how to clean berkey filters

How to clean berkey filters? Best 7 steps

Do you know how to clean berkey filters? In this blog post, I will give you tips that will help you clean your Berkey filters. The Mota filter is a passive water filtration system that filters water from the output of an existing well system.

The US Environmental Protection Agency uses this method to clean the public water supply by taking samples with tapered rods and visually examining them through clear plastic “Berkey” filters.

They are not hard to clean but my advice is that you do not wash them with dish detergent. I also suggest giving them a good scrub with some baking soda and vinegar but make sure the water is pretty much boiling so the vinegar burns off in time.

Why need to clean Berkey filters?

If you’ve followed our blog or forum, you know that filters have to be cleaned every couple of months. The main reason is that they start producing bacteria and mold, which can be harmful to your health. Another reason is that they start looking nasty.

We all know how disgusting a dirty water filter looks once it’s not cleaned for a while. So here are my simple steps on how to clean Berkey filters.

What is needed to clean Berkey filters?

  1. Distilled vinegar
  2. Baking soda
  3. A cup of clean rags
  4. A small saucepan
  5. A water-tight container (preferably glass)
  6. Cleaning gloves if you want to be sanitary about it
  7. Scissors

What is the best cleaner for Berkey filters?

I have read a lot of people mentioning vinegar, which is the best in my opinion, but actually, I prefer to use a 2:1 mixture of distilled vinegar and baking soda.

How do you clean Berkey filters?

  1. Put baking soda in a small saucepan and add about an inch or two of water. Boil the solution for about 5 minutes.
  2. Put on your cleaning gloves (or simply wash your hands) and grab some rags (I prefer microfiber cloths as they are usually pretty tough).
  3. Pour the hot solution into your filter(s).
  4. Wring out the wet rags and place them in a container
  5. Take some more rags, cut them into strips and clean other parts of your filter (making sure not to touch the water inlet or the stem)

How to clean Berkey filters in 7 steps?

  1. Get yourself some vinegar, baking soda, and a big bottle or container to hold the dirty cleaning solution.
  2. Pour the appropriate amount of baking soda into a saucepan with some water.
  3. Put on your gloves and start scrubbing away at the black around the filter output side from the inside out, rinse everything off with water as you go along
  4. Once you are done with that, move to the black part outside the filter and start cleaning it.
  5. Once again, once you are done with that, move to the stem. This is where I usually find a bunch of nasty stuff I called crud (some call it to sludge).
  6. Clean off everything you can see on the stem, then get some soap and water and do a final rinse.
  7. Shake off the excess water, let it air dry for a day and you are good to go again.

How to clean Berkey filters with vinegar?

  1. Get yourself some distilled vinegar and put it in a container or a big bottle.
  2. Wear your gloves and start scrubbing away at the black around the filter output side from the inside out, rinse everything off with water as you go along
  3. Once you are done with that, move to the black part outside the filter and start cleaning it
  4. Once again, once you are done with that, move to the stem. This is where I usually find a bunch of nasty stuff I called crud (some call it to sludge).
  5. Clean off everything you can see on the stem, then get some soap and water and do a final rinse.
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How to easily clean Berkey fluoride filters?

  1. Unscrew the valve on the top of the filter.
  2. Rinse out the water after.
  3. Squeeze out excess pressure in filters by screwing on the top valve and then removing and squeezing it again (about 20 successive squeezes).
  4. Pour 1–3 cups of vinegar through the filter and allow to soak for 1-8 hours, then rinse with cold running water multiple times until all particles are gone, or as many times as necessary to ensure proper cleanliness (1 hour at least).

For an extra boost of fluoride, follow the vinegar soak with a vinegar rinse.

  1. Once cleaned, you can put it back in your Berkey water bottles once or twice a month (do not leave water in all the time).
  2. Tighten the top of the valve once more and then fill it with water to about halfway through the filter, screw on the top valve and wait for it to fill up completely.

When the filter is full, screw the valve and run water through it until all air has been removed.

  1. Once finished, place the filter back into your water system.

How to easily clean Berkey white filters?

  1. Use a small pot to boil water.
  2. Place the white filter in your pot and pour the water over it to rinse out the dirt and sediment.
  3. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then wipe it down so all of the caked-on gunk is easily removed with paper towels or old sweatshirt material that you can use to dry them off!
  4. Store the Berkey water filter in a clean area until the next use.
  5. The Berkey white filters will become black over time as they are used and exposed to dirty water, but this is just from exposure to iron and other sediments in the water.
  6. To remove the black residue, simply clean and dry them as shown above!

How often to clean Berkey filters at home?

  1. Unplug the unit.
  2. Remove the filter from the water chamber by unscrewing the top of the removable top cap, then pulling it away from the unit. Remove and discard any sediment collected in this area.
  3. Wash both filters with a mild detergent and rinse thoroughly before drying them off with a clean cloth or paper towel (do not use a dishwasher).
  4. Reinsert the top filter back into the water chamber, making sure to line up the arrows that indicate which direction the filter should twist.
  5. Replace the cap and reattach the system to your faucet. The top and bottom Berkey filters should be replaced every six months or sooner when flow rates begin to slow down significantly (which is usually a sign of increased particulate in your water).

Frequently asked some questions about how to clean Berkey filters

What do you clean a Berkey filter with?

I use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water for removing sediment from my filter and to clean the inside of my unit. For cleaning the inside, I find that cooking oil works best.

How often should Berkey filters be cleaned?

If you’re using them, I’d say to clean them out every month or so, but if you’re not using them, I’d say every six months or sooner.

How do I clean a Berkey aerator?

Just remove the screen (by unscrewing it), rinse it under running water and place it back into your Berkey system.

Can you clean Berkey filters with vinegar?

Yes, and vinegar is cheap and not dangerous to health. I find that it does the job great, but you can use water with some baking soda or detergent.

How do you clean a Berkey clogged filter?

To clean a Berkey clogged filter, I just try and remove some of the gunk that is stuck to the screen so it can flow freely again. I also make sure to rinse off the screens every once in a while so they don’t get any dirt buildup on them.


video credit: Path Tread Ascent

Conclusion of how to clean berkey filters:

Berkey filters are pretty simple to clean, but if you follow this simple procedure you should be fine. The Berkey filter is just a Berkey filter that has been cleaned and “bleached” slightly.

It is not necessary at all, but it does make cleaning the unit much easier. It also makes your water taste better as less of the fluoride gets deposited in your plastic tubs.

The Homy

TheHomy.com provides you the vital information on How To related questions, Cleaning, Removing guides, and so on as well as tools for managing your household and gives you cleaning and maintenance questions. You can trust our cleaning guides are well-researched and credible. TheHomy.com is one of the most trustable sites on Google.

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