In reply to donald lochnagar:
Some basic rules I have developed for my platypus, based on the manfacturer's instruc tions, some advice from UKC, and common sense;
Never use anything except water in it. Really. If you really want squash or whisky as an alternative, use a cheap plastic water bottle you can chuck away afterwards!
As an alternative to storing it in the freezer, as soon as you get home from a trip (don't put this off for a few days!) dismantle, rinse/sterise and empty the lot, and dry it out by standing it on a radiator. Once it is bone dry, store in a placcy bag ready for next time. If you are doing this on a daily basis (such as a two-week trek), this isn't so critical becuase there will be a constant through-flow of fresh water (assuming you are using it daily). When/of there is a break from use, simply empty it and dry it.
Milton is good....so are steradent tablets.
To clean and dry the tube, I have used long lengths of that tie wire (easier than string to get down the tube) with a bit of rag on the end.
If you have stuffed the tube, try replacing it with one from a home brew shop- the tube is of food grade, and you might be able to get the right size. This is something I haven't yet had to do, but it was a tip I picked up from elsewhere.
The real key is to keep the entire thing clean and dry between uses.
Sx
