Brita Pitchers is necessary for your household if you want clean and germ-free water. But even a good Brita pitcher can get destroyed if not cleaned properly.
The Brita pitchers come in all shapes and sizes, but all might not fit in the
To save your time, you might put the pitchers in the dishwasher, but then a question can arise: Are Brita pitchers dishwater safe or not.
Sorry to say, but they are not safe for dishwashers because once the Brita pitcher’s filter and other parts contact the heat can damage the facilities.
To know more detail about the damages that can occur, stay with us.
Why Are Brita Pitchers Not Dishwasher Safe?
The Brita pitchers come in all shapes and sizes, but all might not fit in the dishwasher. But that is not even the fact. The components of the pitchers are not strong enough.
When it comes in contact with heat or hot water inside the dishwasher, the parts of the pitcher and its facilities can get melted and destroyed. But that is not even the fact. The components of the pitchers are not strong enough.
When it comes in contact with heat or hot water inside the dishwasher, the parts of the pitcher and its facilities can get melted and destroyed.
The detergent you would put inside the dishwasher can also play a significant role in destroying the pitcher. The filter of the pitcher is capable of getting damaged very easily.
Cleaning the Brita Pitchers Properly
We cannot use the dishwasher to clean the pitchers. Then what is the proper way of cleaning them? There are two ways to wash it. So let’s look at the two forms of washing.
Quick Cleaning
If you want your pitcher to last for a long time, you need to clean them properly. Things you will need for the quick cleaning are-
- Non-Abrasive Scrubber/ Microfiber Wash Cloth
- Mild Detergent/Dish Soap
- Cleaning Agent of your choice
After you have all the things mentioned above, you can start the process of cleaning, and we assure you the task is effortless. Clean all the three main parts of the pitcher, reservoir, and lid.
If your pitcher has the feature of a chrome lid, then it is mentioned in the Brita pitcher guide that when cleaning the lid, take a cup of water and add one teaspoon of vinegar in it and mix them. Use this solution to clean the chrome lid.
Rinse out all the parts properly to get rid of all the soap and, if possible, do it a few times more so that there is no evidence of the cleaning agent left that you have added for cleaning the pitcher and its part.
Lastly, don’t set it back right after cleaning it. If there is still some water l inside the pitcher from washing, it can create a foul smell or lead to mold growth. So make sure to let the pitcher and all the other parts dry first, then assemble it back to the way it was.
Deep Cleaning
As the pitcher is always in contact with the moisture, some bacteria might start growing inside them. So it is essential to give your pitcher a deep wash between 2 or 3 months at times. Things you will need for the deep cleaning are:
- Mild Detergent/ Dish Soap
- Measuring Cups for water
- White Vinegar
- Non-Abrasive Scrubber/ Microfiber Wash Cloth
- Dish Rack
Let us now look into all the steps.
- To start the process, you need to disassemble all the components of the pitcher. Detach the pitcher, lid, reservoir, and filter. Then examine all the parts properly to see if any bacteria or mold is growing inside them.
If you find any bacteria or mold, eliminating them is very important. Add a teaspoon of white vinegar to a cup of water, then use this mixture to clean all the parts to remove the growing bacteria.
- Now is the time to clean the parts thoroughly. Wash the lid in a basin with boiling water and a little detergent. Then wipe it off with a washcloth, and make sure to wipe it carefully and go as deep as possible.
- It is okay not to clean the filter thoroughly, but it needs to be cleaned lightly with water. If you see any muddy particles, add white vinegar to a cup of soapy water. Then clean it with the scrubber and wash it with water immediately.
- Put the reservoir in a sink and wash them using a mild detergent with warmth. Wipe off the reservoir using a dish rack and make sure that you have cleaned it properly inside and out. Because if any soap or water is left inside, it will start spreading a lousy odor in a few days.
- The pitcher is the most sensitive component because it is plastic, so it cannot handle hot water. When washing the pitcher, use mild hot soapy water as you have used the solution of white vinegar before; it is essential to clean the pitchers a couple of times.
Lastly, as all the components are washed, now is the time for them to dry. So then set them up in a dish rack but make sure to put them upside down, so the water drips away. Once correctly dried and they don’t have any residue of water left in them, you can assemble the Brita pitcher back the way it was.
Replacing the Filter
No matter how much you clean your filter, you will need upgrading or replacement. However, there is no specific way to tell when is the suitable time to replace the filter.
Here we are suggesting to you some of the filters of Brita and when they need replacement.
Brita Blue Coloured Filter
It needs replacement when it reaches every 120 gallons of water and is estimated every six months.
Brita Gray/ White Coloured Filters
Both the gray and white-colored filters need replacement when they reach every 40 gallons of water and after every two months.
FAQ
Can drinking from a Brita pitcher make you sick?
Yes, it can make you sick because the older your filter is, the more chances it can get to grow the bacteria. As the environment in the pitcher filter is always moist,
it creates a perfect place for the bacteria to reach higher concentrations of growth. When the bacteria starts growing, it contaminates the water. So when you are drinking the same water, you are bound to get sick.
What are the black specks inside the Brita pitcher reservoir?
Having the black specks is not much of an alarming fact, but it might slightly change the water’s taste. They are not dirt that the filter has failed to remove; they are the carbon particles that might have come loose from the pitcher’s filter.
So you better change your filter before the black specks start spooking in your pitcher’s reservoir.
Parting Words
Hopefully, all your confusion regarding are Brita pitchers dishwasher safe or not is clear. As discussed, it is not safe for pitchers to be put inside the dishwasher because the components are not strong enough to handle the hot water and heat.
And a higher chance of getting its functions destroyed utterly. Other than that, we have also mentioned ways of washing the pitchers properly. It is essential to wash them from time to time, so keep the things we have discussed above in mind.
Lastly, when it comes to filters, you don’t have to follow the suggestions we have presented for replacing them because no one exactly knows when you need to replace your filters.