Make your own bite-valve hydration system

Step 13 Appendix 2: Maintenance

I don't clean the bottles or tubing used with this system: I just throw them away and replace them. However, in order to keep the stoppers clean, I do flush them with warm soapy water and then rinse them after every ride where they are exposed to sugary sports drinks. After rides where I drink water only, I just drain the system down and let it dry.

I end up replacing the bottles and tygon hose after perhaps 50 hours of use. Every 200 hours or so, the check-valve begins to look a bit nasty, and I replace it as well. When that happens, I soak the whole stopper assembly in a dilute bleach solution, then rinse and dry well.