Me at a rodeo in Canada, I don't usually wear a stetson!
Me at a rodeo in Canada, I don't usually wear a stetson!
Member since:07.10.2002
Reviews:46
Members who trust:2
I recently succumbed to the adverts and bought a Brita water filter from Argos. I opted for the slimline version that will fit into the fridge door and cost £14.75.
I have to say, I am amazed with the difference in water quality. I have never considered our tap water to be particularly bad, OK it had a bit of a chlorine taste but not that noticeable. However, what I chose to ignore on a daily basis was that our tap water is polluted with a variety of heavy metals, benzene, chlorine, fluoride (for strong teeth) and agro chemicals. Lovely!
As our bodies are two thirds water, water is our most important nutrient. It is vital for aiding digestion, eliminating toxins and the efficient functioning of vital organs. When you look at it like that, the cost of filtered water is really quite insignificant.
The Brita filter is really very simple. It consists of a scratch resistant jug, with non slip base and soft grip handle, a funnel, a carbon filter and a lid. That's it. You put tap water in and get pure, clean water out. Well almost that simple, you really should read the instructions first. I didn't bother and wondered why the water tasted a bit odd from the first jug full!
When you get your new Brita filter home, wash the jug, lid and funnel in warm soapy water (I did that bit). Whilst the jug and funnel can go in the dishwasher, the lid contains an electronic memo device which keeps tabs on the filter's usage and is not dishwasher proof.
The cartridges come foil wrapped. The cartridge, less wrapper, needs to be immersed in cold water and gently shaken to remove air bubbles. It is then placed into the funnel, making sure it drops down fully into position (I did all that too).
Next you can fill the funnel with tap water, making sure you do not run the water directly over the filter. (Yep, did that). You must discard the first two fillings in order to remove any carbon particles. (That's the bit I missed. If I get carbon dated in the near future, someone is going to get a shock result!)
The filter is then ready for use. The joy of the slimline version, which holds 1.6 lts, is that you get lovely cold water in an instant and don't have to run the tap for ages until it runs really cold. You can also get a larger version that can go on the worktop, which holds 2.2 lts and is the same price.
The filter needs to be replaced every 4 weeks or so. The memo on the top of the lid reminds you when it is due to be changed. At the start it shows 4 bars and each week one disappears. An arrow starts to flash after 4 weeks which is when you should change the filter and reset the memo. The jug, funnel and lid should be washed with each filter changed to keep it perfectly clean.
I don't know that I have noticed any miraculous health improvements but I am definitely drinking far more water now. I realised today though that I still fill the kettle from the tap, so I need to break that habit, or buy a filter kettle. Otherwise, all good with Brita.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Sounds good to me. The water in my area is hard and often icky tasting, meaning a lot of the time I'm not drinking as much as I should. This would solve the problem methinks.
bistro 10.11.2004 09:50
Other than the replacement filters sounding a bit expensive, it sounds great. Not a bad price either. A very informative review, thanks. Mandy.xx
Bollinger28 10.11.2004 08:37
I've got one of these but the price of the replacement cartridges are SO expensive. Lexy
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