By Barbara Day, M.S., R.D., C.N.
I recently read a Q & A in the June 2011 issue of my Runner’s World magazine that I wanted to share. Kristin Hostetter, author of Don’t Forget the Duct Tape: Tips & Tricks for Repairing and Maintaining Outdoor and Travel Gear, answered the question about How to Clean the GUNK out your Hydration Pack or Water Bottles.
If you hike, bike or trail run like I do, you have to depend on a hydration pack of some type or reusable water bottles like Polar® Bottles or Nalgene® bottles. Kristin suggests trying Polident® tablets from the drugstore. These are tablets that people use to clean their dentures. According to Kristin you can “just fill your bottle or hydration pack’s bladder with water, drop the tablet in, watch it dissolve, then rinse it out. An alternative method is to use bleach, like Clorox®. Kirsten suggests a teaspoon of bleach into a half gallon of water. Flush the water though the bottle or hydration pack and tubing. However careful rinsing is necessary to prevent aftertaste. If you can’t seem to get the aftertaste out of the bottle or hydration pack after using either the Polident® or bleach, Kristin suggests mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with a liter of water, and then flush it through. Then follow it again with just plain water. However, she suggests to thoroughly dry your hydration gear out after each use or the GUNK will just come back!
Barbara Day, M.S., R.D., C.N., is a registered dietitian with a Master’s Degree in clinical nutrition. The former publisher of Kentuckiana HealthFitness Magazine, Kentuckiana Healthy Woman magazine and radio show host of Health News You Can Use, Barbara has over 30 years of experience in promoting healthy lifestyles to consumers. Barbara worked as Nutrition Consultant to the Navy SEALs (8 years) and the University of Louisville Athletic Department (10 years). Barbara has private practice, DayByDay Nutrition, www.DayByDayNutrition.com, where she counsels clients on weight loss, cholesterol management, performance nutrition and an array of other medical issues. Barbara writes nutrition and health columns for www.LiveStrong.com as well as a weekly nutrition column for the Southeast Outlook. She also designs and presents employee wellness programs to small and large businesses. Barbara is a runner, cyclist, hiker and a mother and grandmother to 9 grandchildren.
