Does Clearly Filtered Remove Microplastics? Pitcher Verdict (2026)
Last reviewed: by the MicroPlastics Research Desk. Submit a correction or see our editorial standards.
Quick Answer
Holding a different bottle? Scan it for the polymer, a 0–100 risk score, and a cleaner swap.
Scan my product
Key Takeaways
- Clearly Filtered's Affinity three-stage pitcher is independently tested to remove 99.9%+ of microplastics plus PFAS, lead and pharmaceuticals.
- It is tested to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 401 and 473 — including 401, the emerging-contaminants standard most relevant to microplastics.
- Unlike reverse osmosis, it keeps beneficial minerals (calcium, magnesium), so the water isn't “flat” and needs no remineralizing.
- It's a fridge pitcher: no plumbing, no power, no counter space, the easiest serious-filter format to live with.
- Trade-offs: slower gravity flow, smaller capacity, and higher filter cost than a basic Brita, in exchange for far better removal.
- Want faster throughput or fluoride-free water for the whole household? Compare with AquaTru reverse osmosis.
Clearly Filtered & microplastics — the facts
- microplastic removal (independent lab)
- 99.9%+microplastic removal (independent lab)third-party tested, not just manufacturer-claimed
- standards tested to
- NSF 42/53/401/473standards tested to401 covers emerging contaminants; 473 covers PFOA/PFOS
- unlike reverse osmosis
- Keeps mineralsunlike reverse osmosiscalcium and magnesium stay in — no flat taste, no remineralizing
- no plumbing or power
- Pitcherno plumbing or powerlives in the fridge; the easiest serious filter to adopt
Does Clearly Filtered remove microplastics?
Yes — and it is one of the few pitchers that can back the claim with independent testing. Clearly Filtered uses a proprietary three-stage “Affinity” filtration media rather than the single carbon block in a basic pitcher. The company publishes third-party laboratory results showing greater than 99.9% removal of microplastics, part of a tested list of 365+ contaminants that also includes PFAS, lead, and pharmaceutical residues.
Crucially, that testing is done to recognised NSF/ANSI protocols — 42 (aesthetics), 53 (health effects), 401 (emerging contaminants), and 473 (PFOA/PFOS). NSF/ANSI 401 is the standard most associated with the class of tiny, incidental contaminants that microplastics fall into. So while no filter carries an NSF stamp that literally reads “microplastics,” Clearly Filtered's combination of independent testing and NSF-protocol coverage puts it well ahead of the pitchers most people already own.
Why keeping minerals matters
The big functional difference between Clearly Filtered and a reverse-osmosis system like AquaTru is what stays in the water. RO strips almost everything, including beneficial minerals, which is why RO water can taste flat and why many owners remineralize. Clearly Filtered's media is designed to pull out contaminants while leaving calcium and magnesium behind. For a lot of people that is the deciding factor: comparable microplastic removal, better-tasting water, and nothing to add back.
The trade-offs
Clearly Filtered is a pitcher, and pitchers have limits. The dense media that makes it effective also makes it slower to filter — gravity takes its time. Capacity is a pitcher's worth, so a large household refills often. And the replacement filters cost more than a Brita's, though they last longer and do far more. None of that changes the microplastic verdict — it is about whether a fridge pitcher fits your volume needs.
Clearly Filtered vs the alternatives
| Filter | Format | Evidence of removal | Keeps minerals? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearly Filtered | Fridge pitcher | Independent lab, NSF 42/53/401/473 | Yes | No-install, keeps minerals |
| AquaTru | Countertop RO | IAPMO-certified NSF 42/53/58/401/P473 | No (remineralize) | Highest certified removal |
| Berkey | Gravity system | Manufacturer data only (uncertified) | Yes | Off-grid / emergency |
| Brita Standard | Pitcher | NSF 42/53 (not 401) | Yes | Taste only, weak on microplastics |
For the full breakdown see Berkey vs Brita vs AquaTru vs Clearly Filtered and the best water filters for microplastics guide. Curious how the gravity option holds up? Read the Berkey verdict.
Use the App
Filtered at home — now check everywhere else
Clearly Filtered covers your pitcher water. Scan bottled drinks, to-go cups, and food packaging with the MicroPlastics app to catch the exposure a pitcher can't reach.
Get the MicroPlastics appFrequently Asked Questions
Is Clearly Filtered NSF certified for microplastics?
Does Clearly Filtered remove minerals from water?
Is Clearly Filtered better than Brita for microplastics?
Clearly Filtered or AquaTru for microplastics?
Sources
- NSF International (2024). NSF/ANSI 401: Emerging contaminants / incidental compounds. NSF.
- Qian N, et al. (2024). Rapid single-particle chemical imaging of nanoplastics by SRS microscopy. PNAS.
- World Health Organization (2022). Dietary and inhalation exposure to nano- and microplastic particles. WHO.
Track every water source you actually drink
The app tracks every bottled brand, filtered tap source, and travel-water situation in your routine over time, not just the ones you read about. Build your real personal water exposure profile.
Download on the App Store- Free on iOS
- 3 free scans
- No sign-up
- Result in seconds
“Really cool to scan stuff around the kitchen and see what's actually in it. The swaps it suggests are realistic.” App Store review · 5.0★
Android · early access
Get the launch email the day Android opens.
One email. No spam. We send when the Android app is in the Play Store, and never again unless you opt in.
Related Research
Does Fiji Water Have Microplastics? The Honest 2026 Answer
Almost certainly yes: like all bottled water. No FIJI-specific lab count exists, but PNAS 2024 found ~240,000 particles/L in bottled water and FIJI ships in PET. The evidence, the 2025 "natural water" lawsuit, and the cleaner swap.
Read moreDoes Aquafina Have Microplastics? Purified Isn't Plastic-Free (2026)
Yes. Aquafina is PepsiCo purified tap water in a PET bottle, and one of the 11 brands in Mason 2018 where 93% of bottles were contaminated. Why the reverse-osmosis purification itself adds nanoplastics, and what to drink instead.
Read moreDoes Dasani Have Microplastics? What's Really in the Bottle (2026)
Yes. Dasani is Coca-Cola purified tap water with minerals added back, sold in PET, and one of the 11 brands in Mason 2018 (93% contaminated). Why the added minerals do nothing for plastic, and the cleaner swap.
Read moreDoes AquaTru Remove Microplastics? The Certified Verdict (2026)
Yes. AquaTru is a countertop reverse-osmosis purifier whose membrane physically blocks microplastics and nanoplastics, and it is IAPMO-certified to NSF/ANSI 42, 53, 58, 401 and P473. The trade-offs and how it compares.
Read moreDoes Berkey Filter Microplastics? The Honest, Uncertified Answer (2026)
Almost certainly yes by pore size, and Berkey claims 99.9%+ in its own testing, but the Black Berkey elements are not NSF, WQA, or IAPMO certified. What that means, and how Berkey compares to certified RO and pitcher filters.
Read moreDoes Hydro Flask Have Microplastics? The Lid Is the Only Catch (2026)
Barely. A Hydro Flask body is 18/8 stainless steel and sheds zero microplastics, the only plastic in the water path is the lid (BPA-free #5 polypropylene) or straw. How to minimize contact, and how it compares.
Read more