The Best Bath Water Filters to Reduce Toxins

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Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » The Best Bath Water Filters to Reduce Toxins

Regular tap water can be a source of many chemicals from chlorine to fluoride and many others. We have a water filter for our drinking water, so why not have a bath water filter too?

Thoughts on Bath Water Filters

I’ve gotten lots of water filters over the years. While I still use the drinking water filter, I’ve added a whole house filter too. This helps further reduce contaminants throughout the home.

For showering and bathing, we also use shower filters on our shower heads. When my kids were younger and taking baths though, I wanted a good option for bath water. They’re not easy to find! I told my dad (an engineer) that he needs to work on one of these.

In the meantime, I wanted to find ways to reduce the chemicals my children were exposed to during bath time. My son had allergies and skin troubles since he was a baby, so it was especially important for him. Thanks to some food and lifestyle changes we’ve been able to mostly get rid of those.

Step one was switching to more natural bath products. Even homemade bath bubbles helped. Still, I knew I wanted to do something more.

Toxins in Bath Water?

While the EPA regulates water quality in the US, there’s still plenty to be desired. High levels of heavy metals, like lead from old pipes, can cause problems. Then there are the PFAS (forever chemicals), pesticides, and other contaminants.

What’s added to public drinking water isn’t any better. Fluoride is a known neurotoxin. And chlorine is a poisonous gas. While the idea is that diluted amounts aren’t harmful, that may not be the case.

Most municipal water supplies use chlorine to help reduce pathogens in the water. Some combine chlorine with ammonia or add fluoride. These chemicals are known to increase the risk of asthma, allergies, breathing problems, cancer, and more. They’re toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin.

Children: A Special Concern

Unfortunately, this puts children most at risk. Some children bathe for 45 minutes or more several nights a week. They also have a larger surface-area-to-body-weight ratio and may absorb chemicals more quickly. They can also be more severely affected by them.

Children’s tissues, organs, and biological systems are still developing. They go through several stages of rapid growth and development from infancy to adolescence. These factors make it so children are likely to have more issues with toxins. Especially at certain age ranges.

Types of Shower & Bath Filtration

We don’t want our kids soaking in a toxic soup, but what can we do about it? And on the occasion I take a relaxing soak, I don’t want to bathe in toxins either!

There are several different options, depending on your preference and budget. For people with rust and really hard water, a water softener is a great first step. Culligan is one popular option. This is more common with well water. Tap water in cities is more likely to have added fluoride and chlorine to it.

Whole House Filter

One of the best ways to get out toxins is with a whole-house water filter system. This water filtration system helps clean water before it even gets to the tub. Here’s the one we have. For added protection, you can pair this with a faucet water filter or shower filter.

Bath Ball Filter

These are a popular option that are budget-friendly. The bath ball hangs on the bathtub faucet and filters the water as it flows through. The filtration media in it can catch sediment and neutralize chlorine. Some popular brands are Crystal Quest and Sprite. Replacement filter cartridges vary in price and quality. Crystal Quest bath filters claim to remove a much wider variety of contaminants.

One common complaint is bath ball filters don’t do well with hard water. Another issue is they don’t work well with the flow rate of certain tubs. The fast water flow can spill over the sides, leaving some water unfiltered.

I like using this bath ball de-chlorinator instead. You just swish it around in the water for 5-8 minutes before getting in. This water purifier is good for over 200 baths and uses vitamin C as the filter media.

Shower Filter

We also have a shower filter the kids and I use. If you have a good shower filter you can also use that to fill up your tub. It takes longer though and the water may not be as warm by the time you get to it.

Here’s what else I do to reduce chemicals in our bath water.

Vitamin C to Reduce Bath Toxins

Carbon block filters remove chlorine, but they can be tough to use for shower and bath water. I have a countertop filter that uses carbon for drinking water. You can also find them in under sink water filter options.

A simpler option is to use Vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for the immune system, but it can also play a role in reducing bath water chemicals and chlorine. It also helps with chloramine (chlorine and ammonia). These chemicals are often used in treating water and can be more dangerous than chlorine alone.

Two forms of Vitamin C will work to neutralize chlorine more effectively:

Personally, I prefer to use sodium ascorbate since it has less of an effect on the pH. But either form will work. I use a teaspoon of either of the above per tub of water. It’s best to put the powder in for 2-5 minutes before getting in the bath to allow it time to work.

If you aren’t a fan of adding powder to the bath each time, there’s another option. The bath ball de-chlorinator mentioned earlier does the same thing.

Adsorbent Clay

Healing clays (like Bentonite clay) bind to heavy metals in the body and help remove them. They’re used as an adsorbent even across industrial and agricultural industries. This same process happens on the skin, and many people use it in detox baths.

One of my favorites is Bentonite Clay (from a previous post):

“Bentonite Clay is a unique clay due to its ability to produce an “electrical charge” when hydrated. Upon contact with fluid, its electrical components change, giving it the ability to absorb toxins. Bentonite is known for its ability to absorb and remove toxins, heavy metals, impurities, and chemicals.”

I use Bentonite Clay to detox my hair and as a “shampoo” of sorts. I also regularly add bentonite clay to my kids’ baths after removing the chlorine.

Note: Don’t use metal when dealing with Bentonite, as it makes it less effective. I mix 2 tablespoons of Bentonite clay with water in a glass jar with a plastic lid and shake well. I then pour this into the bath after the chlorine has been removed. The two types of clay I personally use and have good results with are:

Salts & Minerals

While these don’t reduce toxins in bath water, they help add nutrients back in. I’ve written before (a lot) about magnesium (tired of hearing about it yet?). Due to depleted soil levels of magnesium and synthetic fertilizers, many of us don’t get enough magnesium. One of the easiest ways to help kids avoid this problem is to add these minerals to their bath water.

One 2016 study examined how well magnesium is absorbed through the skin. The researchers found magnesium levels increased in the skin starting at the 15-minute mark.

I regularly add a cup of Epsom salts or magnesium flakes and a few tablespoons of Himalayan salt to my kid’s baths. When I have the time, I take a relaxing bath in this mixture also. Ideally, you’ll want to soak for at least 15 minutes for the best results.

When I don’t have time for a bath, magnesium oil also helps. I notice the benefits of transdermal magnesium (baths or magnesium oil) much more quickly than when I take internal forms of magnesium.

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Relaxing Magnesium Bath Salts

These soothing magnesium bath salts add a relaxing dose of healthy minerals to bathwater
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Yield: 1 bath
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

Instructions

  • Mix the salt and magnesium together in the jar.
  • Sprinkle the vanilla and essential oil on top (if using). These are optional, but add a nice scent and some added health benefits.
  • Add the entire mixture to a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes (30 is even better).

Notes

  • I try to make time for a relaxing bath at least once a week.
  • When my kids were little I added it to their bath each night, (plus some homemade bubble bath).

For intensive therapy (illness, eczema, etc.) you can take a magnesium bath every day. But check with your doctor first if you have any medical conditions.

So to recap, here are the steps I do to reduce toxins in our bathwater:

Do you use a bath water filter? Do you add anything to your kid’s bath water? Leave a comment and let me know!

Sources
  1. Chandrasekaran, N. C., et al. (2016). Permeation of topically applied Magnesium ions through human skin is facilitated by hair follicles. Magnesium research, 29(2), 35–42.
  2. Wang, Z. K., et al. (2022). Natural-clay-reinforced hydrogel adsorbent: Rapid adsorption of heavy-metal ions and dyes from textile wastewater. Water environment research: a research publication of the Water Environment Federation, 94(4), e10698.
  3. Kanikowska, A., et al. (2018). Influence of chlorinated water on the development of allergic diseases – An overview. Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine: AAEM25(4), 651–655.
  4. Weil, A. (2009, November 6). Dangers of Chlorine?
  5. Kresser, C. (2019, June 19). Is Your Daily Shower Making You Sick?

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

208 responses to “The Best Bath Water Filters to Reduce Toxins”

  1. Sunny Avatar

    Hey Katie,
    I just ordered the bath ball for my baby boys baths and am wondering if you use the ball do you also need the vitamin c?

  2. Tristan Avatar

    Hi Wellness Mama, this was very interesting to read and I have been using Ascorbic Acid in my bath for a while now, and I just wanted to know if citric acid is the same thing and if I could use it in the bath as well.

  3. Jim Avatar

    Great info Katie.
    The whole water filtration topic is very complex and different for different localities, well water etc. Shower filters make us feel like we are doing something but in the end are not very effective.

    As a previous poster mentioned, the best system is the whole house, a water quality test before system design is critical. Local water districts are required to test the water and report those findings which are usually available from your water supplier.

    Unfortunately, Fluoride is extremely difficult to remove from water and most filters are essentially ineffective against it. After a few years of research I have figured the best solution is to stop the introduction of it in the first place, it is even in many bottled waters.

    I have begun and encourage others as well to educate you neighbors and campaign to have it removed from your water. Why are we being ‘force medicated’ against our will?

  4. Cara Avatar

    My 10 year old daughter was diagnosed at 8 years of age with Polyarticular Rheumatoid arthritis. She has been on many meds with no results. I bought magnesium flakes and bentonite clay for her baths but am unsure if: 1) Should I combine the flakes and the clay into one bath?
    Or 2) Should she have the magnesium bath 1st then the clay bath? And if this is the case, how far apart should the baths be?
    3) does baking soda neutralize the water enough before I add anything else to the bath water? Thanks in advance!

  5. Tammie Avatar

    When I add the Vitamin C (same kind you use) to our bath water a strong metallic odor occurs. If it matters, we do have super hard water. What could the smell be? I don’t know if I want my 2 yr old bathing in it, or me. Thanks!

  6. Angela Avatar

    I hope this isn’t a silly question,but would these measures be safe to add to a small kiddie pool? I’ve read through the comments but did not see mention of that.

  7. sundaram Avatar
    sundaram

    Hi there,
    Thanks for your advice.
    What about Ozonating water to remove the chlorine? I have a machine that can do that and am wondering if it would be effective.
    Let me know,
    Thanks.

  8. Bruno Avatar

    This is a great Website with so much great articles! Thank You!

    I have a question about 3x3meters and 75cm in depth = 4000 liters garden family pool that you can buy for really low amount of money in any supermarket… It is a simple rubber pool that you need to blow an air in it, and that says that you can preserve water in it for a 3-4 weeks max., and then the water need to be really completely replaced… 🙂

    However, the “Super Chlorgran” chemical, that it is “advisable” to buy for this Family pools are “so toxic”, that it says in the instruction papers, that the water that is treated with this chemical is poisonous for drinking water or for waterlife in a long-term, and also, that the water from the pool mixed with this chemical cannot be later simply transferred directly from the pool to city sewerage or in a garden soil, so, I do not know what this implicates at the end, because it is a finished sentence in the instruction paper for this chemical, but I figured out, that you really need to call some special cistern disposable unit to move this water from your pool and carry out completely and physically from your home!

    – Precaution or no precaution, since this is my garden and in the nearby I have also my garden with fruit and vegetables plant it in, since we have a really, really quality and superb (every 2 years lab checked physically and bacteriological) drinking water just from the weld in my own garden, since all neighbors around me also have a weld with drinking water, I simply refuse and do not want to buy this chemical(s) at all for this of my Family pool, just place outside in our garden for 2-3 months at the Summer and that’s all.

    Is there any, any advice that you can give me for this temporary garden pools also here?

    Thank You in advance for your most kind answer and best regards from Europe!

  9. Lauren Thompson Avatar
    Lauren Thompson

    I am having a home birth and depending on how things go, may birth in a tub. Do you think putting the vitamin c in the pool is safe to deliver the baby in as well?

    1. Bre Avatar

      We purchased a shower filter (because they don’t make ones that fit over the regular bathtub faucet). We chose the Berke brand. In order to fill the tub, my husband went to Home Depot and got a piece of clear tubing (they have it on spools). It connects to the shower filter and goes down to the tub to prevent splashing.

  10. Bre Avatar

    I have a septic tank. I am wondering if putting these things down the drain will cause a build up over time. I plan to get a filter for the water. However the clay is a concern of mine.
    Thanks for any info!

  11. Sandra Brewer Avatar
    Sandra Brewer

    I have done a lot of research lately on low Magnesium and use of Epsom salt baths or Mag flakes in bath. Curious to know your thoughts between the two … From what I read the Mag flakes are more readily absorbed. I have 2.5 year old twin girls who have low Magnesium … I have some Epsom salts so going to start there … Should I use a cup in their bath? I am going to add Vitamin C as well … Do you add anything else to kids’ bath?

  12. Somali Chaterji Avatar
    Somali Chaterji

    My 5 year old swims in school and they don’t bathe after swimming and so there are SEVERAL hours before he gets a bath before bedtime. Is there something I can make and send or buy and send (natural products) that can be applied to his body and head to remove the chlorine/chemicals till he gets his bath. That way I can send some of the mama-stuff to school. I work fulltime so I have limited time but I can try out a recipe over weekends to make something out of earthly ingredients. I stumbled upon your site and look to some good suggestions 🙂

  13. Jill Avatar

    Will bathing asorbic acid cause a yeast infection? Do you absorb it into your body whwre the asboric acid can kill healthu gut flora? My asboric acid is l-asboric acid but I do not notice it fizz when I put it in.

    1. Michaela Harris Avatar
      Michaela Harris

      Similarly, I’ve been taking a lot of Epsom salt baths and recently used a few homemade bath bombs with citric acid. Can this mess up your pH system? I just developed a vaginal bacterial infection and wondered if that might be the cause.

  14. Jill Avatar

    In researching this further on the internet, I read that the sodium ascorbate produces a by-product of dehydroascorbic acid. Is that a problem for sitting in the bath?

    And, what would the results be on skin if taking baths regularly in a lower pH (if using the ascorbic acid)? My daughter has severe eczema, and I give her epsom salt baths regularly, and I”m so happy to have discovered this way of removing the chlorine from her bath water, but I don’t know what it would mean for her skin if the pH was lowered?

    Jill

  15. Rachel H. Avatar
    Rachel H.

    Thanks for this post Katie! I had a water home birth and had to use the tap water. Could you add this to your birthing tub?

  16. Carrie Avatar

    Love this blog so much!

    Having trouble finding sodium ascorbate locally…what about calcium ascorbate? Can that be used? Will it affect the ph of the water?

    Thanks!

  17. Alison Avatar

    Does this apply to well water? We live in “the country” and do not have city water? We do have a filtration system due to hard water.

  18. Melissa Avatar

    I tried this tonight, adding 1 tsp sodium ascorbate to my kids bath. Than I added 1/2 cup Epsom salts than 3 drops lavender. I also added just a squirt of Dr. Bronners up scented soap for bubbles. After a little bit the bathroom smelled of a strange metal-y smell. (For lack of a better description) Is this normal? It kind of freaked me out like I caused some sort of chemical reaction that wasn’t right.

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