camelbak plastic taste?

Midget

Midget

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Jun 1, 2002
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2,806
hey, i have a camelbak and everything that comes out of it tastes like plastic. anyone know how to get rid of that "bladder" taste? thanks!
 
Midget,

1. I have been using Camelbacks for over 15 years, and have never had this problem. I would get a replacement bladder first (they are cheap, and send the other one into Camelback for testing/ OR if you don't need it right now, send in the one you have.

2. The cleaning tabs that you can buy at the same place that sells Camelback's might help.

3. A couple drops of lemon juice in your water would help as well, I should think.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I highly suggest using the cleaning tablets. My water bladder also had that plastic taste to it when I got it. Using the tablets cleared up the problem. Also make sure you clean the tubing. I used hydrogen peroxide straight down the sealed tube and used the tube scrubber. Rinse it with clear water and Voila! Clean taste free tube!
 
Sorry, guys. Cleaning tabs are for suckers. Buy denture cleaning tablets at Walgreen's. Same thing, fraction of the cost. Will probably kill the plastic taste. Store bladder in freezer when not in use. A little bleach in water is also acceptable. Don't store water in it. If you still get funky taste, new bladder. If you still don't like it, switch to another company's product, like Platypus.
 
I always dried mine after use, and never experienced any nasty flavor problems. You can buy the purpose-made stretcher/dryer, or make one from plastic-coated wire.
 
Chiro75 said:
Sorry, guys. Cleaning tabs are for suckers. Buy denture cleaning tablets at Walgreen's. Same thing, fraction of the cost. Will probably kill the plastic taste. Store bladder in freezer when not in use. A little bleach in water is also acceptable. Don't store water in it. If you still get funky taste, new bladder. If you still don't like it, switch to another company's product, like Platypus.
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Suckers, huh? Probably kill the taste? Have you tried it out or are you just making assumptions? They worked for me and based on my success I recommend them. But still, you are entitled to your opinion. Just have something to back it up.
 
Fill the thing up with Vodka. After a few sips, you won't care about any off taste.
 
Gollnick said:
Fill the thing up with Vodka. After a few sips, you won't care about any off taste.
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Great idea! I think I'll do that for my hike tomorrow! That 3 hour hike may turn into a 5 hour nap! :D
 
I tried the mouthwash tip - one cap in the bladder with a full tank. I left it overnight and got to drink peppermint for a week. Apparently the plastic is permeable and needs to be treated as such.
They are still nice to wear this time of year with a full bag of ice. They almost last four hours in extreme heat, although the tubing still gets hot.
 
For the last 30 years I have always used Arm and Hammer powdered soda mixed with water to clean out the plastic taste of all of my plastic bladder type canteens, spanish botas, vietnam bladder canteens, etc. Several spoon fulls mixed with water and left in the filled bladder overnight seemed to remove the plastic taste for many months at a time. Rinse it out the next day and use the bladder. I always make sure to rinse the bladders out after returning from any trips and store them dry after draining well. Try the soda powder and post back your results. Very cheap to do.
 
Hi All-

After use I rinse my CamelBak M.U.L.E. bladder using hot water and some bleach. I hold it higher than my shoulders so the mixture can pour through the tube. I then swish around some hot water and a couple tablespoons of regular table salt. A final rinse with plain hot water and it is ready for the next hiking or biking session and I can be certain I won't catch the cooties from the darn thing or have funky-tasting water.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
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