpieces. You can reach in with them and get all the gunk out that tries to hide along the edges of the inner walls.

[@rei]

Great tip, Dave. Thanks for watching! - Miranda

[@TheKikukiku89]

I subscribed only because of Miranda

[@jesseobrien5864]

You're fine as frog hair lady 💯 Thanks for the info!

[@armandoveloz5644]

So any ideas on how to get rid of the what I'm calling a (PERFUMIE) taste from the bladders. Tried baking soda, lemon. I have the platypus

[@l.samano7722]

Denture cleaning tablets works well too.

[@pamlavallee9051]

Just sitting here casually thinking about the reservoir in the one backpacking pack I own thats currently living in my shed and wondering if it’s ever been cleaned before in its existence, and how many spiders probably have taken up residence in it. Oops.

[@rei]

Just let the spiders have it. It's their home now. - Miranda

[@jalon_jalon]

Would storing with a couple silica packets help keep moisture down and prevent mold?

[@emilymartin5418]

You can also use Milton or anything that cleans milk bottles for babies, if your lifestyle means you have some lying around... Don't forget to back-flush your water filter as well.

[@onliiine1]

Citricidal 👌

[@amateurhouradventures]

Every now and then when some funk is starting to develop I'll drop a chlorine 'water purification tablet' and give it a good long soak. Kills any mold plus bonus giardia/chrypto. Afterwards, I pop it in the freezer for long term storage.

[@AlexSeligerX]

2:40 did you try to dismaunt this part to clean it internal surface? I see some dirt after long time I did not used it.

[@recklesslyamerican375]

Every time I think about using a bladder again it reinforces my decision to strictly use canteens however, If you use vinegar it kills mold very effectively and after you rinse it doesn't leave an aftertaste like soap. Works on coffee makers too.

[@CarolanIvey]

Hm, your tube brush looks exactly like the one I used to clean my son's trumpet. :) Is white vinegar/water a good cleaning solution?

[@22Really]

What about using an antibacterial tablet , like efferdent, hot water then letting it soak before rinsing the bladder?

[@ltklingsporn]

My bite tube won't go back on after cleaning - the rubber bit now sticks out too much so the bite tube cap won't close. Suggestions on how to fix?

[@TragoudistrosMPH]

My strategy has been wash with soap (or lemon juice) and water...then store in horror. On future hikes.... hike hoping I never need to drink, in case washing went wrong 😅 *Nearly dies of dehydration*

[@GeekonaBike]

denture tabs make great inexpensive cleaning tabs

[@warrenphilips8441]

Could you tell me how to clean out a gushing wound. ...My screen seems to be getting dimmer.

[@abigail843]

what about cleaning and caring for a pump filter?

[@TummySausage]

I left my reservoir in the trunk of my car for 3 years and didn't get a single bit of mold and it doesn't even smell. Idk what magic happened but I'm still going to be scrubbing it for days. Thanks for the video!

[@theknow-nothinfisherman7901]

Would ozone water straight from an ozone machine damage the material and/or components of the bag?

[@jameswoods4656]

You can also use denture tablets.

[@worldcitizeng6507]

Please show us how to clean the black smoked pots. I tried to cover my pot with aluminum foil before cooking it. The smoke gets onto my hands,stuffs.

[@dmalka518]

I usually just empty it when I'm finished my hike, pour a couple ounces of rubbing alcohol in there, swish it a bit, empty and let dry. The alcohol evaporates much faster than water.

[@Kaisersozze]

These cleaning brush kits are like $12 at your local backpacking shop like Decathlon in Canada or amazon. Definitely worth it. The Osprey one looks identical but is more than double the price. Don't waste your money.

[@Abcdefbdawg22]

I have the Gregory 3L reservoir but my local REI only has the Osprey cleaning kit... dumb question but do you think it’ll be ok even if it’s not the same brand?

[@rei]

It'll absolutely work! They are not brand specific - any cleaning kit will work great. - Miranda

[@rickycontreras2766]

Has Miranda only been to like 4-6 states? I would’ve expected her to be everywhere by now! Or am I reading that map wrong

[@lh3540]

Gotta do what I do with aquarium hosing. Take it outside, and start violently helicoptering it. All the water will fling itself out, and it makes a terrifying harmonic.

[@Edwordless]

My reservoirs don’t have larger openings, and never seem to dry. Any suggestions for that?

[@rei]

If you can fit a whisk inside the reservoir, try that! That has always worked for me. Good luck! - Miranda

[@THCgecko25]

I have a reservoir that you can actually put inside out. I´m not saying it is pleasure to cleaning it, but I neither can imagine to drink from something moldy or what... :D so yes, I´m that one person who cleaning it properly after each use... but I´m not using it very often, I have a big one which I use on long hikes with no other water sources, but in average I use classic flasks or filtration bottle

[@simonpike779]

I use a couple of denture cleaning tablets, fill the bladder pop in the tablets, wait 20 mins job done! Never ever use soap unless you like the taste of soap that is! I wish i could store it in the freezer but freezer small and bladders many🙁

[@Wafflebaby33]

love the beep when she says poop 💀

[@AdventureOtaku]

Two more tips - only put water in your reservoir. Far less likely to get bacterial growth. Also, try freezing your reservoir. Leave an inch of water in the bottom and either hang it, or lay it flat in a freezer (probably dont have one in your van!) if its frozen you cant get bacterial growth. Then just add water and go. NO CLEANING!

[@nikgyver7]

to remove bad smell soak with lemon and baking soda.

[@Beyond_The_Beard]

This video made me Laugh.

[@RichRich1955]

I keep mine in the refrigerator with vinegar and water long term storage.

[@jamesgillespie9000]

I keep mine in the freezer, stops any growth

[@sjvche7675]

Hey my BIG question you have to pull the tube off the barbed fitting. NOT EASY! Will doing that cause LEAKS?! Seems it would, so you, NO LEAKS?

[@erickacalloway2452]

How do you zip up to zip to nemo sleeping bags ?; one being a womans long mummy and the other being a man's regular mummy- thanks :)

[@willgrant719]

i freeze my water bladder after each use. It stops the bacteria growth and funny tastes and the msr dromedary is a mule and can take all sorts of punishment. p.s. Miranda please get a bite valve cover I once hiked with a guy who got poison oak in his mouth after carelessly laying his pack down. I use the Source bite valve it fits every make and model.

[@wasntmeXYZ]

Here’s a tip! Use unscented dishwashing liquid such as 7th generation unless you enjoy a slight hint of Dawn in your drinking experience!

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

Thought about rinsing mine with dental mouthwash ?

[@rei]

Honestly, I've never tried! I hear mixed reviews, but some people swear by this method. - Miranda

[@chisum8167]

I like you, could you do a tour of your van and its setup please.

[@rei]

Definitely - stay tuned! - Miranda

[@chisum8167]

@@rei Miranda, could you also tell me what part of the world you are in. I am in Montana so I look for things I can tailor to my area and climate.

[@xFATKIDx]

Same tune mythical kitchen uses a lot.

[@newtonpermetersquared]

She sounds like Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of Cracking the Coding Interview 😂

[@jacobmclin9398]

DIY MRE!

[@pilgrimbruce6475]

Thanks for showing this. I'm always researching gear to see what works for me. Let's see what I've learned: hydration reservoirs cost $15-$40, take up room in your pack, and are a chore to clean. Whereas Smart Water bottles cost $2, fit in the pack's side pockets, and can be recycled when they need cleaning.