Hydration device maintenance


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Hydration device available for check out - "Upland Blaze".
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Notice hose goes through shoulder strap & can be hooked onto strap near your mouth.
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To clean device, first remove mouthpiece.
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Using thumbnail and fingers, twist to break free and then gently pull mouthpiece from valve.
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Use a dot of soap and completely clean inside and outside of mouthpiece.
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Remove bladder from pack - be careful not to pull on or twist the connection to the bladder any more than necessary!
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Leave hose in pack shoulder strap for now.
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Carefully pull hose from bladder connection.
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Use your thumbnail to free the hose.
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If hose is deformed and loose on the fitting, it won't make a good seal when reinstalled. Cut the deformed part off (don't puncture bladder!).
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Now feed the tube through the shoulder strap and put pack somewhere where it will stay dry.
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You're ready to wash the three parts - bladder, hose & mouthpiece.
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Put just a dot of dish soap in tube and fill hose with water.
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Use brush to scrub the hose - it has to be put in both ends, as it's not long enough to reach all the way from end to end. Inspect hose for debris, and re-brush if necessary.
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Completely rinse hose so that no soap residue is left. Work valve open and closed a few times to make sure it's rinsed clean.
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Hang hose in the middle, with both ends down to drip dry.
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After rinsing hose and hanging it to dry, open the bladder.
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Put just a drop or two of soap in bladder.
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Fill with water and use large brush to clean - make sure you get around the edges!
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...and, don't forget to clean inside of cap.
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You must rinse everything VERY THOROUGHLY and remove all soap! (This bladder needs more rinsing!)
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After all is washed and rinsed - insert dryer tube into bladder.
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If you have access to a fan, you can accelerate the drying by facing the dryer tubes toward it.