Brita water filters - pointless?

[LittleWingSoul]

I'm getting ready to move house at the end of Jan and am trying to streamline my home to make packing easier, and as the kitchen in new house is a little smaller have started on the kitchen and got rid of the...

Breadbin (after reading www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1245674-AIBU-to-think-bread-bins-are-totally-pointless)

And it's matching tea/coffee/sugar/utensil pot/cake tin... (I know !)

And am now eyeing the Brita water filter jug thingy with disain. Haven't replaced the filter in about a month, DP doesn't use it even when the filter is replaced, and it never really found a home on the surface, it just gets in the way.

Much like the breadbin, I thought it was just one-of-those-things-you-have-in-the-kitchen but I'm ready to be told otherwise.

Pointless?

We've had one (not the same one!) for years. The jug filters are better than the kettles which always leak after a while If you don't have hard water or drink black tea then it's certainly not a necessity.

Is the hardness what it really is supposed to get rid of? Because if that's the case I'm not bothered about drinking it, and I descale the kettle with white vinegar once a month or so, therefore wouldn't affect my tea/coffee too much.

They're essential in hard water areas. We had one when we lived in a hard water area, we used to fill the kettle up from it. Otherwise it would scale up after just 1 boil.

We live in a hard water area and we don't have one! And no-one's died yet... I descale the kettle with vinegar every few months, yes it looks a bit manky after a bit but as long as you've got a decent filter on the spout it's fine and we don't get scale in our drinks. Our kettle is the type with a flat element on the bottom, not sure if that makes a difference.

It went with the recycling! I feel liberated

Good for you, they're revolting germ harbouring things!

And see, I didn't even know that, which has totally cemented my excellent decision! I know my DM will be horrified though!

I remember watching a programme and unless you wash them up thoroughly every day they have all sorts of germs in them. Blerk!

Good for you, they're revolting germ harbouring things
This ^
Mine always smelt of mould even after changing the filter -
so I opted for bottled water.

Hmm, I use one even though I live in a soft water area. My pipes are lead and I'm scared of lead poisoning! I'm now worried about all the germs after reading this. I suppose none of us has become ill from it yet, so as long as I keep it clean we should be okay?

I have one of the water filter kettles - have had it for three years and it doesn't leak. I don't think I would use a jug, but the tea tastes great from our kettle compared to how it tasted from our old non filter one.

I'm about to chuck ours, it doesn't get used much and I worry about it being a broth of bacteria too. We have very hard water but I don't mind descaling the kettle every month or so, it's easy enough.

We have one we keep in the fridge door. A slimline one. I dishwasher it once a week. Used every day.

I heart my Brita, had one for years, and am sure that is why my dear kettle has lasted so long (touch wood for kiss of death kettle health declaration) I hate it when someone makes a hot drink with hard water and it has that layer of scummy stuff on top and when you have finished the drink the mug is covered on the inside with gunk.

I don't know how they work, but I know they do. I change the filter at the start of the month and so far have stayed healthy.

I haven't had one for years, and I live in a hard water area. I tolerate the occasional lovely cup of limescale and chuck vinegar in the kettle when I remember. In a new house with everything arranged nicely, you'll forget you ever had it.