Alexei Volkov
CamelBak bottles are convenient for outdoor activities like hiking and camping. However, a common issue with these plastic bottles is that they can impart an unpleasant plastic taste to the water. While this plastic taste is not harmful to health, it can be off-putting and affect your hydration experience. To address this issue, there are several methods you can use to eliminate or reduce the plastic taste in your CamelBak. These methods include using baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, denture tablets, and activated charcoal tablets, which can help neutralize or mask the plastic flavour. By employing these techniques, you can enjoy your outdoor adventures with cleaner-tasting water from your CamelBak bottle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Soaking time | 2 hours, 4 hours, overnight, a few nights, a week |
| Cleaning agent | Baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, vanilla extract, denture cleaning tablets, activated charcoal tablets, Alka-Seltzer, warm water, soap |
| Rinsing agent | Water, vinegar and water solution |
| Other | Fill with Gatorade for the first few hikes to develop a pleasant taste, then use for water |
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What You'll Learn
Use baking soda and water
To get rid of the plastic taste in your CamelBak, start by adding two tablespoons of baking soda to the bladder. Then, fill it with hot water and let the mixture sit for at least two hours. After that, drain the water and rinse the bladder several times. This process will leave your CamelBak tasting clean and fresh, without any hint of plastic.
Using baking soda and water is an effective way to eliminate the plastic taste from your CamelBak. However, it is important to note that baking soda is slightly abrasive and can reduce the lifespan of your CamelBak bladder. The bladder is made of porous plastic, which means that the baking soda can slightly wear down the material over time. Nevertheless, this method is a quick and easy solution to the unpleasant plastic taste.
If you want to prolong the lifespan of your CamelBak, you can try using other methods in conjunction with the baking soda solution. For example, some people recommend freezing the bladder before use. Fill your CamelBak with water, add some ice, and squeeze in a bit of lemon juice to lightly flavour the water. This can help mask the plastic taste while also keeping your water cool.
Additionally, it is recommended to avoid putting Gatorade or other sugary drinks in your CamelBak. The sugars and salts in these drinks can break down the plastic over time, making the plastic taste even stronger. If you want to use Gatorade, consider purchasing a separate bladder specifically for that purpose.
By following these tips and regularly cleaning your CamelBak with baking soda and water, you can effectively reduce the plastic taste and enjoy your water without any unpleasant flavours.
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Try cleaning tablets
If your CamelBak water bottle has started to taste like plastic, you can try cleaning it with cleaning tablets. CamelBak offers its own reservoir and water bottle cleaning tablets, which come in packs of eight. These notched tablets can be easily broken in half for cleaning smaller vessels. The tablets are self-dissolving and help to reduce residual taste and odour.
CamelBak cleaning tablets contain <5% oxygen-based bleaching agents, <5% non-ionic surfactants, and enzymes (amylase and protease). They are safe and effective, but you should avoid touching your eyes after handling them and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after use. Keep the tablets out of the reach of children and store them in a cool, dry place.
If you don't want to use CamelBak's branded cleaning tablets, you can also try using denture-cleaning tablets. These are designed to clean dentures but can also be used to clean water bottles with small openings. Add two to four tablets to your CamelBak, let them dissolve, and then rinse thoroughly. You can also find these tablets in mint or peppermint flavours, which can leave your water with a refreshing taste.
Another option for cleaning tablets is activated charcoal tablets. These tablets dissolve in water and remove chemicals, leaving fresh-tasting water. However, the charcoal can release some of the chemicals back into the water while in the digestive tract, and it may interfere with the absorption of some medications.
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Use vinegar and water
Vinegar and water can be used effectively to remove the plastic taste from your CamelBak bladder. This method is also useful for removing the smell from water bottles. Firstly, fill the reservoir with equal parts hot water and distilled white vinegar. It is okay to use more vinegar than water. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bladder. Let the mixture sit for at least 30 minutes, but preferably leave it overnight for a thorough clean. Then, dump the mixture, rinse the bladder with plain water, and wash it as you normally would.
If you want to use a slightly different method that also involves vinegar and water, you can try the following. Start by adding two tablespoons of baking soda to your CamelBak, then fill it with hot water and let it sit for a couple of days. Next, rinse the bladder with a vinegar and water solution. You can also add a few drops of vanilla extract to this solution to leave a pleasant aroma or aftertaste. Make sure to rinse the bladder with plain water a few times after this step to avoid any lingering vinegar or vanilla tastes.
It is important to note that you should not use soap to clean your CamelBak. Instead, natural products like baking soda, vinegar, and lemon juice are effective and safe alternatives.
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Try activated charcoal tablets
If your CamelBak water tastes like plastic, one solution is to add an activated charcoal tablet to your water. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been treated with oxygen at very high temperatures to make it more porous. This treatment changes its internal structure, reducing the pore size and increasing its surface area. The tiny pores in activated charcoal can trap impurities in water, such as chlorine or other organic compounds, which may be causing the plastic taste. It is commonly used in water filters for this reason.
Activated charcoal tablets can be purchased over the counter and are also available in the UK from Boots chemists. Simply add one tablet to your CamelBak water, where it will dissolve and take all the chemicals out of the water. Note that the charcoal will dissolve in the water, giving it a black tint.
While activated charcoal is commonly used to treat poisoning or overdose, it is also used as a home remedy for various other concerns. However, little scientific evidence supports these other suggested benefits. For example, it is claimed to improve kidney function, lower cholesterol, and reduce gas and flatulence, but these claims are not supported by research.
There are some important safety considerations to keep in mind when using activated charcoal. Firstly, it can interfere with the absorption of some medications. Secondly, it may cause adverse effects such as vomiting or intestinal blockages. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor before using activated charcoal, especially if you are taking any medications.
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Use lemon juice
Lemon juice can be used to mask the plastic taste of water in a CamelBak. One user reported that they squeeze a little lemon juice in their CamelBak to lightly flavour the water. However, another user noted that they tried using lemon juice in their CamelBak, but didn't rinse it out properly, which resulted in mould growing inside the bag. Therefore, it is important to thoroughly rinse out your CamelBak after using lemon juice to prevent mould growth.
To use lemon juice to mask the plastic taste in your CamelBak, simply add a small amount of lemon juice to the water in your CamelBak. You don't need much lemon juice, just enough to give the water a subtle lemon flavour. This method can be effective in masking the plastic taste, but it's important to remember that lemon juice can also add a bit of tartness or bitterness to the water, depending on how much you use.
Additionally, lemon juice has the potential to interact with the plastic of the CamelBak, affecting its durability over time. It is important to note that while lemon juice can be used to mask the plastic taste, it does not eliminate the presence of any chemicals leaching into the water. If you are concerned about ingesting chemicals, you may want to consider using an alternative method to treat the plastic taste, such as using baking soda or activated charcoal tablets.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that lemon juice can also act as a natural disinfectant, helping to eliminate any bacteria or germs that may be present in the CamelBak. This can be especially useful if you are using the CamelBak in environments where hygiene and sanitation are concerns. However, it is still important to properly clean and maintain your CamelBak according to the manufacturer's instructions to ensure optimal hygiene and the longevity of the product.
Overall, using lemon juice to mask the plastic taste in a CamelBak can be a simple and effective solution, but it is important to be mindful of the potential drawbacks and take the necessary precautions, such as thorough rinsing and avoiding prolonged exposure of the plastic to lemon juice. As always, it is recommended to consult the CamelBak care instructions and reach out to their customer support for specialised advice regarding the maintenance and care of your specific CamelBak product.
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Frequently asked questions
Try filling it 3/4 of the way with warm water and adding a tablespoon of baking soda. Let it sit for 40 minutes to an hour, then rinse it out.
Yes, you can try using vinegar and soap. First, fill your CamelBak with vinegar and let it sit for a few hours, then rinse it out. Next, fill it with soapy water and rinse again.
Yes, all CamelBak plastic bottles, stainless steel bottles, and drinkware are dishwasher safe. Just make sure to put the caps on the top rack to avoid damage.
Yes, the Gatorade will seep into the plastic over time, making the water taste slightly salty. It is recommended to buy two separate bladders and use one exclusively for Gatorade and the other for water.
Yes, CamelBak offers its own cleaning tabs. You can also use Nalgene cleaning tablets or denture tablets, but be aware that these may leave a minty taste.
