Hand wash your hydration reservoir using warm or hot soapy water. Using our Cleaning Kit helps access tough-to-reach places.

For deeper cleaning:

1. 1. Per liter (1 L) of your hydration reservoir’s volume, add ¼ cup (60 mL) of baking soda to ¾ cup (180 mL) of water and shake for 30 seconds (e.g., for a 2 L hydration reservoir, use ½ cup (120 mL) of baking soda with 1 ½ cups (360 mL) of water).
2. 2. Add ¼ cup (60 mL) lemon juice per liter (1 L), close and shake for 10 seconds, then vent by opening the hydration reservoir away from your face.
3. 3. Reseal the hydration reservoir and repeat shaking and venting three times. Expel as much air as possible, close the hydration reservoir, and soak for 20 minutes.
4. 4. Dump the solution and rinse the hydration reservoir three times with hot water.

Caution: When adding lemon juice to baking soda, effervescence occurs and will cause pressure to build in a closed Platypus product.

In general, it is optimal to prop or hang hydration reservoirs upright to dry. This allows moisture to evaporate and escape upward.

Drying Big Zip™ reservoirs is easy. First, wipe interior with a dry towel (made easy thanks to the large opening!). Then prop the reservoir open with the SlideLock™ slider and let it all air dry.

Another great way to dry a hydration reservoir is with a plastic bag dryer, widely available at kitchen supply stores and numerous online retailers.

Yes. To do this, add water to your reservoir, being careful to not over-fill (fill no more than ¾ full—water expands as it freezes; it can burst your reservoir if you over-fill it). Purge all air and then lay your reservoir flat in the freezer overnight. Remove and enjoy a steady source of cold, refreshing hydration as the water melts!

Also, did you know that you can occasionally skip cleaning your reservoir by storing it in the freezer? It’s as simple as rinsing the whole system with fresh water, then placing it in the freezer until the next use.

To disinfect your hydration reservoir, fill it with a solution of unscented household bleach and water, using a concentration of 2-5 drops per liter of water. Close and swirl for 10 seconds. Squeeze the bite valve to flush the hose and valve, being careful to keep the valve opening over the sink. Leave filled overnight. Dump solution and rinse hydration system (including hose and bite valve) three times with hot water, then air dry.

Note: for an eco-friendlier option, use a chlorine-free, hydrogen peroxide-based bleach alternative.

Does your hydration reservoir have a shutoff valve? If so, it may be closed. Open it by twisting the bite valve 90 degrees (clockwise closes it, counterclockwise opens it).

If that doesn’t work, you may be biting the valve too hard. Our HyFLO™ Bite Valve is designed so that you don’t need to bite very hard. If you bite too hard, the flow will be completely cut off. With your teeth, compress the valve lightly (only 30% to 50%), and water should flow.

If your bite valve is coming off easily, we recommend refitting it by following these steps:

1. 1. Remove the bite valve from the drink tube.
2. 2. Cut a small section off the end of the drink tube.
3. 3. Clean the bite valve and hose with rubbing alcohol.
4. 4. Wet the end of the drink tube with water or saliva and slide the bite valve back onto the end of the drink tube.
5. 5. Let it all dry (at least overnight).

This should result in an excellent connection between the bite valve and drink tube, and the bite valve should stay in place.

To help keep drink tubes and bite valves from freezing up, sip often to maintain flow, then blow any residual water back into the reservoir after you’ve finished drinking. It helps to squeeze the bite valve momentarily to remove any last drops.

Also, keep as much of the drink tube covered as possible by routing it inside a pack, strap, or jacket. You can start the day with warm or hot water in the reservoir and pack extra clothing layers around it to help retain heat.

Yes. Simply remove the bite valve on your hydration reservoir and connect the end of the hose directly to your filtration system’s outflow port.

Our GravityWorks™ Water Filter System is available with direct-to-reservoir and direct-to-bottle adapters for optimum versatility. Connecting a GravityWorks filter to your reservoir creates what is arguably the lightest, most compact, and efficient way to get filtered water.

Many replacement parts can be purchased directly from us online on our Accessories page or from one of our retailers. If you cannot find what you’re looking for, our customer support team can assist you:

• Submit a request through our Customer Support Portal.

For customers outside North America, please consult our International Distributor listings.