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While limescale isn’t harmful to your health, it’s still not something most people want in their water filter jug.
For one, it can make water taste off, and it doesn’t look very appealing.
If you are having trouble with limescale buildup in your water filter pitcher and don’t know how to deal with it, then we have the steps for you.
In this article, we’ll explain how limescale builds up in a water filter jug, how you can remove it, and how to prevent it from showing up again in the future.
So, here is our step-by-step guide on how to remove limescale from a water filter jug!
Contents
TL;DR
These are the steps to remove limescale from a water filter jug:
- Remove the filter cartridge from the water jug.
- Use white vinegar, apple cider, malt vinegar, or lime juice solution as your cleaning aid. Pour any of those options into the water jug and let it simmer for about thirty minutes.
- Using a kitchen brush, scrub and clean the entire jug and all its parts, including the lid and the reservoir.
- Once all components are thoroughly cleaned, rinse them with clean water.
- Reassemble.
What’s Limescale?
Limescale is calcium carbonate dissolved in water that leaves a deposit when the water evaporates. As such, pipes, kettles, and boilers can all accumulate limescale.
Limescale is hard and chalky, and ranges in color from whitish to gray.
You are more likely to find limescale in your pipes and water filter jug if your home has very hard water. Limescale isn’t too bad for people but can damage appliances if left untreated. Additionally, you’ll have to use more cleaning products and spend more time cleaning up. Also, the taste of your filtered water may also change.
How to Remove Limescale from a Water Filter Jug
If your water filter pitcher is getting limescale, there is an easy way to get rid of it. You can quickly and easily remove limescale buildup by following these simple steps.
1. Remove the Filter Element
Cleaning your filter jug thoroughly requires access to all of its components. Thus, taking off the lid and removing the filter cartridge is the first step. The process should be pretty straightforward but may vary slightly from brand to brand.
After removing the filter from your pitcher, you can access and clean all the other components of the water filter jug.
2. Soak the Jug in Vinegar
Many people prefer to take an organic approach to cleaning and avoid industrial chemicals by using white vinegar. You may already have a bottle at home. We recommend picking one up if you don’t have it because you can use white vinegar for many things around the house.[1]
To get the best results, mix vinegar with lemon juice in equal parts and pour it into your filter jug. White vinegar alone should work if you don’t have lemon juice.
You could also use apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, or lime juice solution if you don’t have vinegar. It’s worth a shot, but the results may vary.
The key is to use an acidic agent since acidic solutions dissolve limescale. Wait 30 minutes after you pour the vinegar into the jug for it to take effect.
3. Scrub
The time has come to roll up your sleeves and scrub. Fortunately, a water filter pitcher does not have a large surface area to clean. Despite this, you will want to ensure you clean every nook and cranny by hand, including the lid and upper reservoir.
Remember: Not all water filter pitchers are dishwasher-safe!
Ensure the pitcher is thoroughly scrubbed with a brush, but use one that won’t scratch it.
The white vinegar can also be used to clean your other kitchen appliances if limescale has also built up there.
Repeat Step 2
Depending on how stubborn the scaling is, you may have to repeat steps 2 and 3 more than once. This has more to do with your water quality than your particular brand of filter – knowing your water source can give you a better idea of how hardness affects you!
4. Rinse
Next, rinse your filter pitcher thoroughly with warm, fresh water after you have successfully cleaned it.
Vinegar leaves an aftertaste, which can be removed with warm water. You should also see those unsightly white limescale splotches disappear.
5. Re-Install the Filter Element
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when reassembling the water filter jug. Ensure a tight seal by inserting the filter and pressing firmly. Now you can enjoy fresh, filtered water once again.
How to Stop Limescale from Coming Back
As a preventative measure, follow the steps listed in this article once every 4 to 6 weeks to prevent limescale resurfacing in your water filter jug.
If you’re cleaning your pitcher on a regular basis anyway, why not add a little white vinegar to the process? By doing this, the limescale build-up will be broken up before it even becomes visible.
Conclusion
Investing in a quality water filter pitcher can save you a lot of money. Drinking filtered water will make you want to drink more, and staying hydrated is vital during the summer, especially in the heat.
The best way to remove limescale from a filter jug is to clean with vinegar or another acidic solution, though not too strong that it would damage the jug.
Start with soaking. Then scrub by hand. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
Since you should be cleaning your filter jug every once in a while, you can add some white vinegar to your cleaning process to reduce the chances of limescale showing up in the future.
Further Reading
- The Top Rated Pitcher Water Filters
- Learn How to Make a Homemade Water Filter Pitcher
- We Help You Find a Travel Water Filter Pitcher
Resources
Outside of his writing work, Rory enjoys photographing the Irish landscape and making music!
