FAQs about BRITA filters & cartridges

We want to offer you the best possible products. With the introduction of the MAXTRA PRO water filter, we are certain that we have made a huge step forward – not only in terms of performance but also sustainability. 

We thoroughly believe that the MAXTRA PRO is our most sustainable water filter ever and is therefore the right product for the future of BRITA; our environment and you as our valued customer. With the introduction of the BRITA MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 water filter and the BRITA MAXTRA PRO LIMESCALE EXPERT water filter, we can respond even more specifically and individually to your wishes, tastes and the specific tap water quality in the area where you live.

Environmental awareness is important to us! This is why we have run our own recycling programme for used filters since 1992. However, we can only recycle filters we receive from you. Therefore, we encourage you to return your BRITA filters to us. 

Unfortunately, we cannot offer recycling options in all countries. For further information regarding your local recycling options please check our website www.brita.net/recycling 

For BRITA household water filters the same recycling process applies: The filters are collected locally and transported to our recycling facility in Germany. On our website www.brita.net/recycling you can find information on how the recycling process works in detail.

Both the MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridge and the MicroDisc water filter have been designed for an easy and quick installation.

After inserting a new MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridge, press and hold the start button on the BRITA METER for approximately 6 seconds. When 4 bars appear in the display and ‘OK' flashes, you've activated your BRITA METER and your MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridge is filtering properly.

To determine the remaining lifetime of your MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridge, simply look at the percentage shown in bars on the display. Flashing water droplets that move successively from top to bottom on the display indicate an active filtration process. When the empty filter cartridge icon flashes ‘NEW', it's time to replace your MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridge.

You should replace your filter cartridge at least every 4 weeks. That way, you'll enjoy optimum performance from your BRITA cartridge.

Please check what kind of water filter cartridges you are using at home. BRITA can only guarantee "PerfectFit" for original BRITA water filter cartridges.

If properly stored, all original BRITA cartridges can be kept for several years. Proper storage means at temperatures between 1 °C and 50 °C, without exposure to direct sunlight or heat. The cartridge should also remain sealed in its original packaging.

Your water hardness can be influenced by various factors. Information on water hardness is usually provided by the respective utility company. So you may ask there.

To get an indication by yourself:

A value > 5°dH indicates medium to hard water. Additionally, the following factors typically indicate medium/hard water:

• Heavy occurrence of limescale deposits in household appliances and around kitchen taps and bathroom fittings.
• Appearance of limescale spots on glasses.
• Oily streaks or scum appearing on surface of hot drinks, especially tea.

A value < 5°dH is considered soft water. In addition to this value, the following factors can also help you to indicate soft water:

• Your home has a plumbed in water softener.
• Low occurrence of limescale deposits in your household appliances and around kitchen taps and bathroom fittings.

All BRITA products provide high quality filtration performance while effectively reducing a number of substances that can negatively affect taste or odour such as chlorine. Additionally, BRITA water filters are easy to install, set up and store.

BRITA MAXTRA+ water filter:
The BRITA MAXTRA+ water filter provides up to four weeks and 100 litres of freshly filtered water. Its ion exchange resin reduces both carbonate hardness (limescale) and metals such as copper and lead. The activated carbon reduces substances that can impair taste, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds.

BRITA MicroDisc water filter:
The compact and powerful BRITA MicroDisc filters up to 150 litres of water and lasts for up to four weeks. The technology stops unwanted elements that impact the taste of water, such as chlorine while allowing minerals like calcium and magnesium to pass through.

Yes. The contents of all BRITA water filter are food-grade quality and completely harmless, even if accidentally ingested.

Both the BRITA MAXTRA and BRITA MicroDisc have been designed for quick, easy installation.

BRITA MAXTRA water filter:

Simply fill a jug or bowl with water. Immerse the BRITA MAXTRA water filter in cold water and shake gently to remove any air bubbles. Insert the water filter into the jug’s funnel and run water through the filter twice. After discarding the first two litres, your BRITA water filter is ready for use.

BRITA MicroDisc:

Before using the MicroDisc for the first time, place it under running water and lightly rub both sides with your fingers for approx. 30 seconds. This effectively removes any loose carbon dust that may be present.

Once the BRITA water filter is full it simply stops filtering. It does not leak impurities back into the filtered water. 

No. BRITA water filters are not designed to remove fluoride. Some fluoride is naturally present in tap water, whilst some water companies add fluoride to the water. If you are concerned about the presence of fluoride in your tap water, check with your local water supplier.

Depending on which BRITA water filter system you have, BRITA METER, BRITA MEMO or BRITA Smart Light monitors your filter's performance. Please refer to the product manual for more information.

Store your BRITA filtered water in a cool place, such as the fridge. Also, protect your BRITA product from direct sunlight to avoid algae and consume the filtered water within one day.

The filtering process can cause a small increase in water's potassium level. However, one litre of BRITA filtered water contains less potassium than an apple. If you have kidney disease or watch your potassium intake for other reasons, consult your doctor before using a water filter.

No. BRITA water filters which contain ion exchange resin and activated carbon reduce substances from tap water that can affect its taste and appearance. The process only partially de-mineralises water. Distilled water, in contrast, is fully de-mineralised. That’s why filtered water is not suitable for use when distilled water is required, such as car batteries.

Water hardness falls into two categories: permanent hardness and temporary hardness. Permanent hardness does not influence water’s taste or how household appliances work. Temporary hardness affects the taste of food and beverages prepared with hot water. Further, it causes limescale deposits in home appliances that heat water, such as kettles, steam irons, coffee makers and washers.

By reducing water’s temporary hardness, BRITA water filter cartridges reduce taste and aroma impairing substances and limescale build-up. The result is great tasting water for hot drinks and dishes prepared with water, and less lime scale build-up in home appliances. How hard is your water? Order a free water hardness test strip to find out.

Mains water is strictly regulated and monitored but may contain substances that impair its taste and appearance. A BRITA water filter can reduce mains water’s:

• carbonate hardness / limescale (calcium and magnesium ions)
• free and bound chlorine (if present)
• lead and copper

BRITA filtered water provides you and your family with the ideal basis for aromatic hot drinks, such as coffee and tea. It’s also ideal for cooking and effectively protects domestic appliances against limescale build-up.

These advantages apply to BRITA water filters based on ion exchanger and activated carbon, e.g. MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridges. An exception is the MicroDisc water filter, which is based on activated carbon. It has been developed as a mobile and uncomplicated solution to optimise the taste of cold water. It fits into the water filter carafe and the water filter bottles.

All BRITA water filters provide high filtration performance while effectively reducing a number of substances that can affect taste or odour such as chlorine. Additionally, BRITA water filters are easy to install, set up and store.

MAXTRA PRO water filter:
The BRITA MAXTRA PRO water filter provides up to 4 weeks and 150 litres of freshly filtered water. Its ion exchange resin reduces both carbonate hardness (limescale) and metals such as copper and lead. The activated carbon reduces substances that can impair taste, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds.

MicroDisc water filter:
The compact and powerful BRITA MicroDisc filters up to 150 litres of water and lasts for up to 1 month. The technology stops unwanted elements that impact the taste of water, such as chlorine, while allowing minerals like calcium and magnesium to pass through.

It’s better to use BRITA filtered water over tap water in steam irons to help reduce limescale build-up. However, for most steam irons with an aluminium base, de-mineralised water is recommended for optimum performance. Filtered water is ideal for irons with a chrome plated steel base. If you are uncertain what kind of iron you have, refer to your instruction manual or contact your iron’s manufacturer.

This applies to BRITA water filters based on ion exchange resin and activated carbon, e.g. MAXTRA PRO water filter cartridges. 

BRITA products reduce plastic waste, have a significantly lower CO2 footprint than bottled water, and thus make an important contribution to a more sustainable society. As a company we also want to make such a contribution by reducing the environmental impacts of our business activities to a minimum while we continue to develop and grow at the same time.

It’s better to use BRITA filtered water over tap water in steam irons to help reduce limescale build-up. However, for most steam irons with an aluminium base, de-mineralised water is recommended for optimum performance. Filtered water is ideal for irons with a chrome plated steel base. If you are uncertain what kind of iron you have, refer to your instruction manual or contact your iron’s manufacturer.

This applies to BRITA water filters based on ion exchange resin and activated carbon, e.g. MAXTRA+ filter cartridges. 

Mains water is strictly regulated and monitored, but may contain substances that impair its taste and appearance. A BRITA water filter can reduce mains water’s:

• carbonate hardness/limescale (calcium and magnesium ions)
• free and bound chlorine (if present)
• lead and copper

BRITA filtered water provides you and your family the ideal basis for aromatic hot drinks, such as coffee and tea. It’s ideal for cooking and effectively protects domestic appliances against limescale build-up.

These advantages apply to BRITA water filters based on ion exchanger and activated carbon, e.g. MAXTRA+ filter cartridges. An exception is the MicroDisc water filter, which is based on activated carbon. It has been developed as a mobile and simple solution to optimise the taste of cold water. It fits into the water filter carafe and the water filter bottles.

A) you have not used an original BRITA MAXTRA filter

B) you have not fully inserted the MAXTRA filter into your water filter jug. Please press the filter down a bit more into the funnel and try again.

C) you have not prepared your MAXTRA cartridge as per the instructions on pack

No your jug is not broken! What you can hear is the PerfectFit System within the jug, but this is nothing to worry about. The PerfectFit feature ensures that all of the tap water is reliably filtered through the filter. BRITA has improved its water filters by modifying the funnel to ensure a perfect between BRITA filter jug and cartridge.

Our German engineers always strive to find the best possible solutions and to improve our existing products. They have developed the PerfectFit System ensuring that our filters fit perfectly into our filter jugs and so filter all the tap water reliably through the filter. The water is only running through the filter jug if a BRITA MAXTRA+ filter is firmly and properly inserted.

It's just activated carbon from the BRITA water filter. The granulated activated carbon is made of coconut shells. Like all natural products, coconut shells are subject to natural variations in product quality. Sometimes this leads to abrasion of parts of the carbon into your filtered water. Preparing your water filter as described in the product manual can help eliminate carbon dust.

To ensure you enjoy high quality BRITA filtered water, replace the filter cartridge at regular intervals.

The lifetime of a filter cartridge depends on the local water quality. If your mains water contains a carbonate hardness of 10 to 12°dH, the filter cartridge should be replaced after 100 litres of water. If the water is harder or consumption is greater, the lifetime of the cartridge reduces accordingly.

The cartridge should be replaced at least every four weeks.

Don’t worry, it’s completely normal. Whether it’s damp or dry has no effect on the water filter’s performance.

The filter material of the MAXTRA+ water filter contains a mixture of ion exchange resins and activated carbon that has been tested to food grade quality. The ion exchange resin used reduces the carbonate hardness (limescale) and reduces metals, such as copper and lead that can occur as a result of domestic installation. The activated carbon reduces substances that may impair taste, such as chlorine and chlorine compounds.

Yes, minerals can pass through BRITA MicroDisc water filters. The filters are designed to filter out unwanted substances (e.g. chlorine, micro-particles and trace impurities) while allowing minerals (e.g. calcium and magnesium) to pass through.

Dispose of used BRITA MicroDisc water filters in your general waste. Although BRITA MicroDisc water filters contain a high amount of bio-based ingredients, a small amount is not bio-based and therefore the BRITA MicroDisc water filters are not compostable.

Although they use the same filter, BRITA water filter bottles and BRITA water filter carafes use a different method of filtration.

BRITA water filter carafes with gravity filtration generally offer a longer contact time of impurities with the activated carbon, which increases the filter performance and lifetime. BRITA MicroDisc water filters last up to 150 litres.

With BRITA water filter bottles, the water is filtered as you drink it. The suction results in a higher flow rate and less contact time with the activated carbon. BRITA MicroDisc water filters last up to 60 litres.

BRITA MicroDisc water filters use Pure-Taste-Technology to effectively filter out unwanted substances while allowing minerals to pass through.

The main ingredient in the BRITA MicroDisc water filters is fine-grained activated carbon made from natural coconut shells, which contain a highly porous structure. This porous structure has a very large inner surface with millions of tiny pores that trap and retain unwanted substances such as chlorine and other taste-impairing substances, as well as micro-particles (≥ 15 μm).

To create the solid disc of the BRITA MicroDisc water filters, a non-woven fabric and a small amount of binder is needed to bind the granular activated carbon together. All ingredients have been tested for food grade quality.

For optimum performance and hygiene, we recommend replacing your BRITA MicroDisc water filter after 4 weeks.

1. Scan the QR code on the packaging with your smartphone.
2. Your calendar will open with a 4-week refill exchange reminder. Simply add it to your personal calendar. Your calendar will now remind you to change your filter every 4 weeks.

Before using the BRITA MicroDisc water filter  for the first time, thoroughly rinse both sides of the disc under warm running water for about 30 seconds to remove any dust from the activated carbon.

For the first few litres, the BRITA MicroDisc water filter may appear to filter slowly because it has not yet reached its optimum water flow. In this case you can soak it in warm water for 1 minute which will optimise the water flow.

The MAXTRA PRO water filters are improved versions of the previous MAXTRA+ water filters in many respects:

• By integrating an additional mesh in the bottom of the cup, even the smallest particles in the water are retained better.
• 50 % bio-based material for lid and funnel (mass balance)
• Filter capacity has been increased by 50 % from 100 litres to 150 litres

Two filters are now available, instead of one, for more choice when enjoying water:

• MAXTRA PRO All-IN-1
  Reliable limescale reduction and the reduction of taste-impairing - as well as trace - impurities for delicious, fresh filtered water – both hot and cold! Designed for soft to hard water areas.

• MAXTRA PRO LIMESCALE EXPERT
  Ultimate limescale protection for appliances and demanding users. Designed for hard to very hard water.

To meet your personal water needs even more individually, BRITA has developed two different water filters.

The MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 water filter is recommended for soft and hard water areas and offers the best taste experience. It effectively reduces chlorine, herbicides, pesticides and pharmaceutical residues, if present in the water. It reduces metals such as lead and copper, as well as particles from pipes. It moderately reduces water hardness and is ideal for your daily hydration.

The MAXTRA PRO LIMESCALE EXPERT is recommended for hard and very hard water areas and offers the ultimate limescale protection. It provides 50 % better limescale reduction compared to the MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 water filter and protects your kettle and coffee maker from limescale build-up. It retains particles from the pipes, reduces chlorine and substances that affect the taste, look and smell of your tap water. Your tea and coffee will therefore have a fuller flavour.

A) You have not used an original BRITA MAXTRA PRO water filter.
B) You have not fully inserted the MAXTRA PRO water filter into your water filter jug. Please press the filter down a little more into the funnel and try again.
C) You have not prepared your MAXTRA PRO cartridge as per the instructions on pack.

Don’t worry, it’s completely normal. Whether it’s damp or dry has no effect on the water filter’s performance.

It's just activated carbon from your BRITA water filter. The granulated activated carbon is made of coconut shells. Like all natural products, coconut shells are subject to natural variations in product quality. Sometimes this leads to abrasion of parts of the carbon into your filtered water. Preparing your water filter as described in the product manual can help eliminate this dust.

Once the BRITA water filter is full it simply stops filtering. It does not leak impurities back into the filtered water.

BRITA PerfectFit ensures that your BRITA water filter fits perfectly into your BRITA water filter jug so it can filter all the tap water reliably through the filter. The water will only run through your water filter jug if a BRITA MAXTRA PRO water filter is firmly and correctly inserted.

To always enjoy freshly filtered water with BRITA, you should change the water filter cartridge at regular intervals.

The service life of a filter cartridge depends on the local water quality. If your tap water has a hardness level of 10 -12° dH, the water filter cartridge should be replaced after 150 litres of water. If the water is harder or the water consumption is higher, the life of the filter cartridge will be shortened accordingly.

The water filter cartridge should be replaced at least every 4 weeks.

At BRITA, we are always striving to improve our products and develop the perfect solution for you. Through our relentless efforts in research and development we have been able to increase the filter performance recommendations for our MAXTRA PRO filters by 50 %. With your MAXTRA PRO filter you can now filter up to 150 litres of tap water into delicious, freshly filtered drinking water – without generating single-use plastic waste. 

No. The maximum lifespan of a MAXTRA PRO water filter is 150 litres / 4 weeks. BRITA recommends replacing the water filter regularly. 

If you are using a BRITA water filter jug with BRITA Smart Light, please use this as an indicator for the next replacement of your water filter. The intelligent sensor not only measures the time since the water filter was last replaced, but also records the volume of filtered water. 

Yes. To make your life as easy as possible, the MAXTRA PRO filters are compatible with all BRITA water filter jugs, including those with PerfectFit feature.

Our certified bio-based material consists of residues from the food industry, e.g. from vegetable oil refining. These plant-based feedstocks are no longer suitable for consumption and are collected from the food industry and restaurants. 

The MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 water filter is perfect for everyday preparation and filtration of tap water. It provides soft, filtered, fresh tasting water and protects your valuable kitchen appliances from calcification.

At a glance:

• Aromatic tea and coffee
• Delicious cold drinks
• Fresh, filtered water for cooking
• Appliance protection and limescale reduction

With the MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 water filter you can prepare both delicious hot and cold drinks. The filter is particularly suitable in areas where the tap water is soft to hard.

Please note: the official advice for boiling tap water also applies to BRITA filtered water. The general rule is: filter first, then boil!

The MAXTRA PRO LIMESCALE EXPERT water filter is ideal for achieving a fuller flavour in tea and coffee. The filter also reliably protects household appliances from limescale build-up (50 % better limescale protection compared to MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1​). It is therefore designed for hard to very hard water areas. 

At a glance:

• Aromatic tea and coffee
• Best appliance protection and limescale reduction
• Suitable for very hard water areas 
• Fresh, filtered water for cooking

With the MAXTRA PRO LIMESCALE EXPERT filter you can prepare both delicious hot and cold drinks. The filter is particularly suitable for areas where the tap water is hard to very hard.

Please note: the official advice for boiling tap water also applies to BRITA filtered water. The rule is: filter first, then boil!

The standard package of a BRITA water filter jug usually includes a free MAXTRA PRO ALL-IN-1 filter. Please check your local product packaging to see which water filter is included for your area.