How To Properly Clean Your Aluminum Canteen

Here is a video that I have been wanting to see. How to clean your canteen the correct way.
This will help clean any crap that may be inside.
Beware, it can turn into a work out depending on the number of canteen one possesses.

[@oustandingsitter6106]

This was a really well made video. I felt bad that my grandfathers items were fermenting in my storage so i decided to refurbish, thankyou. Didnt go with the bleach method, i used goo gone and baking soda, worked great and no more musty aluminum smell. Thanks again.

[@worldwarguy459]

BrabusTunedSTI - glad it helped you.

[@panzerproductions4668]

Tip: *learn from me to not use copper plated BBs as it will damage it over time*

[@Mat-kr1nf]

Two difference metals cause corrosion, the copper will coat the aluminium, thus causing the alumium to oxidise.

[@bigtrkdrvr216]

Thanks for the tip. I was wondering if it made a difference

[@wyattmoser3565]

What about plastic airsoft bb's?

[@northwesttrails7176]

@@wyattmoser3565 airsoft bbs wont do anything

[@tehwhaffle3088]

Umm how much bleach exactly? *oh just enough for the flavor*

[@kermitlynotfound1129]

@Ramon Cesar oh gee looks like no one cares:( these same trashy sus af ads are every where, i hope no one is stupid enough to trust it lmao

[@sammcclusky5489]

Thank you for making this my repro canteen has a bunch of stuff in it now I can get it out

[@worldwarguy459]

Sam Mcclusky glad I could help.

[@cctproductions6976]

@@worldwarguy459 i looking inside of mine and it has white stuff all on the inside

[@Durplepurple94572]

Thanks for the tip. This seems like a better option than using a bottle brush. I'm going to try this on my soviet canteen and maybe my vdv canteen.

[@worldwarguy459]

WintaFresh glad I could help

[@Code_Exodus]

Thank you for the video on this, forgot to air out my canteen before packing it away with my P41 kit. It's aluminum so not entirely sure what the dark spots in the bottom are, what really hit was was the stale water smell and I rather not risk legionar disease, worst case but better safe than sorry. Grammar corrections.

[@gonecamping3278]

the steel bbs are in the mail and i also got a replacement cork for the cap! hope my restoration turns out as good as yours did

[@scandinut]

Many thanks, very helpful

[@worldwarguy459]

Glad it helped

[@mrjoshua2791]

Great video thanks for posting

[@pranktards0.023]

You got to much water in the canteen. Just get the canteen a quarter fullbof water and shake. It lets the bb's hit harder against the sides. To much water slows down the force of bb's

[@marcushohnstein4831]

Works really good thank you for this video

[@joekurtz8303]

Sern this dark discoloration in aluminum coffee pots, from hard water and not cleaning properly after use. Boiled vinegar or old wine and citrus juice in it and let sit -then rinse thoroughly. . A little better this may help ,

[@worldwarguy459]

Joe Kurtz thank you for the tip

[@leobrown3276]

Hey, I have a really old school canteen I’m trying to prep but it has a very tough layer of grime/oil or grease, it seems like it might have been something I’ve seen added on metals at machining plants. Wondering if it’s safe to use and what that layer might be. It held onto dust when I first bought it and when you wiped your finger across it you would get a grey grease. With boiling water and soap there’s no dirt left over but you can still feel that waxy layer.

[@worldwarguy459]

Leo Brown I wouldn’t drink out if it until all that oil is out. Not sure why it’s all oily

[@Mat-kr1nf]

Try a solvent such as acetone.

[@nolangonzales8534]

I have the same problem in my soviet canteen, what did you use to get rid of it?

[@Psqwall]

I’d use white vinegar and baking soda instead of bleach but not sure if that will damage aluminum

[@1smellon]

found a decent German WWII canteen dated 1936 that I"m going to clean using this method. The cap matches the bottle but it has the remnants of the leather strap attached with the rivet. Can anyone point me to a link of article on how to remove that cap rivet and reattach a replacement rivet so I can get either an original strap or nice reproduction reattached to the cap?

[@patrickfreeman8816]

If you can get to both sides of the rivet you can drill it out You you need to make a backstop wooden to set on a table ANwoodenD get the rivet to sit on this wooden block, you're halfway there

[@sir.phillip2697]

I think viniger and baking soda works to and i knoe it makes it expload but i herd it works

[@afrikayt]

*pours* *bleach* *into* *a* *drinking* *source* yep,that seems about right

[@worldwarguy459]

Afrika's 65y channel cleans out the very small amount of bleach to the point of no harm, yep that’s seems right.

[@afrikayt]

@@worldwarguy459 haha, great to see an active channel that replies back, thanks for the content, keep on making videos

[@worldwarguy459]

Afrika's 65y channel thank you.

[@worldwarguy459]

Mexico City thanks for the tip as well

[@AbuGrabIt]

Yuck, you've never disinfected any container with bleach that you drink from! Gross.

[@JPazer]

Will this not damage the aluminium coating? Another question; is there any coating on the old ww2 canteens?

[@mathewsmith4476]

Good to know

[@AutodidactEngineer]

I clean mine in hot water pour some washing soda boil it under high heat for 1 hour and it works every time!

[@christophersmay4508]

Excellent! Any tips on getting a WW1 aluminum canteen cap unstuck? It seems to be fused to the canteen from some kind of corrosion, and I do not want to put a wrench on it, thanks!

[@omegaduke10]

Get a plastic cutting board and cut some 1 inch rectangles out of it and grab a large pair of vicegrips or some big channel lock pliers and go to town! Had the same issue and it worked like a charm with no damage to the cap

[@nikolaiplayz9795]

I just hit mine a few times lol

[@Ghostshade47]

my problem is to to clean the cap and the screw of the bottle from the black stain of the aluminum bottle.

[@margaretadler6162]

After throughly clearing put denture tablets in it overnight and it should be minty fresh!

[@worldwarguy459]

Margaret Adler thank you for the tip!

[@flannelflax8078]

I get paranoid when I mix bleach and something I will drink out of. Is there a better solution like baking soda with the bbs and then denture cleaner?

[@worldwarguy459]

FlannelFlax you can use those as well

[@jefferyneedham1581]

In the Marines I was a food service specialist and to clean our canteens we used a cap full of bleach after cleaning the canteens and fill them with water and let them sit for awhile and then rinse them out. The bleach won't hurt you and once done you are good to go.. Hope that helps you

[@megandarling2215]

I tired anything and mine will not clean I used 2 types of soap hot water baking soda and vinegar I don’t know why

[@patrickfreeman8816]

I'm a bit concerned about drinking from an aluminum canteen. I've used on on a hike and it was definitely metallic. Anyone use something like slightly diluted epoxy to seal the inner surface?

[@x.hrchta]

Is a WW1 m1910 canteen safe to drink out of after I use this process because im worried about what the metal contains.

[@pertsona5822]

Why tf you want to drink out of one in the first place?

[@gazebo935]

@@pertsona5822 for reenacting, I drink out of canteens dated from 1917-1945 with no problems

[@Zurgo-fl1kx]

the american m1910's unless they are the ww2 steel ones are lead free. The aluminum ones are welded not soldered. The steel ones are joined with lead solder but the risk of poisoning is low if you dry between uses and don't fill it with an acidic liquid.

[@tanker12999]

Is there any other way to dry out the canteen because water loves to hangout in the bottom of it even when upside down

[@worldwarguy459]

tanker 129994 this has always worked for me. It takes about a day for it to fully dry

[@tanker12999]

@@worldwarguy459 ok thanks

[@cal_militaria486]

Good video

[@sigve7008]

i only have plasti bb's and but I tried and it doesn't smell but after a while I starts to smell extremely strong again

[@LALopezWei]

Do you let it completely dry before closing the lid?

[@oulbraimyoussef1787]

Thanks

[@johnnyboy8507]

I've tried cleaning out 2 Soviet canteens using the sand,salt and baking soda method. The taste is still horrid and it often makes me sick to drink out of them. Any ideas?

[@lapulga9000]

Don't drink out of them and buy better ones like tf?

[@90sHighSpeed]

$1 plastic water bottle works too

[@historyrevive5417]

Can u make the clean the U.S WWII canteen I have a canteen go in 3 war last year of 1945 and Korea war 1950 maybe and I’m sure come to VIETNAM ( hope u read it )

[@A_Meek_lake_Dweller]

Chicken grit work's also.

[@comixguy-wc8bc]

What would you recommend for the cork tops that some of them come with

[@worldwarguy459]

comixguy 1456 on eBay, you can find some people selling the corking for them.

[@christianjhonasuncion8461]

Just buy the correct size o-rings. Works the same

[@Chris65645]

Couldnt you just boil the canteen and cup?

[@Nerobunny23]

Is it okay to drink out of it after

[@the_ultimate_seel_person7362]

Can you do this with a canteen that has been taken onto the battlefield in 1941?

[@worldwarguy459]

Are you asking if this works for original canteen? Because these are all original canteens.

[@the_ultimate_seel_person7362]

@@worldwarguy459 no I mean lead lined does this make them safe to drink out of

[@the_ultimate_seel_person7362]

@@worldwarguy459 btw I mean 1918 not 1941

[@mikem9098]

Would plastic bbs work

[@JKhyway]

How do you remove the canteen cap from the leather strap?

[@worldwarguy459]

That, I am not sure. I do not think there is a simple way of taking it off.

[@mlgsphee7161]

I have a repro German canteen can this get rid of the red paint on the inside?

[@worldwarguy459]

Mlg Sphee if it’s a repro, the paint might be solid and you won’t be able to get rid of the paint. This would be better for cleaning anything that is 3D.

[@loganraney4060]

I have a stainless steel USGI canteen dated 1945. Do you think anodized bbs or zinc plated bbs will be ok?

[@worldwarguy459]

Logan Raney yes

[@loganraney4060]

@@worldwarguy459 Thanks man

[@spmos_most_wanted6709]

I took advice from a vet and he said to use bleach and water

[@hornmonk3zit]

Not sure I'd use galvanized BBs in something you drink out of.

[@hornmonk3zit]

@@epicwwiistuff6863 It can be hazardous if the coating is flaked off, it's used in water pipes just fine but there's usually nothing bouncing around in there to chip off the zinc. You probably won't get enough of the coating off with those BBs to be dangerous anyway but stainless steel BBs would be preferable.

[@hornmonk3zit]

@@epicwwiistuff6863 Probably calcium, just wash it it out with soap and water. Could also be aluminum oxide if the canteen is aluminum and had some sort of acid in there like orange juice or vinegar. Just clean it out with soap and water and you should be fine either way.

[@war.helmets9636]

Can you do this with a ww2 US canteen

[@worldwarguy459]

Godzilla 62 in the beginning of the video, there and plenty of US canteens. So yes.

[@rileyfarrell180]

So all the canteen shaking is why you have one wrong arm I thought it was something else

[@FuturPaladin489]

And yoy have a strong word

[@artslushy4031]

Why are you calling bleach a flavour 😂

[@worldwarguy459]

Nuka Tato to give people a laugh.

[@nicoderbin5418]

How do u get rust out of the bottom

[@nicoderbin5418]

It’s little dots of rust

[@nicoderbin5418]

I put white vinegar in it will that hurt it

[@worldwarguy459]

Use this method.

[@ascendedfashy9632]

Aluminum doesn't rust...

[@RadierGummiWars]

phssst dont tell him

[@worldwarguy459]

As I said in the video, this is for both aluminum and steel.

[@jameswhoneedstoknow5148]

Aluminum can get pitting on it i have seen canteens with it

[@vintagemountaineeringandhi6060]

The old aluminum canteens, somtimes have stuff stuck inside, so this is a good method.

[@Mat-kr1nf]

Aluminium will oxidise, the same sort of chemical reaction as rust. It produce aluminium oxide, a white powder.

[@joshuarios6705]

Doiiiwn segundo ves

[@kyleramos720]

I just got a canteen from a surplus store and when i looked inside it it had some black spots. Is it safe to drink with those black spots and is there a way to clean those black spots out?

[@worldwarguy459]

crucesignatis - try this method first. Not sure what it could be.

[@bandit1272]

Probably mold

[@alvarojacome3191]

My metal canteens developed bacteria, now what?

[@hydro6676]

The bleach smell wont just come out. Hellpp???

[@worldwarguy459]

Hydro Playz rinse with either vinegar or dish soap.

[@RotrossStudio]

Any tricks or advise to open the lid of an old canteen that is stuck? I've tried warm water, boiling water, vinager, oil,... seems impossible.

[@worldwarguy459]

RoTross I used a clamp. But it might strip part the of grip on the cap. But that should get it open.

[@RotrossStudio]

World War Guy tried that but it won’t budge, and like you said it damages the lid.

[@worldwarguy459]

RoTross I’m not sure then. That has worked for my canteens.

[@suchite8]

RoTross Try some 3 in One oil. Or penetrating oil. Not WD40 try and get it under the cap as much as possible. This way it gets in the threads and try to work it back and fourth. Also try and tap it on the table not “Hulk Smash” tap but lightly tap it to break some of the stuff loose under the cap. Then work it back and fourth. I have never tried this but it should work. I do this all the time with rusted bolts on my car’s exhaust and it works like a charm. Should be no different on your canteen. Hope this helps.

[@littlebritain64]

@@suchite8 I used WD40, it worked. But is it unsafe for health?

[@yankeedoodle7365]

Omg, why so many?? Well at least you'll never run out of water on the battle field xd

[@worldwarguy459]

legoboy 300001 the more, the merrier

[@gijr2003]

GuyInAPanzer You never heard of collecting? One guy had a USGI collection that had every metal canteen made from 1940 to 1960.

[@x.hrchta]

Also will the copper BBs work?

[@Ozarkwonderer]

Should copper water pipes dont hurt you

[@Mat-kr1nf]

Copper is softer than steel, it will rub off and coat the aluminium, when two metals are in contact in a damp environment, it causes a reaction (similar to electrolysis), producing a very small electrical charge, this will lead to corrosion and oxidisation of the aluminium.

[@esayasesayasebekelebekeleb1173]

You are bay this botel

[@aaronzierke9920]

Pea rock works better.

[@oldeays5085]

If that water is to hot for your frail hands. You must have never washed dishes then. Their washed is scolding hot water! Toughen up! Lol! I'm just giving you a hard time. Lol! But, great video thanks!