Prevent Green Algae Bacteria In Brita Filter Water Pitchers

Purchasing a Brita or PUR filtered pitcher, if bought on sale or filters in bulk, can be a frugal way to improve your health and save money on bottled water. Bottled water can be quite expensive, leads to major pollution if not recycled, and most can become contaminated with BPA. That is as long as the Brita green pitchers and filters stay clean as well and avoid bacterial buildup at home or in the workplace for 2024 and 2025! 

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Dirty Water Needs Filtration

As we learned from Flint Michigan, you can't always trust your town, city, state, or country to provide you with clean water. All public water has some amount of dissolved solids, impurities, and chemicals added and some tap water tastes or smells like chlorine. It could be contaminated with bacteria or viruses and even tainted by antibiotics. 

The quality of our public tap water also seems to have worsened while everyone is distracted and allocating resources to the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout Coronavirus, your local tap water seems more chlorinated and metallic than ever before. A lot of town and city water suppliers haven't changed their chemical treatments since this health crisis occurred, even in 2025. 

Dietary Supplements To Potentially Help Your Health

The future of our public water supply will end up being recycled waste water (sewage) and obviously no amount of industrial filtration will clean it 100% before it goes from faucet to mouth, especially with limited budgets. Over the years there has become an increased contamination of water with prescription medications, nano-plastics, fertilizers, heavy metals, and a number of other unpleasant things. If that isn't grim enough, our drinking water situation is even more dire with public water supplies able to be hacked or contaminated by various nefarious groups. 

When it comes down to it, you never really know what someone has done or hasn't done to your water before you drink it. 

Not All Water Filters Work Well, Or At All 

Lately there have been more studies coming out about water filters not purifying water, or misleading customers to believe it is more effective than not. There are even class action law suits against Brita for not removing enough toxins and chemicals in our drinking agua. Insanely expensive premium water filters have no popped up such as AkuaPure, Enagic Kangen, Klir, or MSE that are thousands of dollars or more in cost!

So with all that being said, a couple of years ago I decided to start using a Brita filtered pitcher again after reading countless reports on contaminated town water nationwide or worldwide. I had previously used Brita or PUR filtered pitchers or faucet filters for a few months at a time before giving up on them. 

I know Brita and PUR water filters don't solve all the issues with drinking water, but I figured it would be better than nothing and worth the minimal investment. Especially after reading about all of the contaminated public water in this country and worldwide (it is not just Flint Michigan dealing with this!).

Why Is My Brita Pitcher Green And Gross?

But one day I woke up and saw a greenish yellow tint on the bottom of the Brita water pitcher. At first I thought it was just a green reflection of the dirty bottom of the Brita pitcher from being on our counter or fridge countless times. 

But unfortunately that green slime was bacteria, green algae, and sediment buildup. Needless to say I was a little disturbed and shocked at the green slime and overall contamination. I did a little research and it turns out that this green algae buildup has been a common occurrence for many people over the last decade or more. So to help you avoid this strange and unhealthy situation, I have compiled a simple yet comprehensive list to help keep you healthy prevent this from happening to you and your Brita water filters:

Get rid of the green slime and stuff floating around! Here are my 10 top suggestions to keep your Brita or PUR pitchers clean (instead of green) and healthy without algae or bacteria buildup:

10 Steps To Avoid Green Algae And Bacteria Contamination In Brita Filter Pitcher or PUR Pitchers


1) Wash Your Hands And The Brita Water Filter Before Use

Wash each Brita filter under cold water for 1 minute after opening and before adding it to the pitcher. The instructions say 15 seconds but I would recommend going a little longer just to be on the safe side. And wash your hands prior to washing the filter so you don't get bacteria all over it prior to placing it in your pitcher! 

2) Keep A Tight Seal On Top Of Brita Pitcher 

Make sure the top of the Brita water pitcher, including the cover of the spout, is closed and forms a tight seal with the rest of the pitcher. You don't want dust, food particles, or worse to get into your water because of a loose top. This happens a lot more often than you expect, especially if you have kids and pets!

3) Wash Out Brita Pitcher Often And Rinse Well

Wash Brita or PUR pitcher out at least every 30 days. You can use some dish soap or just throw it in the dishwasher for even better results. Try to use organic, natural, or additive free soaps to help minimize contamination with chemicals. Rinse out thoroughly to avoid residue or any other contaminants. Sometimes it takes weeks or months for any bacteria to accumulate to significant levels so washing it out consistently will keep it under control. If you have well water instead of town water then you should probably wash it out even more often. 

4) Keep The Brita Pitcher Refrigerated

Keep the Brita or PUR filtered water pitcher in the refrigerator when you're not using it. I have gotten lazy many times and kept the pitcher next to our sink instead of putting it back in the fridge, but keeping it cool helps to reduce or prevent bacterial or algae buildup in the water.  

5) Don't Drink Directly From The Brita Pitcher! 

Don't drink directly from the Brita or PUR pitcher! This seems like common sense, and difficult to do with most of the pitchers, but there are still plenty of people that drink from the milk carton or reuse plastic water bottles for weeks on end. This is never a good idea.

6) Change Your Brita Water Filter Often

Change your Brita or PUR filter as often or more often than the recommended amount. When filters get clogged with sediment and other particles then they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and algae, which will reduce the filtering abilities even further. When your filter sensor light gets to yellow it is time to swap in a new one. This will unfortunately end up costing you a few extra dollars but it is worth it and if you buy the filters in bulk you will be fine. 

7) Dump The First 1-2 Fillups For Each Brita Filter Used

This one is important and not always followed. In addition to watching out for green algae and bacteria in your Brita filtered water after a lot of filter use, be on the lookout for black charcoal particles in the first couple of pitcher fill-ups. While Brita claims these black charcoal particles are harmless, it is obviously unhealthy to drink black charcoal. You would have to be an idiot to believe that drinking any amount of charcoal is fine, even though charcoal itself isn't a toxin. Apparently they want you to pour out the first two fill-ups that your Brita filter creates to avoid this charcoal dust contamination. That is all well and good, but it uses up part of the filter and wastes some water right off the bat if you follow these instructions.

8) Consider Switching To Zero Water Filters And Pitchers 

Consider switching to a Zero Water filtered pitcher instead of a Brita Filter. While it might be a little more expensive than a Brita or PUR pitcher, with its 5-step filter it does a better job of filtering out dissolved solids and there is a lower chance of green algae, mold, black charcoal particles, sediment, stains, or other bacterial buildup in your pitcher or the filters themselves. 

After months of using Zero Water over Brita filtered pitchers, I haven't noticed any green slime, bacteria buildup, or other stuff floating around in my water (even when I haven't been religious about cleaning it or keeping it in the refrigerator). But any water filter or filtered pitcher can produce bacteria growth or have charcoal floating around, so buyer beware! 

9) Buy A New Filtered Water Pitcher 

Sometimes a plastic container is just too far gone to resuscitate, whether it is a Brita water filter pitcher or another brand. Over time plastic starts to corrode or chemicals get embedded into the plastic and you just can't clean it 100%. To avoid green algae, charcoal dots, bacteria, viruses, and nano chemical contamination sometimes it is best to just buy a new one and start over again. It is a little wasteful but they are very cheap, $10-20 per pitcher, so it is a viable option after many months or years of use. 

10) Purchase A New Kitchen Faucet 

When it comes to drinking cleaner water, sometimes it starts at the source. It is only logical that purchasing a new faucet will give you cleaner and healthier water. Over time your old faucet will accumulate minerals, rust, bacteria, heavy metals, and other chemicals that will contaminate your drinking water before you poor it into your filtered pitcher. Just make sure to run water through your new water faucet for a few minutes to clear out any chemicals or residue from the manufacturing or packaging process.

By this logic you would also ideally want to replace your old pipes and plumbing in general, but that is a lot less feasible. It is more realistic to spend $100-200 on a new kitchen faucet than thousands of dollars on pipes throughout your home, and some pipes that you can't even replace that attach to your town or city water supply. If your home has very old and decrepit pipes, you may want to consider replacements eventually though. 

This is probably the most extreme option to improve the quality of your drinking water with or without a water filter containing a pitcher, but it can certainly help reduce bacteria and sediment buildup overall in 2024-2025.

Bacteria Growth In Water Filters vs Tap Water Impurities: The Choice Is Yours

Choosing between tap impurities and filter bacterial growth is not a great choice to make for your water consumption. But you have to decide on potential bacteria growth in your water filters or pitchers (even if you follow all of these tips) along with the cost of filters versus the toxins that could be contained in your tap water and pipes. It depends on your budget, quality of local tap or well water, how old your pipes are, how often you can change your filters, and how diligent the users will be with the filtered pitchers. 

Keep It Clean And Avoid Filtered Water Contamination

Follow these simple instructions and it will keep your Brita and PUR pitchers clean and enhancing your health instead of becoming detrimental to it! Stay green with your recycling and waste reduction practices but don't drink the green. You must boost your water's wellness and family's wellbeing. Keep that contamination out of your drinking water and avoid the green algae slime during your daily hydration.

I hope you enjoyed this article about how to keep your water filtering pitchers safe, clean and effective on a budget. 

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How To Make Home-Made Whey Protein

Ever wonder what the nursery rhyme means when Little Miss Muffett is eating her curds and whey? Well, a lot of the hardcore lifters and exercise folks out there should know; they are drinking copious amounts of it after all their workouts.

The basics behind a protein shake is that they help your muscles heal and grow after you have been working out; it also is claimed to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. So, it is usually a good idea to have this after your workout routine.

Whey protein is actually surprisingly easy to make, a lot cheaper than the stuff you buy in the stores, and the leftover ingredients can be made to make fun things like cheese.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 quart or liter of milk (you can add more or less depending on how much you want to make… just adjust the ratios)
• a saucepan
• vinegar or lemon juice (about 2 tablespoons)
• strainer
• paper towels or a cheese cloth
• Any flavoring or spices you want

1) Get your milk and start to boil it on a medium to low heat. Keep a close eye on it because you don’t want it to get too hot.

2) When you start to notice a bunch of bubbles around the rim of the sauce pan add the vinegar or lemon juice and stir it around. The mixture should separate pretty quickly into curds and whey. If it doesn’t just add a little more vinegar or lemon juice until it does. The curds are the solid looking things and the whey is the liquid.

3) Get a strainer (cover it in paper towels or cheese cloth if you want to keep the curds and make it into cheese). Separate the curds from the whey. Let the whey cool down in the fridge for a while and then add any ingredients. Some suggestions for flavoring: Nutmeg, cinnamon, honey, chocolate are great options. Just test it out and see what works for you. The taste might be different for some people if it is, just dilute it with something else like water, or juice.

This is the same stuff you will buy in the store except it is not dehydrated and probably won’t have any weird additives that will give you a gorilla back. Enjoy!

According to experts  “Whey is the fluid by product of cheese manufacture. It is produced in far greater volume than cheese, the ration of whey to cheese being about 10:1. For numerous reasons, whey is underutilized and not more than half of the United States production used. The rest, amounting to billion of pounds represents a waste disposable problem.

Considering the growing rate of cheese production and the ever-tightening constraints in the disposal of processing plant effluents, the problem of what to do with whey is one of major proportions. Whey comprises about 5% lactose, 2% other milk components and 93% water.”

So, a majority of the liquid is water and 2% of it is probably the proteins you would normally get from a whey protein shake. Still makes an easy drink, but it’s definitely not as strong as the concentrated form you can get at the store. According to Wikipedia “whey protein can be simply processed by drying…” There are other more complicated ways as well. Anyone have any ideas on the best way to make a concentrated form of this?

I would suggest taking the liquid and leaving it uncovered over a low heat on the stove, this should allow excess water to evaporate off and leave a more concentrated solution.

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7 Most Common Pests In Cedar Park Texas

Pests are potential problems everywhere these days. They often take over warm areas such as the southern states in the US and multiply. Cedar Park in Texas is a beautiful area but unfortunately also a fertile and welcoming environment for pests. As such, there are a wide variety of pest problems that you may experience in your home. Termites, roaches, and fleas are some of the most common pests in Cedar Park and the Houston Texas area. 

It is important to get treated for these pests as soon as possible to avoid them from spreading throughout your home or business. And it is advisable to call an exterminator who is experienced in dealing with pest control Cedar Park. 

Don't take the risk and try and handle it yourself or you could make problems worse. Let the pest control pros handle the following most common pests around.

7 Most Common Potential Pests

1. Termites

The most common pest in Cedar Park TX is termites. These pests do a tremendous amount of damage, often leaving huge holes in your home and costing you lots of money to repair. Some of the common telltale signs of termites are the presence of mud tubes that travel between the colonies within your home. Termites and other pests could spell disaster for your home and health. Termites are terrible news indeed.

We will now look further into other common pests in Cedar Park Texas besides termites that you should try and prevent. 

2. Ants 

Ants are social insects that live in large colonies. They can be found almost anywhere but particularly like warm, humid areas of your home. They feed on sugar so many are attracted to the kitchen and bathroom. Ants can enter your home through cracks and crevices, particularly around doors and windows. Their nests have five castes: egg-laying queen, multiply, soldiers, workers, and immature ants. Fire ants can be common in Texas and cause pain and inflammation with their bites. Bust out the ant traps and ant killer spray to avoid these pests!

3. Bed Bugs 

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal insects that feed on the blood of humans and animals. They lay their eggs in cracks and crevices in your home. Because there is no direct way to kill them, you will have to treat these pests with pest control in Cedar Park. 

4. Cockroaches 

Cockroaches are common household pests that can be found anywhere that food and water are stored. They multiply rapidly and can be very difficult to get rid of. A cockroach's favorite hiding spots are in closets and cracks around windows, doors, and electrical outlets. 

5. Fleas 

Fleas are very common pests that all ages of people suffer from. Beds, couches, floors, and carpets can be infested with these pests, and their bites can cause health problems for infants, children, pets, and the elderly. Fleas are parasitic insects that have several life stages: eggs, larvae, and nymphs. 

6. Ticks

Ticks are usually hiding on plants and in the woods, waiting to latch on to new hosts to suck their blood. Ticks can be a simple gross nuisance or be especially dangerous if they give you Lyme disease. Always check for ticks all over your body after hiking or doing yardwork.

7. Mosquitoes 

Mosquitoes are common pests that are attracted to dark areas, stagnant water, and light. You will need effective pest control to get rid of them in addition to draining standing water. In some areas, mosquitoes have created severe problems, especially during the summer months in TX. They can carry many dangerous and deadly diseases as well.

Pest Prevention 

As you can see, there are many unpleasant pests that you could deal with if you aren't careful. And this isn't even taking into account the snakes and mice you might deal with in the Houston Texas area! Take simple precautions, keep your home clean, and call professional pest control services if needed. You will need expert help being on pest patrol!

How To Clean Leather Shoes The Right Way

Ready to take out your fancy leather shoes and wear them to work or an important meeting? 

Leather shoes have been a staple in the fashion industry for a long time. People perceived it as the peak of class and sophistication. But of course, beautiful things don’t happen overnight. You will need to take the effort and time to maintain it well. 

Do you want to learn how to clean leather shoes? 

Leather shoes have their own respective cleaning techniques. They often come in with different materials like patent, suede, and calfskin, to name a few. You’ll ruin them if you use the same cleaning techniques with every leather shoe. 

We have got you covered since this article will teach you how to do it the right way. 

Here is everything you need to know about cleaning leather shoes correctly: 

Preparation 

The first thing you need to do is identify what kind of leather shoes you have. It is important so you can avoid using cleaning agents that aren’t suitable for that type of leather. 

One of the most important tips to clean your leather shoes is to remove the laces. You can clean them on the washer or buy new replacements. Leaving them on makes it more difficult to clean the spots between the holes. 

1. White And Dark Leather Shoes 

White and dark leather shoes are some of the most common. Learning how to clean leather shoes like these guarantees you will have a basic idea of what to do for every type of show. You can start with some everyday cleaning agents that are available in your home. 

If there is dirt, use a soft brush. Focus first on gentle brushing to avoid damaging the leather. You should do this as soon as possible to avoid letting the dirt harden. 

To remove grease and stains, you can apply baking soda or cornstarch to get it off. Brush off the residues after then let it sit for a few hours. 

After a thorough cleaning, polish them to make them look good and new. 

2. Suede Leather Shoes 

Did you know that suede leather shoes are one of the most prone to damage? It is because they utilize the soft, thin part of the hide of the animals. They are not as durable as the other leathers so maintaining them will be harder than most. 

To handle stains and scuffs, you need to buy a special brush made for suede to not ruin its quality. Remember to brush them after a couple of uses to keep off the stains and scuffs. 

Scatter some cornstarch on grease spots and wait for a few hours. This will absorb the grease, and you can brush the residues after. 

For water stains, add a small amount of water on the brush and wet the entirety of the shoes. Be careful because suede is sensitive to water, it can cause some discoloration. After that, use a dry cloth to sponge the water. 

Invest in some weather-proof spray to prevent stains; you can spray them every time you clean the shoes. 

3. Vegan Leather Shoes 

Vegan leather shoes are often made of polyurethane leather. They are resistant to liquids and require little maintenance. 

For dirt and stains, wet a dry, clean cloth to remove the dirt off the shoes. If the marks won’t come off, you can use soap with the damp cloth and rub the stains. 

When dealing with difficult scuffs, you can use some shoe paint to conceal the ones that won’t rub off. Be sure to find something that matches the color of the leather. 

4. Calfskin Leather Shoes 

Calfskin is one of the most common materials to use to make high-quality products. This is a sturdy and thick leather that doesn’t need much maintenance, but it is still essential to do some polishing to make it look great. 

To keep the shine of the calfskin leather, you need a cream that helps cracks from happening. Apply it in light and even strokes and let it dry for a few minutes. 

Sanding it down can take care of the scratches. Keep in mind to protect the uppers to ensure they won’t get damaged and sanded. Buff the shoes with a cloth after applying dye. 

5. Patent Leather Shoes 

They’re glossy shoes that are more likely to get scuffs and susceptible to scratches. Patent leather shoes are high-maintenance leather because it can get dull and lose its shine over time. They are also water-proof so you don’t have to worry too much when it rains. 

Use a soft brush to remove the debris off the leather and a shoe cleaner or eraser for scuffs. To take off stains, a little water and soap will usually do the trick. If the stains persist, you can use hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol and rub it with a dry cloth. 

The patent leather needs a leather shoe cleaner that will keep the shine bright and glossy. Try to polish them every few uses to maintain the glossy look. 

Professional Cleaning And Guidance 

Leather shoes are products made out of different materials that require different cleaning techniques. Because of that, it’s easy to make a mistake and ruin the quality of our shoes. 

Of course, you can always rely on professional cleaning if you’re not feeling confident. You can be sure that they will do it right and in a professional way. 

Most brands and companies have guidelines on how to clean their respective leather shoes. When you purchase a pair, they often come with a description that will tell you all about their product. 

Learn How To Clean Leather Shoes The Right Way 

Now you know how to clean leather shoes to keep your pair in good shape! These can help you maintain them for years to come, and it will still look good. 

Of course, there are still a lot more you can learn, and it doesn’t need to stop here! We have tons of DIY and fashion articles you can read, like this so don’t hesitate to jump in and get all the content you need!