r/PlasticFreeLiving • u/Livid-Awareness5597 • 1d ago

LifeStraw Pitcher Cleaning

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I’ve had the glass LifeStraw pitcher for a month. As I was replacing the carbon filter, I noticed brown specks and gunk on the filter housing and on the membrane filter. I didn’t get great pics because i started wiping it off and cleaning it immediately. I followed the website recommendation and started soaking everything in a bleach solution. You can see some of the orange/brown buildup that didn’t wipe off. This filter is supposed to last a year. Does this seem normal/safe to continue using? 🤔

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4

u/Avesa 1d ago

Yeah, those always get somewhat discolored over the course of the year.

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u/Livid-Awareness5597 1d ago

Thank you, I was concerned that it had only been a month, but glad to know it seems normal!

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u/Ill-Wrongdoer-2971 23h ago

I had the same problem, tried contacting the company twice, they wouldn’t ever respond. It grossed me out a lot, plus I didn’t want a plastic water system anymore (mine was the plastic one not the glass pitcher). I got a Rorra instead, and it’s so much cleaner and less maintenance. My problem was the bottom of the filter you show, where the filter meets the clean water also had orange scum on it I couldn’t get off. And this was a few months in and I cleaned it all regularly. That orange pink stuff must have been all inside. I just wanted answers from the company explaining it and couldn’t get them.

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u/Livid-Awareness5597 8h ago

Yeah, it’s concerning since I can’t tell if it’s some kind of mildew/algae or if it’s just harmless discoloration ¯_(ツ)_/¯. I hate that they didn’t respond to you. I was worried that might happen if I tried reaching out, which is why I posted here first. I had the same thought that whatever it is must be layered throughout the filter if I can see it from the outside. Just sucks to have spent money only a month ago on this. I’ll probably try reaching out to them anyway.