Bathtub Water Filters: How They Work and The Best One for You

This post may contain affiliate links. To read our affiliate policy, click here.

When we were looking for a new house a few years ago, I had a list of preferences. One of them was a big comfortable tub. Indeed, I am very tall, and to me, the size of a bathtub matters a lot if I want to have a relaxing experience. After all, isn’t it what a bathtub is for? Ending your busy day with a nice warm soak has the potential to relieve stress and anxiety. This, in turn, can improve your sleep and support your heart health. In addition, with a non-toxic facial exfoliator, you can give yourself a mini spa session for radiant and glowing skin.

On the other hand, soaking in a tub means prolonged exposure to unwanted chemicals through both skin absorption and inhalation. Especially if you have kids who take regular baths, it makes sense to protect them and yourself from potentially toxic chemicals in water. Ultimately, I believe it is worth investing in a whole-house water filter. However, as a starting point, you can consider using an easy-to-install bath ball or a shower head water filter to remove chlorine. In this post, you will learn about bathtub water filters, how they work, why you may need one, and potential solutions for filtering your tap water to get both clean drinking water and clean bathing water.

Bathtub Water Filters

To begin, I’ve been studying the subject of filtered water since 2012. It was the year my son was born, and like many new parents, I got more serious about healthy living. In addition, I had to deal with autoimmune diseases and some health issues after explant surgery.

After I learned about chemicals potentially present in our tap water, I installed an under-the-sink water filtration system at home to get filtered drinking water. And later, we went for a whole-house filter, too, which allows us to have filtered bathing water without using an additional bath filter or shower filter. Stay with me to learn about the water filters I use and recommend!

So, why would you need a bathing water filter in the first place?

Well, depending on your water supply, there may be toxic chemicals in water. Among others (e.g., VOC, PFAS, and heavy metals), they include disinfectants (e.g., chlorine and chloramine) and potential disinfection byproducts (e.g., haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes).

Granted, you don’t want any of these, but you would at very least want your bath filter to remove chlorine from your bathing water. Indeed, dermatologists agree that prolonged exposure to chlorine causes dryness of skin and hair, among other things.

One way to reduce your exposure to chlorine is to shorten the time you spend bathing. You could also take cold showers that decrease the vaporization of dissolved volatile chemicals by half. Though doable, these are not practical solutions for everyone. Can bathtub filters be a solution?

I Read Labels For You explains how bathtub water filters work.

How Bathtub Filters Work

Essentially, a bathtub water filter is an easy-to-install attachment that you can hang over your tub faucet spout. Given its positioning, it often comes in a ball shape and is referred to as a “bath ball.” Basically, it is a device designed to remove impurities from the water before it reaches your bathtub.

Some companies claim that their bath filters remove all sorts of contaminants, including chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, THMs, pesticides, sulfur, iron oxides, and heavy metals. Others state that their bath ball just filters chlorine, particulates, and iron from bath water. And most of them specify that your bathtub spigot must be at least 4 inches long for the filter to fit.

Generally speaking, there are two ways of water filtration: physical and chemical. The former handles visible contaminants, like dirt, and the latter handles invisible contaminants we talked about above. Most chemical filters use basic chemical reactions to eliminate contaminants in your bathing water.

To achieve that, they may utilize various filtering media, such as granulated activated carbon and copper-zinc granules. In my opinion, the best filters are those that contain kinetic degradation fluxion (KDF) to reduce heavy metals.

How Long Bathtub Filters Last

Typically, a bathtub filter lasts 3-6 months of regular use, depending on the number of baths you take. Thus, some companies say 50 baths, and others – 200 baths. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions regarding this issue.

There are also other factors involved that can affect the life span of your filter. They include the salt and chlorine content in your water, the level of contamination, and the state of maintenance of the water filter.

Thus, an increased content of salt and chlorine can lead to the formation of sediment inside the filter and make it unusable. Similarly, higher concentrations of contaminants may cause the filter to not work as intended, which can then lead to water output filled with chemical contaminants.

Therefore, it’s a good idea to know what contaminants are in your water. This information is available in your district water quality report, which every water district in the US must publish on the Internet. Additionally, you can test your tap water with home water testing kits (ideally, before and after using your bathtub or shower filter).

I Read Labels For You opinion on the best bathtub water filters.

Best Water Filters For Bathtubs

Based on my industry-wide research, bathtub filters are designed to remove chlorine and reduce other chemicals. I wouldn’t rely on bathtub water filters to rid the water of chloramine, fluorine, TMHs, PFAS, and other contaminants due to the small amounts of filtering media. Also, keep in mind that carbon-based bath and shower filters do not effectively remove chlorine when the water temperature is above 60°F.

I believe that removing a wide range of chemicals, heavy metals, and other contaminants requires a large multimedia filtration tank. That is why I consider a whole-house water filter a better solution for filtering your bathing water. Note that a whole-house water filtration system does not exclude a kitchen water filter for your drinking water. Ideally, you want to have both.

In my kitchen, I use a Pure Effect undercounter multi-stage water filtration system. Additionally, Pure Effect carries countertop filters, a shower filter, and a whole-house filter. Feel free to take advantage of my research into top water filters before investing in any product.

Another place to turn to for help with your tap water filter is Clean Water Revival. I really like this company because its water experts will walk you through the contaminants in your water and customize a filtration system for you.

However, if a whole-house filter and a multi-stage drinking water filtration system are currently not convenient options for you, consider this water pitcher with filter and the following bathtub filters:

Clean Water Revival Bathtub Filter

To start with, the easy-to-install Clean Water Revival Bathtub Filter removes chlorine, hypochlorous acid, dirt, odors, and sediment from your bathing water. Next, Chlorgon (NSF listed filter media), an ion exchange resin, helps reduce not only chlorine, but also particulates, iron, rust, dirt, and other contaminants.

Depending on the amount of chlorine in your water supply, as well as on how much water you use for each bath, you may change your bathtub filter every 3-6 months or 30-50 baths.

Note that your bathtub spigot must be at least 4 inches long for the filter to fit.

I Read Labels For You opinion on water filters for bath water to remove chlorine.

Crystal Quest Bath Ball Filter

The company states that the Crystal Quest Bath Ball Filter “removes chlorine, chloramines, VOCs, THMs, pesticides, sulfur, heavy metals, hydrogen sulfide (“rotten egg” odor), iron oxides (“rust water”), dirt, sediment and other odors while balancing pH & de-chlorinating!”

Further, the device works by filtering the water through stages of coconut shell granulated activated carbon and ERA® 6500 and ERA® 9500 media. It also uses ceramic spheres made from calcium to oxygenate the water and add minerals to enhance alkalinity and dechlorination.

Personally, I am cautious about these bold claims. When I wrote to them to confirm that their filter indeed “removes” the chemicals listed, they replied with the word “addresses” rather than “removes.” These details matter because they help you sift through companies’ marketing strategies.

In addition, I asked the company to provide test reports showing the water quality after using the filter. To this their customer service representative replied: “Unfortunately, I do not have any testing available for the bath ball. We are currently having testing done but do not expect to have results for a few more months.”

Ultimately, this bathtub filter is a good starting point, but I wouldn’t expect it to actually remove all the chemicals. Reduce – maybe, but not remove.

Rainshower Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator

The description for the Rainshower Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator says that “as chlorinated water flows through the filament, the dissimilar metals in KDF-73 (copper and zinc) create a galvanic or electrolytic reaction which causes the two chlorine ions to form a harmless chloride.”

According to customers’ reviews, people who are allergic to chlorine felt the difference after using this dechlorinator. Reportedly, it made the bathing water less irritating to their skin.

Again, I don’t think this is ideal but better than nothing, especially for a baby bath.

Summary: Bathtub Water Filters

While Bathtub Water Filters Are A Starting Point And Good For Apartments Or For Entry Level Budgets, Consumers Should Not Be Misled To Believe That Such Filters Remove A Wide Range Of Contaminants.

To sum up, bath time is an important part of the day for many families, especially those with little kids. Since soaking in a tub may expose you to unwanted chemicals through both skin absorption and inhalation, it makes sense to protect yourself and your family from these chemicals. Specifically, toxic chemicals in water include VOCs, PFAS, heavy metals, chlorine, chloramine, haloacetic acids, trihalomethanes and others.

Hence, I believe it is worth investing in a whole-house water filter, such as the ones by Pure Effect or Clean Water Revival.

However, if you are not ready to make such an investment, you can consider using an easy-to-install bath ball or shower head water filter to remove chlorine, such as these:

While these are not ideal solutions to filtering your bathing water, they are better than nothing. To test your water before and after, use these home water testing kits.

And, of course, make sure to use a filtration system for your drinking water. I use a Pure Effect undercounter multi-stage water filtration system. You can also call Clean Water Revival for assistance in choosing the best filter for the contaminants in your water.

Feel free to read my other posts on water on the I Read Labels For You blog, including spring water, alkaline water, bottled water, Smart water, Vitamin water, Kangen water etc. Also, visit my non-toxic products shop, download my e-books, and book a service with me for help with healthy living.

Download The Free Guide!

5 Powerful Steps To A Non-Toxic Home

Join our informed consumer community and get our free guide the “5 Powerful Steps To A Non-Toxic Home”.

Bathtub Water Filters: How They Work and The Best One for You