Deep Cleaning Your Backpacking Water Filter
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- čas přidán 2. 04. 2022
- In this video we'll show you tips on how to deep clean your Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter. "Zero" to "Low-Flow" problems with your filter? This video will show you some advanced techniques to get your filter to flow once again. In this video we use the Sawyer Squeeze filter, however these techniques can be used in many water filters on the market.
Questions? Want a sticker? (DROP ME A COMMENT BELOW)
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✅ SAWYER FILTERS
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💧Sawyer MINI Water Filter - amzn.to/3qYLagm
💧Sawyer Filter Replacement Gaskets - amzn.to/3uRmxU9
💧Sawyer Fast Fill Adapters - amzn.to/3K6yH1X
💧Sawyer 32 ounce Squeeze Pouches - amzn.to/35A7c1C
💧Sawyer Cleaning Coupling - amzn.to/3qXLvzW
💧Evernew Water Bag - amzn.to/2Swxsk8
💧Water Purification Tablets AquaTab - amzn.to/2GLuUrA
✅ AQUAMIRA WATER TREATMENT
💧Aquaqmira Water Treatment (Part A & Part B) - amzn.to/3u25Feg
✅ KATADYN FILTERS
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✅ ULTRAVIOLET WATER TREATMENT
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💗THANK YOU EVERYONE!💗 - Sport
Super-helpful! Many thanks!
Glad it helped. Cheers!
this video is awesome and so much more clear than the instructions that came with my filter
Much appreciated!!
Doah! Wish I would have watched this video before my trip. 🙂
I wish I would have remembered to tell you to heat the filter up in a pot of water. That may have helped ya. Can’t wait for your Thru hike series!!
Ugh, forgot to clean mine with a solution but still flushed it with water before storing. Thanks for this information.
Hope it helped!
@@MiyagiontheTrail It sure did and I'm ready for the next trip! Thanks
This helped me restore what i thought was a filter i needed to toss. Thank you! Also, id love a sticker!
Glad it helped you out. Shoot me an email at miyagionthetrail@gmail with an address to ship and I’ll get ya a few stickers. Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
One the best videos I’ve seen on water filter maintenance!
Thanks Bradley! That just made me smile 😊
I absolutely found value in this video. Even with thousands of miles of Sawyer and Katadyn experience, there are things I learned (aqua Mira) and will utilize! Video Saved! I can finally stop permanently storing my katadyn full of water and in the fridge after back-flushing!
Much appreciated @marabula! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
How do you store it the
thank you very much for this awesome tip... if u have time would love to see a deep dive vid on your gear organization... it looked very impressive.
Excellent information
Awesome as always!
Thanks buddy!
Really helpful video! I learned a lot. Thank you!
I’m glad it helped. Take care! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
Thanks for the great info!
Thanks so much GT Racer347! Much appreciated.
Great video... that's one hell of a gear shelf.
Lots and lots of bins! 😂 😂. Thanks for watching!
Nice info. I didn't know to soak it in hot water. Thanks for sharing!
This is especially helpful for loosening and removing salt deposits from water softeners. Thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
I watched this around the time you and Jeremy posted you videos and thought, yeah that's an easy mistake to avoid. I'll never....
6 months later, I was about eight miles into what was supposed to be a 27 mile and 2 night trip when I realized "I'm an idiot." I couldn't get a drop out of my Squeeze. I almost did it again after that first incident, but fortunately, remembered to stop and test my filter on my way to a trailhead. It worked for me, so I wouldn't have been in trouble on the trail, but how many times does it take before you wise up?
We’ve been using the katadyn befree. This was our first water filter of any sort. You have me sold on trying this instead
Just followed these steps and it worked great, I was getting so little flow before. I think it is because I was using tap water before storage. Now the sawyer is flowing like new. Thanks!
Awesome!! Glad it worked for you.
Perfect timing, mine are due!
It’s that time of year again buddy!!
Super video, just finished up post trip cleaning!
I just keep it dirty for the next trip. Trail patina 😉
Very good information. Thanks.
Much appreciated!
Great video! Everyone seems to have similar yet a little different method. I have a few questions if I may:
1. Why not add a cup of vinegar to the distilled water that is in the hot water soak so that the vinegar has more time to dissolve minerals. Then maybe you could skip the vinegar flush?
2. Is the disinfectant solution just as effective if you backflush it?
3. How do I prep the filter before my first trip of the season?
Great tip on the cleaning coupling and also using it for gravity fill. I have always just done the sport tip method. I am going to get one on order ASAP.
If you’re going to use the coupling as a gravity feed just don’t tighten the clean water bottle snug on the coupling. It needs to “breathe a bit” for the water to flow. Great method I’ve been using for years. It’s definitely slower than just squeezing a pouch into your water bottle, but if you are at camp and time isn’t really an issue I just let it hang from a tree to slowly fill. Thanks for tuning in & commenting Pete! Much appreciated.
@@MiyagiontheTrail And another great tip, thanks Miyagi!
A good an comprehensive review Miyagi 👏
Thank you my friend!
Definitely learned something here!!
Thanks Miyagi!!
You know me….lots of bits and bobs of wisdom. 😂 😂 😂
@@MiyagiontheTrail Always appreciated dude!!!
Great presentation! Same happened to me years ago. Finally smartened up and have been using distilled since. I just use Clorox to kill bacteria before storage.
2-4 drops of Clorox in 1/2 a 750ml bottle should do the trick nicely prior to storage (and cheaper too!) You can use 2 drops of Clorox as a water additive in place of Aquamira to disinfect water out in the backcountry as well (as long as you don’t mind the taste of pool water 😉 😂). Most people aren’t mentally “ok” with using household bleach as a water treatment….but, it’s basically the same thing as the Aquamira. If used for long periods on trail it may affect your gut health. For those going this route I would suggest using a probiotic to keep your gut health in-balance. Thanks for watching and commenting Mark! Much appreciated! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
Um...Thanks for the video. Went out for a photoshoot at Bong and had to hike to the spot. Got there and drank all the water. At least I had the for site to bring my filter. Tried it and drip, drip, drip. Was able to make enough for about two drinks. It was a long hike back. Got home, watched this video and I am back to a streaming again with the filter. THANK YOU buddy!
😉
Thank you for doing this video. I have a couple mini's that need to have this done to. Thank you
I figured it was a good reminder for all of us. It’s that time of year! 👍
@@MiyagiontheTrail I actually gave my water filter to a couple women Friday night when I was at YRSF. Their water filter was plugged up.
That was mighty nice of ya! 👍
Ok, I'm ready to ask an intelligent question. Ha! How about my expensive GRAYL filters. Can those be back flushed also? I relegated my Sawyer filter to my Get Home bag once I bought the GRAYL filters. Using that plastic filler bag was such a drag with the Sawyer. Anyway, great video. Well done
Unfortunately Floyd you bought a Porsche in the Honda Civic world of water filters. The GRAYL is great at filtering out protozoa, chemicals and viruses. Unfortunately it’s no good at being back flushed as there is very little you can do in the way of restorative efforts for the filter medium. You are just gonna have to buy brand-new proprietary parts for your Porsche. 😂. I think a replacement filter is only 20 or $30. The biggest benefit I see for that particular filter is international travel where viruses in the water supply is a serious concern. The only problem is the increased pressure from air travel causes the bottle to leak all over if it’s been used prior. The filter cartridge itself stores quite a bit of water even though the internal water storage area is empty. Better seal it in a plastic bag in your checked luggage. Good luck my friend! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
This was great! Thanks! My BeFree went to zero flow after drying out. I returned it to REI and got another. It went to zero flow before I saw a video that suggested I fill the bottle with distilled water and just let it soak. Go a ton of flow back after a day of that! Learned my lesson.
When I’m done with my hiking session I back flush my sawyer with bleach and tap water water let it sit for hour. Then flush it out both ways with distilled water. I don’t let it dry out it then gets placed in a container filled with distilled water.
Miyagi, good stuff, thank you. I had issues on my first hike of the year after my Squeeze sat for 4 mos. I’ll be knocking this out tonight. Love your vids, how does a guy score a sticker?
Thanks much Matt! Just shoot me an email miyagionthetrail@gmail.com and let me know where to send. Good luck with that filter!
Thanks a million. I’m on the cdt n all the sudden it barely flows out of the Sawyer. Thanks Ill try this it’s soaking right now in hot water at a motel.
Good luck Travis! I find the vinegar or citric acid to be the most helpful. The hot water treatment seems to help loosen everything up. Safe travels on the CDT!! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
One of the best and most practical hiking videos I’ve seen in a very long time - thanks Miyagi! Wish I had seen it before tossing two old Sayers that were completely blocked after storing.
Are you on the AZT? There’s a Miyagi signing the log books a couple of days ahead of me and I was wondering if it was you. If so, I hope to see you at some point on trail. I’m in Oracle on a zero day today.
Thanks so much Spielberg! I appreciate the kind comments. Unfortunately no, I’m not on the AZT. Wish I was! It’s a beautiful trail! Somebody out there must be pretending to be me. 😉. 😂 😂
@@MiyagiontheTrail If I catch up with the imposter, I’ll give him a piece of my mind 😂. Hopefully in the future we’ll run into each other again on trail. Hope all is well with you and Tripps!
Ha! 😂. Same here my friend! Things are definitely good. Wishing you all the best out there!
great video!! gonna go check mine out before this weekend. when you go to dry yours out do you do like I do and just set it up on its end over a towel?
This weekend gonna head up to SE Minnesota in the state forest to the Reno Unit that has some backpack in sites. and then Saturday night Yellow River State Forest. come along if you want.
Nice pint glasses!!
Hey Shane! I usually shake the heck out of it first and then just leave it out on a shelf for a few weeks before it gets packed away in a bin. I’d love to join ya this coming weekend but I’ve got some family holiday plans. Never been to the Reno Unit. Thanks so much for watching & the invite! Stay in touch…fist bumps ~ Miyagi
I tossed a sawyer squeeze that failed to pass water. I backwashed it but to no avail. I had no idea that there was more I could've done to restore it. Now I know better.
Many times the water we think is “clean” is chocked full of minerals that only heat and a mild acid can battle once they crystallize on the filter membranes. Thanks so much for watching! Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
Distilled water must be cheap where you live. It's not where I live. My Lifestraw Squeeze clapped out 4 days after the return window, dumb part is it only ever filtered already filtered water through the Lifestraw Jug, I just wanted to test it out for a month or so of use and see how it held up with light daily use of one litre per day.
Fortunately for me it is fairly inexpensive. Vapor distillation can be done at home over the stove with some basic equipment but with it comes an outlay in addition expense and time. The distilled water really makes a big difference when it comes to storing the device.
5:16 Steps to unclog your filter.
Yep…before is always best. 😂
Awesome video ..would like a sticker..How do I go about getting one?
Thanks much Randy! Much appreciated. Just shoot me an email where to send it and I’ll get it off in the mail for ya. Fist bumps ~ Miyagi. Miyagionthetrail@gmail.com
Well done! I'm keeping this comment short and sweet until I can think of a clever and pithy remark. Typically, the most poignant stuff oozes from my brain after my third cup of coffee.
I’m still working on my first cup myself. Agreed though…between cups 3-4 is where the rubber meets the pavement and I’m off and running 🏃♂️. 😂 😂. Thanks Floyd!
These all sound good in concept, but has it been thoroughly tested? Does the white vinegar and chlorine compromise the integrity of the membrane? Has anyone confirmed the filtering effectivity (not just flow rate) after?
Sawyer recommends it. I’ve been using these methods with the same filter for 8 consecutive years without issue. I’ve filtered some NASTY water. Good luck out there & be safe. Fist bumps ~ Miyagi
@@MiyagiontheTrail oh wow, that's a real testament to the brand and product!
i know it's a little late but are we sure the vinegar doesn't damage the filter?? I mean it is an acid after all!
Household vinegar will not harm the filter. This is directly from Sawyer’s FAQ from their website: Q: “I NOTICE WHITE ALL OVER MY FILTER OUTLET AND IT DOESN'T FLOW AS FAST AS IT USED TO, WHAT DO I DO?”
Sawyer’s Answer: Sounds like you are getting calcium build up. Soak the filter in vinegar for a half hour and then back wash it. You may have to repeat this a few times to get it completely clean.Filters with a small pore size are susceptible to clogging due to hard water deposits.
Additional Info:
Most drinking water will have some divalent cations (Ca+2, Mg+2) that forms insoluble carbonate salts (from dissolved CO2) when it dries. The reason to rinse with vinegar is that the acid in vinegar (acetic acid) will dissolve the carbonates salts because carbonate is a base. It reacts with the acid to form soluble acetate salts and carbonic acid that decomposes to form CO2 again (mix baking soda and vinegar if you want to see the reaction). However the salts take some time to dissolve. So what I do is to run some vinegar through the filter, seal it, and let it set for a while (an hour or so), then flush that out and repeat until you get a good flow rate. Then run a large volume of tap water through it to get rid of all the vinegar. Then you can run a bleach solution if you want (I have never found this necessary if you have do a good job back flushing, vinegar washing, and rinsing). Finally you need to flush it well with DISTILLED water. Make sure it is distilled as this will be free of ions that will precipitate and re-clog the filter on drying. Reverse osmosis purified water might work, but I only trust distilled water. After the distilled water rinse, you can dry.
Got to see the Miyagi storage system.
Completely OCD! 😂 😂 😂. When we hiking together again??
@@MiyagiontheTrail soon I hope.
In-depth. Nice. Maybe I can resurrect my BeFree that I've held onto just in case.
Give it a shot! The BeFree is a great filter out of the box. The flow rate is crazy fast! Its downside is it’s ability to be forcefully backflushed. Vigorous shaking certainly helps but I’ve never been able to get it flowing fast again after a week or so on trail. A good hot water soak and a light acid bath should help you out Garry. Good luck! 👍