Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

Mold in Camelbak drinking tube

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

Mold in Camelbak drinking tube

Old 10-02-22, 03:53 AM
  #1  
BikeGuy2
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
BikeGuy2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2022
Location: Australia
Posts: 18

Bikes: 1. Trek fuel ex 8 GX 2022 ML. | 2. 1995 Green Trek Mountain Track 850. | 3. Avanti Pisca pro-Track bike. | 4. Some 10 year old upgraded BMX

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Mold in Camelbak drinking tube

Hello fellow riders,
I have noticed a lot of this stuff that looks like mold in my Camelbak drinking tube. I have tried using vinegar, dish soaps and letting it soak but this does not work. Can anyone tell me a solution to getting rid of it?
Thanks
BikeGuy2 is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 04:48 AM
  #2  
_ForceD_
Sr Member on Sr bikes
 
_ForceD_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Rhode Island (sometimes in SE Florida)
Posts: 2,306

Bikes: Several...from old junk to new all-carbon.

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1012 Post(s)
Liked 762 Times in 409 Posts
What I do if/when I get mold…take the tube off the bag, and mouth fixture off tube. Straighten out a wire coat hanger (make sure it’s at least as long as the tube). Spray a bleach solution into the tube. Then force a small wad of cotton or cloth through the tube with the wire until the mold is cleaned off. Rinse thoroughly, and reassemble.

To prevent mold in the future…if you’re putting sugary drinks in the bag…make sure everything is rinsed thoroughly after each use. If it’s necessary to keep unused beverage in the bag…keep the bag in the garage fridge between uses.

Dan

Last edited by _ForceD_; 10-02-22 at 04:56 AM.
_ForceD_ is online now  
Old 10-02-22, 05:56 AM
  #3  
dsaul
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 2,258
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 712 Post(s)
Liked 793 Times in 471 Posts
I push a ball of wet paper towel through with a length of cable housing. With my latest pack, I decided to stick with plain water to avoid this issue.
dsaul is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 06:42 AM
  #4  
streetsurfer
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2022
Location: Illinois
Posts: 338
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 94 Post(s)
Liked 282 Times in 149 Posts
Get a tube brush
streetsurfer is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 06:42 AM
  #5  
Oakman
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 151

Bikes: Road, hybrid, and SS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 60 Post(s)
Liked 98 Times in 37 Posts
In addition to cleaning after use, remember to let thoroughly dry before storage.
Oakman is offline  
Likes For Oakman:
Old 10-02-22, 06:57 AM
  #6  
andrewclaus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Golden, CO and Tucson, AZ
Posts: 2,822

Bikes: 2016 Fuji Tread, 1983 Trek 520

Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 669 Post(s)
Liked 725 Times in 422 Posts
This is why this kit is made.
andrewclaus is online now  
Old 10-02-22, 08:54 AM
  #7  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,811

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times in 3,262 Posts
Soak for a time in water and Clorox bleach. Or soak in hydrogen peroxide. Or soak in some water and Oxyclean.

Hydrogen Peroxide probably works the best. But bleach is cheaper and always on hand here. I sometimes will have to take the silicone nipples apart on water bottles and soak them good when little bits of mold or mildew start showing. Probably would be better to just regularly soak them before it shows up. But I haven't gotten into that habit.
Iride01 is online now  
Old 10-02-22, 09:15 AM
  #8  
cxwrench
Senior Member
 
cxwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767

Bikes: lots

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times in 1,489 Posts
Tube brush and bleach.
cxwrench is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 10:06 AM
  #9  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,093 Times in 2,325 Posts
Originally Posted by BikeGuy2
Hello fellow riders,
I have noticed a lot of this stuff that looks like mold in my Camelbak drinking tube. I have tried using vinegar, dish soaps and letting it soak but this does not work. Can anyone tell me a solution to getting rid of it?
Thanks
I would not use bleach. It’s not really meant to be consumed. Soak in hydrogen peroxide with a bit of dishwashing liquid. Then physically remove any remaining bits with a piece of chinelle (pipe cleaner for the less sophisticated) dipped in the same solution. That’s what “pipe cleaners” were designed for. Rinse well.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!




Last edited by cyccommute; 10-02-22 at 10:10 AM.
cyccommute is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 10:18 AM
  #10  
Ridinglurker
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 55
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Clean somewhat frequently and hydrogen peroxide is a great bleach substitute. If it is too bad already, just buy some new tubing at Hone Depot. that way you also can different lengths.

I used to store them in my freezer after use. That way you prevent any growth. it is nearly impossible to get it 100% sterile after every use.
Ridinglurker is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 01:19 PM
  #11  
Iride01 
I'm good to go!
 
Iride01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,811

Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020

Mentioned: 50 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6100 Post(s)
Liked 4,732 Times in 3,262 Posts
Common household bleach, otherwise known by the brand name of Clorox is good for both a disinfectant and sanitizer. And it's EPA approved and at the proper dilution levels it even tells you on the label that it is safe for dishes and utensils and other things you use with food.

Not certain why the caution not to use bleach. However I will agree that hydrogen peroxide generally works best between the two for mold and mildew. Especially on porous surfaces.
Iride01 is online now  
Likes For Iride01:
Old 10-02-22, 01:54 PM
  #12  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,062
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,300 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by andrewclaus
This is why this kit is made.
Beat me to it!
indyfabz is offline  
Likes For indyfabz:
Old 10-02-22, 02:37 PM
  #13  
cxwrench
Senior Member
 
cxwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767

Bikes: lots

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times in 1,489 Posts
Originally Posted by cyccommute
I would not use bleach. It’s not really meant to be consumed. Soak in hydrogen peroxide with a bit of dishwashing liquid. Then physically remove any remaining bits with a piece of chinelle (pipe cleaner for the less sophisticated) dipped in the same solution. That’s what “pipe cleaners” were designed for. Rinse well.
Who's consuming bleach? I've been cleaning bottles and bladders/tubes for years with bleach. I rinse it out w/ this stuff called water. Camelback makes cleaning kits, why bother using anything else?
cxwrench is offline  
Likes For cxwrench:
Old 10-02-22, 04:36 PM
  #14  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,062
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,300 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by cxwrench
Who's consuming bleach? I've been cleaning bottles and bladders/tubes for years with bleach. I rinse it out w/ this stuff called water. Camelback makes cleaning kits, why bother using anything else?
New thread: What’s the best CamelBak tube cleaning water?
indyfabz is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 07:26 PM
  #15  
kwb377 
Definitely an amateur...
 
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: B'ham, AL
Posts: 68

Bikes: Obed Baseline, Stumpy FSR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 93 Times in 32 Posts
I have a CB bladder soaking with a bleach/water solution as we speak (type?).

A capful of bleach in 3L of water...let sit for a day or so, then rinse with warm water. I've been cleaning hydration bladders using that method for @ 20 years with no ill effects to me or the bladders.
kwb377 is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 08:13 PM
  #16  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,093 Times in 2,325 Posts
Originally Posted by cxwrench
Who's consuming bleach? I've been cleaning bottles and bladders/tubes for years with bleach. I rinse it out w/ this stuff called water. Camelback makes cleaning kits, why bother using anything else?
It is foolish to use the toxic alternative when a nontoxic, or at least less toxic, alternative exists.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!



cyccommute is offline  
Old 10-02-22, 08:46 PM
  #17  
cyccommute 
Mad bike riding scientist
 
cyccommute's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,274

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6147 Post(s)
Liked 4,093 Times in 2,325 Posts
Originally Posted by Iride01
Common household bleach, otherwise known by the brand name of Clorox is good for both a disinfectant and sanitizer. And it's EPA approved and at the proper dilution levels it even tells you on the label that it is safe for dishes and utensils and other things you use with food.
Those are generally hard surface materials that are easy to rinse completely as well as being unreactive towards the dishes and untensils. The same can’t be said of the plastic. It does react with the plastic and the break down products aren’t necessarily good for you.

Not certain why the caution not to use bleach. However I will agree that hydrogen peroxide generally works best between the two for mold and mildew. Especially on porous surfaces.
Because household bleach is not that safe to use. It can be irritating and it can have bad reactions is mixed with certain chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide…in household concentrations…doesn’t have the same problems. There is little that the peroxide could react with to make any side chemicals. It does much the same thing as chlorine bleach without the issues. And, contrary to what has been said above, hydrogen peroxide is cheaper… about 3¢ per ounce vs 6¢ per ounce.

As someone who have worked extensively with chlorine and chlorine containing compounds, I can tell you that is not a material to treat lightly.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!



cyccommute is offline  
Likes For cyccommute:
Old 10-02-22, 10:28 PM
  #18  
Ridinglurker
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 55
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 39 Post(s)
Liked 8 Times in 6 Posts
Don't they dunk chickens in bleach to disinfect the meat?

I understand the concern with plastic and bleach, though. Best to avoid any chlorine. Even if you don't touch or ingest it, it's gases attack your lungs.

As for H2O2, I recently bought 12% off Amazon since most what is sold is 3% only. You can see it foam when it hits organic matter. At my workplace the custodians clean the bathrooms with a machine that uses a hydrogen peroxide cleaner. It is much more environmentally friendly and less harsh than what they used before.

Only caution is that it can degrease your skin. Do wear some gloves. But that is true for any cleaner.
Ridinglurker is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 05:28 AM
  #19  
noimagination
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 721
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 362 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times in 244 Posts
Originally Posted by _ForceD_
To prevent mold in the future…if you’re putting sugary drinks in the bag…make sure everything is rinsed thoroughly after each use.
I empty the bladder immediately after use and wash with dish soap, including the drinking tube and valve, even if I've only had water in the bladder. I never store anything in the bladder. If I haven't emptied it during my ride, I do so immediately afterwards To dry, after rinsing I shake all of the water out that I can, loosely stuff some paper towels in the bladder, and dry the drinking tube by whirling it around so that the residual rinse water is forced into the valve, then shake out the water from the valve/blot with paper towel. The tube and valve are the most likely places for mold to develop, they warrant extra attention during the cleaning process.

It's a pain, but I've learned from hard experience (i.e. having to throw away my first Camelback bladder, and a couple of bottles). The combination of sugary drink and any backwash from one's mouth create a perfect environment for bacteria/mold growth. Rinsing/washing/drying bottles and bladders always, and I mean ALWAYS, takes place within half an hour of ride completion - I think of it as part of my "cool-down".
noimagination is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 07:04 AM
  #20  
Dino_Sore
Junior Member
 
Dino_Sore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 87
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 37 Posts
Originally Posted by andrewclaus
This is why this kit is made.
The tube brush here does a great job of cleaning out the mold. In addition to cleaning out my hydration pack IMMEDIATELY after riding, I will occasionally fill it with hot water and drop in a couple of denture cleaning tablets and let it sit for a while.
Dino_Sore is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 07:19 AM
  #21  
Juan Foote
LBKA (formerly punkncat)
 
Juan Foote's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Jawja
Posts: 4,299

Bikes: Spec Roubaix SL4, GT Traffic 1.0

Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2208 Post(s)
Liked 960 Times in 686 Posts
As others have suggested a bottle or tube brush works.

Be aware that if you opt to use a bleach solution, go sparingly with the bleach. It can damage the liner of the bag itself and actually lead to further problems with mold and such.
Juan Foote is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 07:28 AM
  #22  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2578 Post(s)
Liked 1,901 Times in 1,193 Posts
If you've got mold in the tube, a combination of bleach solution and tube brush may be needed. I'd think about a quick rinse, followed by scrubbing with the brush, then coil the tube up and soak it in a bleach solution. Rinse with water (three times or until you're bored holding it under the faucet) and dry thoroughly.

To prevent recurrence, as noted previously, use only water in the hydration pack. (Carbs and salts go in a more easily cleaned water bottle.) After each use, I unplug the mouthpiece and bladder plug from the tube and dry it open. You may not need to do this if you're using the hydration pack daily, but my tube is clean and still long enough after several years' use and annual trimming (to deal with stretching over the end pieces).

Originally Posted by cyccommute
As someone who have worked extensively with chlorine and chlorine containing compounds, I can tell you that is not a material to treat lightly.
Reminds me of the middle 1970s when the California legislature considered a bill to outlaw chlorine in any product. IIRC it passed one house before someone pointed out that salt (NaCl) would also be outlawed by that bill. This kind of phobia isn't really called for. "The dose makes the poison" still applies. The soaking can be done outdoors if the bleach odor is offensive, diluting the outgassing hypochlorite to well below the damage threshold.
pdlamb is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 07:33 AM
  #23  
indyfabz
Senior Member
 
indyfabz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,062
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,300 Times in 7,231 Posts
Originally Posted by pdlamb
but my tube is clean and still long enough after several years' use and annual trimming (to deal with stretching over the end pieces).
Family forum, pal. Reported!
indyfabz is offline  
Old 10-03-22, 07:44 AM
  #24  
pdlamb
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,847

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2578 Post(s)
Liked 1,901 Times in 1,193 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
Family forum, pal. Reported!
Walked right into that one!
pdlamb is offline  
Likes For pdlamb:
Old 10-03-22, 09:11 AM
  #25  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5220 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by indyfabz
New thread: What’s the best CamelBak tube cleaning water?
been making my own auto windshield washer fluid. well, not from scratch, I buy the tablets & use them with distilled water
rumrunn6 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.