Are Brita Filters Dishwasher Safe

Published: 
May 17, 2022
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Keep your Brita Filters and Pitchers Out of Your Dishwasher

Water filtration is a major topic of discussion in every corner of the world. That's because, as humans, we need eight 8oz glasses a day to stay adequately hydrated. Drinking contaminated water wouldn't do our bodies any good.

Any avid water consumer will tell you that not all water is filtered equally. Trace elements in water supplies can cause harm to your body. Ensuring that your water is adequately filtered should be a priority in every household, as well as keeping those water filters clean.

Setting up a Brita Filter Pitcher

Thanks to the wisdom of those that came before us, most of us around the planet have the ability to get good water straight from the tap. However, tap water might still have more unwanted particulates than our bodies need or want.

Brita filters and pitchers have made it easy to flush out the impurities effortlessly due to their patient technology, resulting in great drinking water. Nevertheless, you still need to put in the effort to care for your Brita filter. Are Brita filters dishwasher safe?

Are Brita Pitchers Dishwasher Safe?

No. Neither the Brita Filter or the Brita Pitcher are dishwasher safe. Even though the water pitcher is a quality plastic, it is crafted to be lightweight for convenience purposes. Lightweight plastics should never go into a dishwasher, for the heat can melt down the integrity of the plastic.  Instead, use warm, soapy water and wash your Brita Water Filter Pitcher by hand.

The components in the water filter itself are not dishwasher safe either. These pieces are designed to work well in refrigeration, and exposing these sensitive parts to extremely hot temperatures can potentially melt or break down the component. The result is that the Brita pitcher won’t be able to effectively filter contaminants from your tap water.  Once the filter is old or compromised, it will no longer be able to provide you great tasting water in your Brita Water Pitcher.

How Often Do Brita Filters Need To Be Cleaned?

It is important to rinse out your Brita pitcher each time before you refill, and that consists of a quick, warm rinse to make sure no debris has fallen into your Brita or gotten onto the sides of the pitcher during storage. Photo of Vinegar to be used for cleaning

Vinegar works well as a cleaning agent and kills bacteria

You should perform a deep clean twice a month. For this, you will need some dish soap, water, a soft cloth, and vinegar. Deep cleaning will ensure that your pitcher and filter work effectively to get the cleanest drinking water possible for you and your family.

How Do You Clean a Brita?

Now that the question “are Brita filters dishwasher safe?” is answered, how do you clean a Brita filter? Unfortunately, as you now know, the Brita can't go into the dishwasher, but cleaning the entire water filtration system is easy when washing it by hand.

The Pitcher

The pitcher is a carafe of resilient plastic that is BPA-Free. You can clean Brita water filter pitchers confidently with dish soap and water. There is no need to make the water scalding hot, as that can cause damage to the pitcher, just like the dishwasher.

Refrain from using abrasive scouring pads to wash a water filter pitcher. Scratches to the surface can cause weak spots, and there shouldn't be any reason to scrub the pitcher surface that hard. If, for any purpose, there is a need for scrubbing, instead, fill up the pitcher with a combination of one part vinegar and two parts water and let soak for a duration. Then, the pitcher should be ready to wash out easily with a soapy cloth.

The Filter and Internal Components

Take note: Don't clean the filter with soap. It isn't good to get soap into the filter because any residual could cause an upset stomach. The safest way to clean these parts if they need to be cleaned is by using vinegar, and they do not need to soak in vinegar. Usually, a quick wipe down with a vinegar-soaked cloth will do the trick. Vinegar will not hurt the filter or break down any key components used when filtering water.

Photo of a water filter

Don’t clean filters - including Brita filters - with soap

Cleaning Step By Step

  1. Remove lid, components, and filter from the pitcher. Place filter and lid aside.
  2. With a washcloth or non-abrasive sponge, use mild, liquid dish soap to wash the pitcher.
  3. Rinse the pitcher thoroughly with warm water to ensure all soap has been rinsed out. Remember, don't let the water get too scorching because that can break down the plastic.
  4. Place the clean pitcher upside down in a dish rack or on a towel so it can dry completely.
  5. Next, we move on to cleaning the lid. It is best to use a washcloth and a mixture of one part vinegar and two parts water to wash the lid. Vinegar will kill germs and bacteria that could build up in the components without hurting the system's integrity. Also, if your system has a stainless steel lid, vinegar works incredibly well on stainless steel to remove fingerprints.
  6. Rinse the lid thoroughly in warm water. Again, please don't make the water scolding, or it can hurt the components of the system.
  7. Place the lid in a dish rack or on a towel to thoroughly dry.
  8. Finally, we move on to the key piece of the system, rinsing the filter. The replaceable filter should not be dirty since the filter layers are made from purifying materials like charcoal and coconut shells. However, rinsing the filter with water for about 30 seconds to a minute will clean any carbon or debris that might have built up.
  9. Place the filter in the dish rack or on a towel until the system is dry.
  10. The system should be completely dry before using again to avoid odors or mildew.

When To Replace a Brita Filter

A Longlast+ Filter or Brita Elite™ will last three times longer than other filters. Regular Brita filters are good for 40 gallons of water, so the Longlast should be replaced at around 120 gallons by doing the math. Keeping track of your pitcher use, especially in the beginning, will help you figure out how much water you go through every month.

When replacing the filter, the new filter is supposed to be placed in cold water for a 15-minute soak before it is ready to be placed in the Brita system. Then, the rule is to insert the filter into the pitcher system and fill it. When the pitcher fills, dump the water out and repeat the process. You will dump out the water twice before the Brita is ready for drinking and cooking use.

By doing this process, it will remove any carbon dust from landing in your drinking water.

The entire system shouldn't need to be replaced for quite some time, but if the system is old and the flow is super slow after a filter replacement, the system might need upgrading.

What Kind of Water Filters Are There?

There are five main types of water filtration systems on the market. Water filters can be expensive for the initial investment but can be very cost-effective in the long term. Using water filters can save a household up to $300 a year.

  • Pitcher Filters: These are a great, inexpensive, convenient option that gives quick results and reduces high levels of chlorine along with other unwanted elements.
  • Under the Sink Filters: These are wonderful filters that are similar to countertop filters without taking up any visible space. They can filter a lot of water before needing replacement.
  • Reverse Osmosis Filters: This is a more intricate system for household water. It takes a few extra steps in the process of water filtration.
  • Faucet Mount Filters: This filter is mounted directly to your faucet, giving it a convenient ability to utilize. The only downfall is that it can seem slow when filling up a large pot.
  • Countertop Water Filters: This one is the grownup version of the Faucet Mount. It has a better flow, but it does take up precious counter space.
Photo of a pitcher filter

Many companies make pitcher filters

Brita offers several different filtration systems to choose from on their site.

  • Longlast+: This is a Brita longlast filter made for the pitcher system to last three times longer than the standard filter. It can filter out all major element issues, including chlorine, lead, mercury, cadmium, benzene, asbestos, and a few other class particles.
  • Standard: A filter that is used on the pitcher system. It can filter out chlorine, mercury, cadmium, copper, and zinc. It lasts for about 40 gallons.
  • Stream: A filter that is built for pitchers and dispensers that filters out Tricholorobenzenes.
  • Bottle Filter: A filter made for Brita's premium filtering water bottle. It's an on-the-go filter that can filter out impurities as you fill up you Brita water bottles at the gym or office. It doesn't filter out as heavy-duty as their other filters, but it still promises to clear out the chlorine, which will remove odors and improve the taste. This way you’ll be able to enjoy your filtered water anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Brita Filter Pitcher Filter Hot Water?

No.  Only use tap water with your filter and Brita jug and make sure that you don’t use hot water.  The temperature of the water that if being filtered through your filter cartridge must not go above 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Frank Salvatore

Hey there - I'm Frank Salvatore. I created this site as a comprehensive kitchen resource. You'll find everything you need to know about everything in your kitchen. From appliances to utensils and layout - it is covered on this site!

About Me
Frank Salvatore
I created this site as a comprehensive kitchen resource. You'll find everything you need to know about everything in your kitchen. From appliances to utensils and layout - it is covered on this site!
Learn More About Me
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