FAQs about BRITA filters & cartridges

General

No. BRITA cartridges 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.

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.

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

BRITA MAXTRA+ cartridge:

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

All BRITA water filters provide high 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 1 month 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.

BRITA 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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

Benefits

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.

BRITA also has a recycling program for MAXTRA+ filter cartridges. Click here for more information: https://www.brita.com.au/recycling.

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 uncomplicated solution to optimize the taste of cold water. It fits into the water filter carafe  and the water filter bottles.

BRITA MAXTRA+

It's just activated carbon from the BRITA 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 cartridge 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 -12°dH, the filter cartridge should be replaced after approximately 100 litres to 150 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 month.

Don't worry, it's completely normal. Whether it's damp or dry has no effect on the cartridge's performance.

The MAXTRA+ universal filter cartridge has been modified and repositioned to MAXTRA+ Pure Performance, following latest market research, in order to strengthen the communication with our customers, to better meet their individual needs. 

The MAXTRA+ Pure Performance filter is enriched with more active carbon. This allows us to reduce not only typical tap water contaminants like chlorine, but also pesticides, herbicides and selected pharmaceuticals. Water filter recommended for soft and medium-hard water.  

MAXTRA+ Limescale Expert is recommended for people whose main problem is hard water. The filter naturally reduces the typical tap water impurities that affect the taste, smell and transparency of the water. The ion exchanger prevents the deposit of limescale in the kettles and coffee machines. Recommended for moderate to hard water conditions.

If you have hard water, we recommend using the MAXTRA+ Limescale Expert. This filter is  50% more effective in reducing hardness than the Pure Performance filter cartridge. 

The filter cartridge allows you to prepare tasty cold and hot drinks. It is especially recommended for soft and medium-hard water.

With the introduction of BRITA MAXTRA+ Limescale Expert filter cartridge and the BRITA MAXTRA+ Pure Performance filter cartridge, BRITA answers more specifically to consumer needs and local water conditions. Therefore, MAXTRA+ Universal is no longer available in the market. 

Two filter cartridges, two different mixtures for different consumer needs. The BRITA MAXTRA+ Limescale Expert filter cartridge is designed for 150 liter with focus on hardness reduction while the MAXTRA+ Pure Performance guarantees 100 liter cleaner and clearer BRITA filtered water. We recommend changing the cartridge every month. 

The filter material of the MAXTRA+ filter cartridge 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.

BRITA MicroDisc

Dispose of used MicroDiscs in your general waste. Although the BRITA MicroDisc has a high amount of biobased ingredients a small fraction is non-biobased and this is why the MicroDisc is not compostable. 

Though using the same filter, the way of filtration differs between BRITA water filter bottles and BRITA water filter carafes:

BRITA water filter carafes with gravity filtration offer generally higher contact time of impurities with the activated carbon, which increases the filter performance and lifetime. The BRITA MicroDisc lasts for up to 150 litres.

With the BRITA water filter bottles the water is being filtered while drinking. The suction leads to a higher flow rate and less contact time with the activated carbon. The BRITA MicroDisc water filter lasts for up to 60 litres. 

The BRITA MicroDisc uses Pure-Taste-Technology to effectively filter unwanted substances while allowing minerals to pass through.

The main ingredient of the BRITA MicroDisc is fine grained activated carbon made of natural coconut shells that obtains in carbonization and activation process a highly porous structure. Therefore there is a very large inner surface with millions of tiny pores that trap and lock away unwanted substances such as chlorine and other taste impairing substances, micro particles (≥ 30 μm) as well as trace impurities (e.g. certain pesticides, herbicides and hormones as far as contained in your tap water). The result is fresh and pure-tasting water.

To obtain the solid form of the MicroDisc, a fleece and a small fraction of a binder is required to bind the granulated activated carbon together. All ingredients of the BRITA MicroDisc have been tested to 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.

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.

Customer Service

Reach out to customer service with questions about BRITA products and replacement parts, or water filtration.

Phone: 0800-368 48 24

Mo. – Do.: 8.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Fr.: 8.00 – 15.00 Uhr

Questions about your order? Reach out to our online shop service team.

Phone: 0800-368 48 24

Mo. – Do.: 8.00 – 17.00 Uhr
Fr.: 8.00 – 15.00 Uhr

  • Questions? Get direct answers from our team.
  • Freephone from landlines (charges from mobiles may apply).