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Bleach Water Filter Cleaning

Joey Papa

Water filters can easily grow mold and mildew. The tight binding of the filter's fibers are intended to trap contaminants, leaving you with cleaner air or water, but providing a perfect environment for mold to grow.

Using a bleach solution is one of the most effective ways to clean and disinfect a filter at the same time. Bleach kills almost all known harmful bacteria, viruses and molds.

Soak the Filter

Rinse the filter using pressurized water to remove excess debris. Soak the filter in bleach solution. Use 1/4 cup of bleach for every gallon of water to effectively kill any fungus, mold or mildew. While the filter is submerged in the bleach solution, move the filter around so that the particles and debris come loose.

Run Bleach Solution through the Filter

Turn the water source off and disconnect the water filter hose. Place the intake hose into a 5-gallon bucket filled with the bleach solution. Turn the filter on and run half of the solution through the water filter to fill the entire filtration system with the solution. Give the solution five minutes in the filtration system and then turn it back on to flush with the remaining 2 1/2 gallons of solution. Reconnect the intake hose to the water supply and run fresh water through the system for two to three minutes.

Use a Scrub Brush

Make a bleach solution in a mop bucket. Use a scrub brush to scrub and clean the filter. You can use an old toothbrush to get into hard to reach spaces of the filter. Dip the brush in the bleach solution regularly to clean it and keep it fresh.