Brita filters are known for their ability to filter very well. However, suppose you are leaving your house and will not be using your filters for a while. Do you let the filter dry out? Can you let your Brita filter dry out?
In general, if you are not going to use your filters for a few days or longer, you can dry your filter out without damaging it or reducing its ability to remove contaminants. You can do so by taking your filter out, running some tap water through it, and then leaving it on a dry paper towel for a few hours to dry. You can safely reuse it later.
Is it okay to let your Brita filter dry out? And if so, how can you do it properly? This article discusses both of these topics. We also discuss whether you can reuse dried filters and will your filter’s performance drop after it dries out.
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What Types of Brita Filters Can Dry Out?
All Brita filters can dry out, regardless of the type or configuration. Brita filters can be dried by leaving them in the open air for 2 to 3 hours. You can store it into the fridge before reusing. Once dried, the filter can be safely reused again later.
READ MORE: Are All Brita Filters the Same? The Answer Might Surprise You
Before we talk about drying out Brita filters, let’s discuss which filters can be dried and reused.
As a start, Brita filters can be broken down in two ways: filter housing and filter type. There are four common types of filter housings: pitchers, water bottles, faucets, and dispensers. These various configurations are to accommodate the different ways that people use and filter their water.
You have the Standard, Elite, and Stream filters to choose from for your filter type. These types come with different features and applications. For example, Elite filters are designed to be able to last up to three times longer than the standard filters.
These filters may differ in shape and type, but they all use the same underlying filtering technologies: ion exchange resin, activated carbon, and particle filtration. Each of these different types of filter media can be dried and reused.
If you leave your filters in the open air, they can dry out as quickly as two hours. However, it will take significantly longer to dry if the filter is connected to the filter housing. The drying process is slowed down by the moisture in these containers, so it takes longer to dry out if you don’t remove them.
You don’t have to worry about your using your filter again after you dry it out. Here’s what Brita says about drying your water filters.
Learn what contaminants Brita filters can remove in my article on this subject.
Can I Let My Brita Filter Dry Out?
You can let your Brita filter dry out. In fact, it is advisable to do so if you will not be using your filter for a few days or longer. You can dry it by leaving it in the open air for a few hours on top of a paper towel. Store the filter in your fridge with the bottom up. You do not need to freeze your filter.
Letting your Brita filter dry out is not a bad thing. In fact, it is advisable to do so. If you leave your Brita filter sitting in stagnant water for too long, it may start to breed bacteria and other unpleasant organisms.
Fortunately, drying out your Brita filter is not hard. Simply detach the filter from your Brita product and run it through regular tap water. The chlorine found in regular tap water may help disinfect the filter.
After rinsing the filter, place it on a paper towel and allow it to dry. It should take only a couple of hours to dry out. The filter does not require any extra drying methods; air drying is sufficient.
Once dry, place the filter in the fridge. In order to avoid cross-contamination, keep the filters in the air and do not let them touch any surfaces. For regular Brita pitcher and dispenser filters, the bottom part of the filter is stored up.
Freezing your Brita filters is unnecessary and may damage the filter. For example, freezing may make the plastic parts of the filter brittle or degrade the performance of the ion exchange pearls and the activated carbons inside.
What Should I Do to Reuse Dried Brita Filters?
To reuse dried Brita filters, simply take them out and reinstall them into your Brita products. However, for older Brita filters requiring pre-soaking, you must pre-soak the filter before installing it into your Brita product.
You can easily reuse your dried Brita filters. However, the process of reusing will differ, depending on your type of Brita filter.
If you have a Brita filter from the Standard or Elite+ line, it is probably ready to be used. Simply reinstall the filter into your Brita product, fill it with water, and enjoy your filtered water again.
The newer Brita filters do not need to be pre-soaked. This means you do not need to soak the filter to wet the filter materials inside before using it. You can apply the same approach when reusing your dried Brita filters.
However, with older Brita filters, you may need to first pre-soak the filter to get it wet and prepped. You can only install the filter and reuse it in your Brita products.
Read my article that answers the question Do Brita filters expire.
Final Take
You can let your Brita filter dry out. In fact, it is advisable to do so if you will not be using your filter for a few days or longer. You can dry it by leaving it in the open air for a few hours on top of a paper towel. Store the filter in your fridge with the bottom up. You do not need to freeze your filter.