How to Use a Brita Pitcher & Change the Filter

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An easy guide to using a Brita pitcher & filter

Reviewed by Claudia & Angelo Zimmermann

Last Updated: November 26, 2024 Fact Checked

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Using a Brita for the First Time

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Filling a Brita

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Replacing Your Filter

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Video

Brita pitchers filter out certain elements, such as chlorine and copper, that don’t belong in your drinking water. ^{[1]
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Research source} If you’re concerned about what’s in your tap water and you want to ensure that you’re ingesting the healthiest water possible, filling and using a Brita pitcher might be a step in the right direction.

Using a Brita Pitcher

Wash the pitcher and run the filter under cold water for 15 seconds.
Insert the filter and fill the reservoir with water.
Refill the water a little bit each time you use the pitcher.
Replace your filter according to the timeframe in your owner’s manual.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Your Brita For the First Time

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When you purchase your pitcher, take it out of the box it’s in. Then, pull off the plastic that’s wrapped all around the pitcher and discard it. Take out any items that are inside of your pitcher, such as the manual and/or the filter, and set them aside.
With all packaging discarded, take apart the pitcher and place the different parts in a sink. Use a mild dish detergent, a sponge, and warm water to wash the parts. Then, dry them with a clean hand towel. ^{[2]
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Take the filter that came with your pitcher out of its packaging. Then, hold it under cold running water for at least 15 seconds. At this point, the filter is ready to be used. ^{[3]
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Take the lid off of your pitcher and hold your filter by its top. Line up the groove in the filter with the notch in the hole that’s located in the bottom of the reservoir. Slide the filter down into the hole. ^{[4]
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Fill the reservoir with water. With the lid still off and the filter in place, fill the reservoir completely with tap water. The water will slowly filter through and fill the bottom of the pitcher. At this point, your water will be ready to drink. ^{[5]
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- In order to fill the pitcher completely, you may need to fill the reservoir more than once.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Filling Your Brita Daily

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When you’ve drank all of the filtered water in your pitcher, take it out of the refrigerator. Take the lid off and place it on the counter. Pick up the pitcher by the handle and hold it in the sink underneath the faucet.
Fill the reservoir all of the way up to the top. Wait as the water slowly filters through into the bottom of the pitcher. Once the reservoir is about half emptied, refill it to the top. This should allow the pitcher to fill completely with filtered water. ^{[6]
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Put the lid back on and return the pitcher to the refrigerator. Once the bottom of the pitcher is full of water, put the lid back on. Then, put the pitcher back in the refrigerator so that it stays cool. ^{[7]
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- Drink all of the filtered water in your pitcher within 1-2 days to ensure that you’re consuming the freshest water possible.
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Add tap water to the reservoir every time you use it to keep it full. Instead of waiting until your pitcher is empty to refill it, refill it a little bit each time you use it. Every time you take out your pitcher to pour yourself a glass of filtered water, first fill the glass with tap water and pour it into the reservoir. This way, your Brita pitcher will always stay full.
- Be careful when you pour yourself the glass of filtered water, as the water in the reservoir may spill out if the lid doesn’t stay securely on.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Replacing Your Filter

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When it’s time to replace your filter, you first need to take the old one out. Take off the pitcher lid and place it aside. Then reach into the reservoir, grab the filter by its top handle, and pull it out. Discard the old filter. ^{[8]
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Take your new filter out of any packaging that it came in. Hold your new filter by its top handle underneath running water for at least 15 seconds. ^{[9]
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Continue holding the new filter by its top handle while you match up the notch on the pitcher with the groove that’s on the filter. Then, slide the filter down into place. ^{[10]
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Once the new filter is securely in place, fill the reservoir to the top with cold tap water. Your pitcher will then be ready to use again. ^{[11]
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If you’re using the white-colored Standard Brita filter or the gray-colored Stream Brita filter, it’ll need to be switched out after you’ve filtered 40 gallons (150 l) of water through your pitcher. This should take about 2 months. ^{[12]
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If you have the blue-colored Longlast Brita filter, you can use your filter for a longer time before it needs to be replaced. This type of filter can filter 120 gallons (450 l) of water, which means it typically lasts about 6 months. ^{[13]
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Change your Brita Smart Pitcher’s filter when an arrow is displayed. If you have a Smart Pitcher, the electronic indicator will let you know when it’s time to replace the filter by displaying a flashing arrow at the top. After you’ve changed the filter, reset the screen by holding down the start button for 5-10 seconds, and letting go once you see 4 flashing bars. ^{[14]
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- If you have a hard time holding down the start button, try using a capped ballpoint pen.
- Every 2 weeks, 1 of these bars will disappear.
- Once there’s only 1 bar left on the screen, make sure you have a new filter on hand.
If you aren’t sure if you need to switch out your filter, pay attention to how long it takes to filter the water. If you notice that the filtering process takes longer than it used to, it may be time to replace your filter. ^{[15]
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