If you’re concerned about the quality of your drinking water, you probably have a Brita pitcher, dispenser, or bottle filter. Can you wash your Brita filter in the dishwasher when it’s time to clean it? In this blog post, we’ll answer that question and tell you everything you need to know about cleaning your Brita filter.
None of Brita’s filter products are dishwasher safe except the water bottle. The plastic Brita bottles can be washed in the dishwater but only in the top rack. Non-dishwasher-safe Brita products should only be washed by hand and always with mild detergent. The harsh detergents and hot water used in most dishwashers may damage or melt your Brita products.
This article discusses whether your Brita products are safe to wash in a dishwasher. We also discuss how to properly clean your Brita products.
Table of Contents
Products Offered by Brita
Brita carries many products in their lineups, such as pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and faucet filters. These products use Brita’s proprietary filters to clean and purify your water. These filters come in different configurations, but they all use the same treatment technologies to treat your drinking water.
Brita’s primary product is its disposable water filter, which can be mounted into pitchers, dispensers, bottles, and even faucet filters.
1 – Pitchers
Brita’s pitcher filters use a simple design that allows you to pour water into the top of the pitcher and dispense it from the spout. The water is filtered as it passes through the filter, which is located in the chamber below the spout.
The pitchers also come with an electronic indicator to let you know when it’s time to change your Brita filters. This is done by measuring the volume of water that has gone through the filter itself.
2 – Dispensers
Brita’s water dispensers are similar to their pitchers except they are bigger and can hold more water. A Brita water dispenser has a storage capacity of about 25 to 27 cups. This makes them ideal for entertaining or large families. They have a spigot on the side, so you can dispense filtered water without having to remove the lid.
Brita’s dispensers also come with electronic indicators to let you know when it’s time to change the filter. It works by measuring the volume of water that has been treated. Once the limit is reached, the indicator will let you know.
3 – Bottles
Brita bottles come in 20- to 36-ounce sizes. Bottles are made of either plastic or stainless steel. Some Brita bottles come with two stainless steel walls to keep the water inside at a constant temperature.
These bottles have their own proprietary Brita filter tubes. These individual Brita filters for bottles are replaceable as well.
4 – Faucet Filters
Another popular Brita product is their faucet filter. You simply mount them on the faucet and run water through them. The filter inside the housing treats the water and improves its taste and quality.
Not only do these filters have adjustment settings, but you can also choose between a rain-like flow or a concentrated, forceful spray. These faucet filters also come with electronic indicators, which remind you when it is time to replace the filter.
How Do Dishwashers Clean Dishes?
Dishwashers clean your dishes by spraying hot water and detergent on them. After that, it rinses and dries your dishes. Typically, dishwashers use very hot water as high as 170°F (74°C) and harsh detergents to clean the dishes since they cannot scrub them.
Before we can discuss whether Brita products are dishwasher safe, it is helpful to understand how dishwashers work.
Dishwashers use a combination of hot water and detergent to clean your dishes. The water may be as hot as 170°F. You can adjust your dishwasher’s settings to use lower-temperature water in order to clean delicate wares without damaging them.
Most dishwashers you’ll use in your home come in a box and have two levels of trays where you can load all the dirty dishes. Most people put larger items on the bottom tray and reserve the top tray for cutlery or other smaller pieces.
Once you close the front door, you can load the detergent, set the settings, and let the machine run.
The machine starts with a pre-wash. In this stage, the dishwasher sprays hot water on the wares. Depending on the brand or your settings, the water may or may not have detergent. Once pre-washed, the water is drained out.
The dishwasher will not start to wash the dishes. A mix of fresh water and detergent is pumped to the rotating sprayers. The sprayers spray the dirty dishes with water. This stimulates the scrubbing action. The water is circulated throughout the process. Once done, the water is drained out again.
After washing, the machine moves into rinsing and drying. Clean water is sprayed again on the wares to remove any detergent residue. Hot air is then blown to dry out the wares.
Is My Brita Dishwasher Safe?
No Brita products are dishwasher safe except their water bottle. This is because the hot water and harsh detergents used in most dishwasher might scratch or melt the plastic filters. The only dishwasher-safe Brita product is the plastic water bottle, and you should place it on the top rack only.
| Brita Products | Dishwasher Safe? |
| Pitchers | NOT safe |
| Dispensers | NOT safe |
| Bottles | NOT safe except plastic bottles.
Plastic bottles should be washed at the top rack. |
| Faucet Filters | NOT safe. |
Generally, most of your Brita products are not dishwasher safe. This is confirmed by the Q&A section on Brita’s own website. From Brita’s explanations, the only dishwasher-safe Brita product is the plastic bottle.
Brita advised that, with the plastic bottle, it should only be placed on a top rack. The top rack of a dishwasher is less likely to be subject to high temperatures compared to the bottom rack, so it makes sense that the bottle would not be damaged.
There are several reasons that Brita’s filters can’t be washed in the dishwasher.
1 – Hot water damage
Dishwashers use very hot water (110 – 170°F) to clean dishes. Brita’s filter housings are made entirely of plastic (pitcher and dispenser filters) or have plastic components (faucet filter). These parts are damaged by high temperatures and might be damaged in the dishwasher.
2 – Harsh detergents
Dishwasher detergents usually contain sodium hydroxide, a very corrosive caustic. This powerful chemical can cause cracks and haze to form on the plastic finish of the Brita filters.
Some dishwasher detergents also use microplastic beads to help polish the ceramic wares. However, these beads may damage the plastic surface of Brita’s products. Even the stainless steel parts can be degraded by these abrasives.
3 – Electronics
Some parts of Brita carry electronic parts, such as the filter replacement indicator. Washing these parts with dishwashers may damage these electronics, making them no longer functional.
How To Properly Clean Your Brita Products?
The safest and recommended way to clean your Brita products is by simply hand-washing them with mild detergent. After rinsing them clean, they should be placed aside to dry. Reassemble the products as per the instructions, and check that the filtration notification system works.
You don’t need a dishwasher to clean Brita products—simple washing by hand is sufficient. Hand washing will remove all dirt and grime from your filter and prevent any damage that might be caused by using a dishwasher.
To hand wash your Brita Products:
- Remove Brita parts with electronics. You will clean them differently later.
- You want to also remove the filter, as they cannot be washed with detergent.
- Start by rinsing your Brita parts with warm water.
- Drip in some mild dishwasher detergent on a clean sponge and begin scrubbing down the Brita products
- Do not apply rigorous force when scrubbing, as harsh scrubbing may damage the plastic parts.
- Rinse the parts, ensuring no detergent residue is left.
- Set aside to dry.
- While waiting for the parts to dry, wipe down the electronic parts with a moist cloth to clean them.
- Once dried, reassemble your Brita product, and mount the filter back.
- Ensure that the electronic filter notification system works.
You are good to go. Enjoy your Brita water!
Can I Clean My Brita Filter?
You do not need to clean your Brita filter, as they are designed to be discarded after use. If you need to clean it because the filter caught something, you can rinse it under warm, running water. Do not use detergent as it may enter the filter, altering the taste of your drinking water.
Brita filters are designed to filter water until it has treated a specific volume. Once the limit is reached, you simply discard the filter and replace it with a new one. In many cases, you do not need to clean or wash your Brita filter.
However, if your Brita filter gets dirty with some sauce or oil, you will need to clean it. The most effective way to clean your filter is by running warm water through it. If you can’t clean the filter by rinsing it, you’ll need a new one.
You do not want to use any detergent when cleaning your Brita filter because it can get into the filter. This will give your water a soapy taste.
Final Take
It is not recommended that you wash your Brita products in the dishwasher. The harsh chemicals and high temperatures present in dishwashers can damage the plastic parts of Brita products. Moreover, the electronic components might also get damaged.
The best way to clean your Brita products is by hand washing them with mild detergent and warm water. Hand washing is just as effective as using a dishwasher and will not damage your Brita products.
If you need to clean your Brita filter, simply rinse it with warm water. Do not use any detergent, as it may enter the filter and alter the taste of your drinking water.