I'm trying to find information on this. So far their website has no useful information besides sanitizing with a bleach water mixture.
Several reddit threads have people arguing everything from buying a new one every year, to storing it dirty and never having a problem, to completely drying it out.
I currently use a life straw bottle, I drink out of it while hiking, and just turn it over and squeeze the bottle into some larger bottles to use for cooking and stuff. It's not ideal and I'm looking to change it up. Currently I store my life straw bottle in between trips by following their instructions, sanitize with bleach water, rinse, then fill with salt water mixture to prevent growth and keep it wet. Drying the filter ruins its ability to get wet again, and therefore it doesn't filter well.
What I'd like to do is store the Sawyer squeeze the same way, sanitize, rinse, store in salt water, maybe in a mason jar? But would that damage it? Does drying it ruin it too? Some people complained it's hard to actually get it dry.
How in the world is it that there is nothing in the manual or the FAQs about storage?
A have a Sawyer Squeeze (full size, not a mini) that was just fine after not being used for over a year and not having any special thought put in before storage. I had to squeeze the first few bags through, but then it woke up and went back to gravity filtering.
I usually try to shake water out of it right after use.
I brought a previous one back from a complete blockage with a hot water and vinegar soak and flushing both directions.
I guess I didn't realize these could gravity feed, is that normal?
Glad to hear they are so resilient though