How to Clean Your Hydration Reservoir

2 min read

Osprey Packs

Maintaining your Reservoir

Regular upkeep of your kit will keep it fresh and in great condition. Cleaning your pack is important but you can't forget your outdoor accessories.

Here’s a quick overview of how to clean your hydration reservoir and ensure it'll be ready for many trips to come:

Always rinse out your reservoir after each use, especially when using sugary drinks
Store in a clean and dry place
Periodically use purifying tablets in the main bladder
Freezing your reservoir will not affect the quality of the reservoir. However, if the reservoir is filled with water be aware that water expands when it freezes and can damage your reservoir if it is overfilled
DO NOT pour boiling water into the reservoir. This can damage the reservoir and will void your Guarantee

Deep Cleaning your Hydration Reservoir with the Hydraulics™ Cleaning Kit

It’s also important to give your reservoir a deep clean from time to time. If you use your reservoir regularly then once a month is a good rule of thumb but, if you’re unsure, just clean it!

Rinse out the reservoir and fill it with warm water and a mild washing up liquid. DO NOT use bleach or boiling water
Scrub the interior of the reservoir with the large cleaning brush from Osprey's Hydraulics™ Cleaning Kit
Remove the hose from the reservoir and the bite valve from the hose and use the small brush from Osprey's Hydraulics™ Cleaning Kit to scrub the interior of the hose
Remove the silicone bite valve cover and clean it and the bite valve with warm soapy water
Rinse the interior and exterior of the reservoir, hose and bite valve parts with cool, clean water
Let the hose and bite valve dry in a well-ventilated area
Insert Osprey's Hydraulics™ Cleaning Kit drying rack into the reservoir and hang to dry in a well-ventilated area