how do you clean/disenfect your hydration pack?

[azdesertfather]

OK, I would love for everyone to chime in on how you clean/disenfect your hydration pack/bladder (that is, if you actually do ).

I have heard so many things:
1. Fill it halfway with water and microwave it until the water gets hot (but not too hot to boil).
2. Using Camelpack hydration cleaning tablets
3. Baking Soda - Bicarbonate of Soda (Mix baking soda with water and allow it to soak in the bladder - anywhere from an hour to overnight. If you are getting ready to use it the next day, it's best to allow it to dry overnight. How much baking soda? I've seen recommendations from 2 tablespoons to half a cup, mixed with hot water to help it dissolve. After it soaks, rinse thoroughly with warm water.)
4. Baking Soda and Lemon or Lime Juice (This combination is also recommended, but be warned that it produces a foaming action. Mix a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in a couple of cups of water, put it into the hydration bladder. Now add a similar amount of lemon juice or lime juice and be prepared for the bubbling. Allow that to sit for 30 minutes to overnight and rinse thoroughly with warm water.)
5. Denture Cleaning Tablets (Drop them into water in the pack and allow it to work for 15 minutes as they recommend for dentures. Rinse thoroughly. Some recommend not getting the ones with mint flavor unless you want your water to always taste minty fresh.)
6. Baking Soda and Vinegar (Fill the bladder, add 1 tablespoon of vinegar and shake it, then add 1 tablespoon baking powder then shake it. Now drain and rinse thoroughly. This is reported to be good to remove the chlorine taste after bleaching the bladder.)
7. Bleach Solution (Add a capful or teaspoon of bleach to enough water to fill the reservoir. Allow to bleach for an hour to overnight. Rinse very thoroughly with 4 or more changes of water. I would recommend then following that with the baking soda and lemon juice or vinegar to help remove the bleach flavor. But this is the best way to kill fungus and bacteria, especially if you see visible growth.)
8. Water and a brush only
9. Leave out in the sun

The ideas go on and on. I wonder which you think is best because (1) it has the least problems with taste lingering in the bladder and (2) killing any bacteria in the reservoir, tube and mouthpiece. I have one of my bladders that actually has this slimy film building up, so it's probably time

[AZClaimjumper]

NO CLEANING/DISINFECTING NECESSARY...
When I return from a hike, I use the quick disconnect to remove the tube/bite valve. I remove the slider then turn my 3 liter HYDRAPAK bladder inside out & simply let it air dry. The entire Hydrapak system, bladder, tube, bite valve, comes with a lifetime warranty & costs a couple bucks less than Camelbak. Hydrapak bite valve doesn't leak. I didn't want to have to deal with all the problems associated with Camelbak systems & their notoriously leaky bite valves.

Hydrapak has a variety of bladder sizes & is available for sale @REI or, online + HYDRAPAK manufactures their products in Oakland, Mexifornia....MADE IN AMERICA.

I've read ALL THE REPLIES. It looks like I'm the only person in all of HikeArizona that even knows about HYDRAPAK.

[CannondaleKid]

I didn't want to have to deal with all the problems associated with Camelbak systems & their notoriously leaky bite valves.

I've used Camelbak bladders for over 20 years and have NEVER had a bite valve leak.
The last few years, when hiking in hot & dry weather I've been using an Ergodyne Chill-Its 5158 Hydration Pack Water Pressure Pump instead of a bite valve. The biggest benefit is being able to spray water on my cooling gear.

[chumley]

All of these things seem to be solutions looking for problems. I've never had an issue with a hydration bladder being dirty or not drying after use. Then again, I never had a problem opening a milk carton, using the rearview mirror when backing up, paying for things with real paper money, knowing how many miles I could go on the remaining fuel in my tank, or any number of things that apparently some people can't do. It's a free country. You do you. I'll be over here laughing (or maybe crying).

[RedRoxx44]

Never cleaned it. Using mainly MSR bladders, simple valves, I like them because not as thin as some. I just throw the thing into the bin in the refrigerator then put it in a cooler to take in the warmer months. In the cooler months just out of the frig into the pack, water warms enough to not be too frigid usually when I get to hike destination.