Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter: Preventing Off-Season Clogging (Don't Make My Mistake)

[@MaxIsRetired]

You are the first person I have watched to put their filter away wet.

[@LongLeg1995]

Yeah that seems really really dumb.

[@JayHutchG]

if you leave it wet it will mold for sure. clogging usually from dried mold not crystallized stuff from city water. just do the Clorox thing and use distilled to RO water. Allow ti DRY FOR AT LEAST 48 hours. Don't seal it away wet in a plastic bag.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@robbailey464]

I think storing the filter moist might be inviting bacterial growth or mold. I back flush with the bleach solution and then leave in the sun to dry for storage (though back flushing with distilled water before drying is a good idea). Then before hitting the trail I back-flush again with pure white vinegar to dissolve any calcium deposits (probably not necessary if you back flushed with distilled). Then I use the filter as I will on the trail to make sure the flow rate is good before heading out.

[@petert8931]

I had the same experience. No one else had a filter. Luckily I had (option b) those chemical tablets and could (option c) also boil water before consumption. Thanks for the video and the ideas

[@hisnameisiam808]

My friend, when they clog after leaving for a while, a good way to unclog them is to hit them on the counter on different sides just before flushing. I did this several times and it completely remedied my problem!

[@amandawilliams9337]

Thanks so much for this video! I thought my clogged sawyer was a lost cause but I backflushed with vinegar and had it good as new within 5 minutes! And now hopefully it won't be a problem again.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Awesome! I'm happy it was helpful for you.

[@Unifyhandmade]

Thank you for this info! I too made the mistake of not testing my filter before a trip in the high Sierras but luckily my friends all had filters I could use. I was annoyed though because I don’t like depending on others to filter water. It’s funny because I’ve never had this issue before with any of my sawyer filters until now-but after watching your video it makes sense. I think my sawyer squeeze dried out in between backpacking trips.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I'm glad to hear the video was helpful. Thanks for watching and taking time to leave a comment!

[@andrewhewitt8252]

Same thing happened to mine. Lemon juice it great at breaking up calcium. Run it through your filter backwards with the syringe a few times then run hot water through the filter forwards to clear out the lemon juice. Got mine working brand new again in about 5 min.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Wow. I never thought of lemon juice, but that would make a lot of sense since it is highly acidic. Thanks for sharing that.

[@FraserRobertTorpy]

As long as there aren't so many particulates in the lemon juice that it clogs the filter, or leaves organic residue that will grow mould when it becomes neutralized. Maybe citric acid solution might be safer. Thanks for the video and comments. I am still not convinced we have found the ultimate solution for this problem. I unblocked a clogged Sawyer by using the coupler and a 1.25 L water bottle, and standing on it to backflush with alacrity :) Works fine again, but I haven't tried it after drying.@@GreatLakesBackpacker

[@Featheredprop]

Thanks, Brian! I've been waiting for this video. I cleaned up my filter from my last hike a little differently, soaking the filter in white vinegar/water before beginning the backflush, but it was basically the same method. What I had NOT been doing was placing my Sawyer in a bag with a wet paper towel. I'm doing that now. I just hope there's no chance of mold growing during the off season.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

The only comment I have about the mold is that I didn't see anyone online saying that was an issue. My other thinking is this. If it is disinfected with bleach then there hopefully is no bacteria or anything left behind to begin the mold process. And hopefully getting as much air out of the bag also helps. Don't know if that reasoning would hold up scientifically, but it seemed logical to me. Plus, I didn't seem to notice any mold or other issues with this method. I hope it works for you.

[@Featheredprop]

@@GreatLakesBackpacker Actually, that makes a lot of sense. The bleach probably helps with the mold/bacteria issue. Plus, if you store it in a dark place you shouldn't have an issue. Thanks!

[@hikerJohn]

@@GreatLakesBackpacker Thumbs Up . . . You can leave a drop of chlorine in the bag with water for storage and rinse again when you take it out of storage. Mine often gets a dirt smell to them so there's obviously bacteria (the kind that's dominant in soil) in them. I will now start cleaning and flushing properly. I've used 50 PSI to back-flush them with no noticeable harm. Sawyer said it's the housing that cracks not the filter matrix. She said it could BURST at over 40 PSI and that it MIGHT crack at 30 PSI . . . Maybe I just got lucky. I now have a 25 PSI pressure regulator that I can screw right into the filter and use a hose faucet and a short hose.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Great information to have. I was actually contemplating hooking my filter right to a water spigot with the coupler, but then I figured the pressure would be too high, so I didn't. The pressure regulator is a great idea.

[@juskojj]

@@GreatLakesBackpacker i was just thinking maybe instead of flushing the residual bleach out, just leave it and then flush when ready to use.... not sure if the bleach long term would harm the filter though.... i'm trying to revive mine after long storage.... great idea on the distilled water... my issue is probably the tap water minerals left over.... i've even thought about getting the quick draw intead....

[@davidstefan4774]

I was hoping this video was going to show how to free up a locked filter. O just got back from a solo trip that I had to bail on because I failed to test my filter before heading out. I didn't want to trash that filter, but it has started squirting out of the body and I am concerned that it has been compromised. This is still helpful though.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I'm sorry to hear that you had to bail on a trip. I had a similar experience of not testing the filter before a trip because it worked perfectly at the end of my previous trip. The only thing that saved me was that my buddy had a working filter. Now, I test my filter a few days before the beginning of a new trip to avoid that problem. Yes, this video just describes my method for preventing a clog. I have thought about doing a video about how best to unclog a filter, but I just haven't done one yet. Maybe in the future. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@jedimom04]

Thanks for sharing this video. I have this same issue with my Katadyn BeFree. The filter shape is different than the Sawyer but has the same issue. When I’m using an older filter, I fill the filter bag with water, screw the filter cap on, and after an hour of soaking, I get a lousy flow rate. I always wondered why the filter performed so poorly after drying out. Now I just buy a new filter each year. I hadn’t thought of the minerals in my tap water blocking the filter but that makes sense.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I'm glad you liked it. I can't say for sure that's what causes it to clog, but it makes sense to me.

[@twhite19782012]

If your filter does clog from mineral deposits and you catch it before heading out on trail, all you need to do is soak it in a bowl of vinegar for a while to dissolve the deposits. After it’s done soaking just run some distilled water through it a few times to clean out the vinegar. Maybe follow it up with a diluted bleach water rinse as well to help with the vinegar smell / taste.

[@ShiverMeTimberrs]

The beaten path! Heck yeah. What a great hike

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I agree. It was probably my all-time favorite backpacking trip!

[@governor9934]

Nice video, Thanks!! very informative. Had the same problems with both the Sawyer and Katadyn BeFree. I think disinfecting and then preventing the filters from drying out during long term storage are the key. Trying your method now. Thanks!

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

You're welcome. I hope this works as well for you as it has for me. Thank you for leaving a comment.

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

well I have three different Sawyer Filters and they are POS. Not sure if there is a way to revive them. But thanks for the video.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I have seen a couple of videos and articles about how to fix completed clogged filters. I think it has something to do with vinegar soaking (to break down calcifications) and forceful backflushing. Do some searching and you should find them.

[@Heretic10001]

Soak in warm vinegar for 30-60 minutes and then use the Sawyer syringe to back flush with distilled water. Run at least 2 liters of distilled water through. This worked perfectly for mine. I also have completely stopped using tap water for rinsing or backflushing. This process has restored and so far maintained my filter which was 100% clogged when I pulled it out of my gear box.

[@wolfman2702]

Won’t the wet paper towel cause mold to form?

[@ricdonato4328]

Numerous comments mention the filter drying out is not a good thing. What about purchasing a new filter, it must be dry, and for how long it has been dry in the Sawyer warehouse, also on distributors store shelf dry as well? Yes, I purchased a Swayer Squeeze, but not yet used it. What is the initial process for a new out of the box dry filter?

[@alexarevalo52]

It´s not a problem if the filter dries after rinsing with destilled water. Because it doesn´t have any ions on it (ideally). But I would bet an small fortune that the people that got a cloth after drying up was likely for having some water with calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+) ions on it. That fenomenon is known has hard water blockage, and it is someting really troublesome to the industry and house applications. So the problem isn´t drying up, it is drying with hard water inside, so you get limescale buildup that can clogged even bigger diameter pipes, so the small diameter hollow fibers aren´t a match for that chemical fenomenom. I would bet also that after testing they rinse througthly the filter with destilled water to ensure a safety drying up and shell stability on stores. Sorry for the long text.

[@jtimko2196]

Is bleach necessary? I backwash mine after each hike and try to store decently. Never had an issue going on 6 years of use.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Sawyer actually recommends using a capful of unscented bleach per liter of water to disinfect the filter.

[@skull465]

same here. I owned my sawyer mini squeeze for 6 years and have taken it on 12 + trips. I didin't even back flush it until recently but somehow it still works perfectly fine.

[@jasonmason8413]

This was very informative. My filter is certainly clogged but i never used city water in it. On a hiking trip i used spring water from one of the springs on the trail. Would the minerals in the water be the cause?

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I suppose that could very well be the case. I have seen people discuss soaking their clogged filters in warm vinegar for a while and then backflushing to remover the deposits. I'm not sure of the exact method and amount of time for soaking, but if you search for it, I'm sure you'll find the procedure and all of the details.

[@thomascollins1924]

Really grteat info!!

[@hogue3666]

Great video. Thanks! How does the wet towel smell after storing it in a bag for a few months?

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I'm happy you enjoyed the video. So far I haven't noticed any odor. I think it may help using a clean ziplock bag, distilled water, and then rolling the bag to get rid of as much excess air as possible before sealing it closed. I suppose you could always check it after a month or two just to make sure.

[@rogerlarsen5328]

It looks like you are putting it away in a garage. Do you have to worry about freezing? I have heard that freezing is the biggest concern with storage because the medium could crack so I would have thought a dry filter would be better…?

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I put it in a plastic bin with some of my other gear and put it on a shelf in the basement. You definitely do NOT want the filter to freeze.

[@genglandoh]

Thank for the info never I live in Ohio and have a well, so the water is hard and I can see if I use my tap water it could clog the filter. Using distilled water and vinegar should help. PS At 68 and retired I am just getting back into winter backpacking. My bother and I would winter backpack as kids on the AT in New Jersey. I am not 17 anymore so I will be only traveling about 5 miles per day.

[@sylv_ain]

Distilled water makes total sense for a last cleanup before long term storage but leaving the filter in a moist environment for month seems like a bad idea.

[@normdawley2355]

Yes, I don't understand why some people think it's a good idea to keep the filter damp. I'm genuinely curious to know the reasoning. Brand new, unsold filters sit bone-dry on shelves in the factory and in stores for months or longer at a time, and this doesn't appear to damage the internal structure of the filters. Also, the instructions on my Sawyer Squeeze bag say nothing about storing the filter wet, nor about rinsing with pure water after bleaching. The last line of instruction under long-term storage is "Drain bleach water from bag and allow all components to air dry."

[@josefsilhavy]

Clean it with alcohol, cheap vodka, and keep it in. Alcohol disinfects and prevents to spoilage processes. And alcohol will not freeze. For use simply clean it with water.

[@johnphillips3526]

Thank you SO much! I have had this problem over and over again. My failed Be Free was probably for the same reason.

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

You're welcome. I have not had a problem since cleaning and storing my filter using this method. I hope it works for you. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment.

[@inso80]

i would imagine vinegar would disolve any calcium deposits?

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Yes, I've since heard that soaking a clogged filter (if clogged by calcium deposits) in warm vinegar will help dissolve the deposits.

[@distractedmonkeydesign]

Soaking and back flushing my clogged filter in vinegar worked like a champ. We have very high mineral content in our tap water. I never thought to use distilled water as a final backwash so I'll try that at the end of the hiking season this year.

[@StevenWaller-mu7ci]

U lost me with putting it away wet , mold !

[@norseman1137]

Back flush tap water till clean Tap on sink back flush more Back flush n leave a few hours water vinegar mix Back flush tap then finally distilled water Air dry few days Before use cap of bleach flush then clean water flush Test correct flow direction before depart

[@Jesuswillbeback]

Store filter in salt solution water after you do this cleaning proces...

[@randyrowland9881]

Having the same problem - just ordered my third one. Like you the first time I discovered after storing and I was on the trail - ended up drinking unfiltered water as I didn't have a choice :( Next time I backflushed, cleaned with clorox, etc and let it dry and when I pulled it out yesterday ... plugged again. I am trying soakign it in vinegar and boiling water. Also thinking that using distilled water is the way to go when cleaning/flushing for longevity but agree with others about the potential for mold/mildew if stored wet.

[@spectermad9180]

So I tested mine and now like foaming water comes out of it...is this a bad thing

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

I wish I could diagnose what might be causing the foaming water but I have never heard of that. The only thing I can suggest is to continue to backflush with distilled water until it clears.. If you think there might be a partial clog, you can always try the vinegar rinse / soak followed by a distilled water backflush. The Sawyer website will probably have more detailed information about the vinegard method to clear clogs caused by mineral deposits in the filter.

[@chaseevans1522]

This is literally the worst advice - at least the keep wet part. Please people, don't do this.. You WILL grow mold, it's not a maybe it's a certainty. You store it wet while using daily on a trip because you're using it on a daily basis, keeping the water essentially refreshed.

[@adriaanrijkse]

If you put salt in the water it won’t grow mold?

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Not sure about that, but if the filter dried out then the salt would crystalize on the inside and create problems.

[@adriaanrijkse]

@@GreatLakesBackpacker This is advice from the people at Lifestraw: Note: We recommend storing the bottle with a salt/saline solution because it helps to prevent any mold or algae from growing during long-term storage while also keeping the membrane microfilter wet which ensures a good flow rate when resuming use. When the membrane becomes completely dried out, it can be difficult to get the product flowing again

[@GreatLakesBackpacker]

Interesting.

[@theleveretts4179]

Info starts at 2:16 for anyone in a rush

[@billnott5811]

Store your filter in a Ziploc full of clean water and duct tape the top when sealed