Housekeeping · Water filter pitcher

Clean a water-filter pitcher: separate the cartridge before washing

Wash the pitcher, lid and reservoir by hand as directed; never treat the replaceable filter like a regular dish.

AI-edited · Human admin approved

Wikimedia Commons · Based5290 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0. Original photograph, no modifications. · CC BY 4.0 ↗

A filter pitcher has several parts, not just an outer jug. Brita US instructs owners to remove the cartridge first, hand-wash the jug, lid and reservoir with mild detergent, then rinse thoroughly; it warns against dishwashers and abrasive cleaners. These are Brita-specific examples, not a universal procedure for every filter.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

0 / 6 done

Identify the pitcher model and filter type; check which components are removable and washable in the manual.
Wash your hands, remove the filter cartridge and set it aside cleanly; do not wash it with detergent or put it in the dishwasher.
Where removable, hand-wash the jug, lid and inner reservoir with mild dish soap and a soft sponge.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or dishwasher heat unless the maker explicitly allows it; rinse every washed part thoroughly.
Drain the clean parts in a hygienic area and reassemble the reservoir and lid exactly as the model requires.
Fit, prime and replace the cartridge according to its own instructions. Never assume a different Brita filter has identical preparation steps.

Your try-it-at-home checklist

Further reading

You may also like

Six steps to rotate—not flip—a Sealy Posturepedic mattress

Six steps to clean Andersen sliding patio-door tracks and rollers

Six steps to reduce kitchen-sponge cross-contamination