Bad tasting water bottles - What's the solution?

[garethw]

Hi there
I've got several water bottles from SIGG type alli ones to plastic US military type... All seem to get to smell and taste bad after a while.
I usually wash them out wih boiling water, but it does little to mask the underlying taste that taints the water.
So what tips do you have to neutralise the taste...I thought of Bicarb, would that work?
cheers
Gareth

[Ben Casey]

I clean mine out with sterident or something like that if that helps.

[RobbC]

Bicarb works great. I use that to clean all my camelbacks and flasks, it gets rid of all the taste.

Hope this helps, Robb

[JonnyP]

Bicarb for me too if they need it..

[CanadianMike]

Fill with vodka maybe? Lol

[bigzee]

At the risk of sounding nationalist here, is it the French water itself ?
Try bottled Perrier maybe?

[Fletching]

Bicarb too, but once a year I soak all my water containers in weak Milton or bleach solution for an hour.

[basicbushcraft]

i wash all mine out with strident tabs or bicarb works great for me pal
but everyone as there own way . hope this helps

[jbrown14]

I'm with Fletch on this, I use mild bleach on mine if they start to get rank.
I also only have one or two that I use for flavored drinks, the rest are strictly water, and have mostly no problems unless they're left on the floor of my car for a few months.

[garethw]

thanks for the replies... as I've some bicarb, I'll give it a go. I suspected it might work but wanted some opinions first.
cheers
Gareth

[Mouldsy]

Yep bicarb to and if they are really bad 24 hours in milton solution works well.

[Martin]

I was advised to keep water bladders in the freezer between uses. I've been doing it ever since and have found I don't get the bad taste. In fact, just a quick rinse before I use them is all they need.

Martin

[RobbC]

Ive never heard that before Martin, i think il try that with mine.

Robb

[garethw]

Hi Martin,
Not heard that one... but can see how it would work.. I was talking about the SIGG type and US GI type water bottles...
Merci mon vieux
gareth

[Martin]

Hi Martin,
Not heard that one... but can see how it would work.. I was talking about the SIGG type and US GI type water bottles...
Merci mon vieux
gareth

Sorry Gareth, I realised you meant rigid bottles. I always store mine with the lids off. I find this works well and doesn't allow the bad taste to accumulate. :)

Martin

[jus_young]

I have found that the recycle bin works pretty good followed by a visit to the shops for another one. Have to thank the good lady for this one as no matter how many times I ask for lids to be left off when the bottles are in the cupboard they seem to keep going back on.

[Bambii]

I have a pattern 58 water bottle, it smelled awful and tasted terrible. I just filled it with boiling water and left it for 10 mins then washed it out and it was gone :)

[garethw]

Hi there
Well bicarb definitely does the trick... all bottles now smell fine...
thanks for your input.
cheers
Gareth

[comanighttrain]

Stainless steel bottles get less of that i find...