Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with filter and brita

Old License Plates

Bistle — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:04:05 -0800

What are some creative ways to reuse old license plates? I'm moving and I've come across a cache of three old license plates from various cars I've owned. They have various levels of sentimental value which is why I didn't recycle them in the first place, so I was wondering if anyone had some ideas as to how to make them useful instead of just sitting around. I'd like to hear about things like this dustpan from Make magazine( ).
As a bonus, can you do anything with used Brita filters? I searched and found two options, recycle them or use as a seedling planter. There are also various schemes for extending there life. Am I missing anything else you can do?

Why does my tea taste funny?

satellitebadger — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:59:05 -0800

Some, but not all, cups of tea made with my Brita water filter kettle are tasteless and undrinkable. Why? I have a Brita water filter kettle, less than two years old. Approximately every third round of tea that I make with it are unbearable. It looks like tea. It looks really tasty. But it tastes just like milky water. It doesn't matter how long I infuse the tea or how new the cartridge is. Why does this happen?

I live in Colchester, Essex, in the UK (if that makes any difference).

Thanks!

Britafilter

ikp — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 06:35:11 -0800

Here's another question about Brita Water Filters. Presumably the efficiciency of the cartridges is affected by the amount of water they filter as well as the length of time they are in place? In which case, how many litres would one cartridge safely cope with? And is there really a maximum time required before changing it?

How does a Brita filter work?

fionab — Sun, 18 Apr 2004 22:29:11 -0800

Brita filters: How do they work? There is much information about the fact that you need to keep the filter (partially comprised of activated charcoal, from what I can gather) in contact with water at all times. How does activated charcoal actually filter impurities? [More Inside] I am not a water tester, chemist or molecular biologist. So, I apologise if the terms I am using here are not, in fact, the technical terms. From what I can decipher, if the activated charcoal filter is in contact with water, the 'pores' stay saturated enough so that impurities are trapped within the molecules, and there is little room for oxygen, a key component to microbial growth. If it dries out, there is, as a friend put it, “a nice little matrix of available oxygen and water for bacteria to grow.” Then, as you pour the next bit of water through the filter, the impurities are simply washed into this new pitcher of water. Is this what is going on? I have a battle between me (the Brita filler-upper) and a friend (who says that if the filter is in contact with the water all the time, the impurities are leaking into the pitcher, and thus we should let it dry out between refillings). Help my water taste better! I know it may be water under the bridge, but help me whet my appetite for a compelling conversation here!