The Best Bath Water Filters to Reduce Toxins

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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. Terri Avatar

    Thanks, Katie. This is a great post. I was wondering if you could mix vitamin C, bentonite and magnesium flakes all together for a detoxifying and relaxing bath soak. I thought that maybe the ions in the bentonite would bond with the magnesium, making them both ineffective? So I was wondering if you know if Vitmain C can be used together with the magnesium flakes with no bad effects? Thanks again!

  2. Celina Avatar

    Would the vitamin c powder be okay for a 2 month old baby? He gets bathed in a little baby tub.
    Thank you

  3. Krystal Wight Armstrong Avatar
    Krystal Wight Armstrong

    I really appreciate a lot of info in this post. Especially the last point about bath salts. I have magnesium flakes for my mag oil, but didn’t think to use it in my 18mo’s bath too!
    Quick question on that part, Does adding salts/mag flakes specifically *reduce* any chemicals, or are they just great for adding some healthful minerals to our the systems?

    Thanks much!

  4. Ashley Avatar

    We just recently found out about lead (and other dangerous crap) in the water in our area, We do not drink out of the tap but my almost 4 year old bathes for 1.5 hours daily. What can I do? I can’t imagine the filtered shower head would eliminated metals? Thanks in advance!

  5. Nathalie Avatar
    Nathalie

    Hi Mama,

    First I love your website!

    I was just wondering on this topic as I m planing to try and filter fluoride from water with bentonite clay, how does the fluoride go if we still bath in the same water and clay? How does it get rid of it?

  6. Rebekah Avatar
    Rebekah

    Do you have a bath/shower combo? You said you had shower head filters, why don’t you just use that to fill the bathtub?

    We buy filtered water for cooking and drinking but don’t have a way to filter it for baths. This article was very helpful to me. Thanks!

  7. Alanna Avatar

    Can I use Calcium ascorbate instead of Sodium ascorbate? I have some of the calcium already.

  8. Jessyka Avatar

    You add the whole mixture from the recipe to the bath every bath or just a part of the mixture. Love your site!

  9. Betty Avatar

    Hi I’m do sorry for the late comment considering how old this thread is but since I’ve stumbled unto your site it has changed my life and it’s made it easier for me to slowly switch to a healthier lifestyle (I have a stubborn husband who thinks I go overboard lol) especially since I had my son.

    So I’ve been researching on bath filter balls but it’s made me really hesitant as my research is leading me to believe that it works at first but not what it really claims to do or it just doesn’t work. I do want to invest in a shower filter but my apartment has a specialized shower head in place so it’ll have to wait.

    So because of the lack of confidence I have in the bath filters I really want to try this method on my son because unfortunately he inherited my dry skin and in AZ with the extreme hard water, the heat, and all those nasties in the water it isn’t a good combination. And because of this I only give him baths once a week or wipe him down with my homemade cloth wipes. He is five months old and pretty big for his age so I was wondering if the measurements in your list above is safe to use for him.

    Also I plan on making magnesium oil to use so I’m not going to use it with the bath (do you recommend using magnesium oil on babies?) . Honestly I was just planning on doing the Vitamin C and Redmond Clay. But instead of the magnesium/Epsom mix I actually wanted to use oatmeal to help with the dry skin. Would it be okay for me to mix the oatmeal with the vitamin c and clay?

    If I can get any advice I’d be extremely grateful! Thank you for taking the time to read. By the way huge fan of WellnessMama! Thank you for helping to improve our lives!

  10. Jen Avatar

    I really appreciate the info in this article and in the comments. Have you found that the bentonite clay clogs the drain, or do you use a catch to keep it from going down the drain? I’ve read elsewhere that people who have used it recommend not letting it down the drain, saying it will clog it up.

  11. Ayesha Pinney Avatar
    Ayesha Pinney

    Great article! Thank you so much. I do take regular Epsom salt and Himalayan salt baths. Just wondered, can I add the bentonite clay to it too or is that best used on it’s own?

  12. Megan B Avatar

    Will the clay work at taking lead out of the water? I have a lot of friends with kids living in Flint and kids are having reactions to the lead in the water. If the Clay can help that, I’ll go buy some for them…

  13. Gena Avatar

    Did you make any adjustments for your son with eczema? I can’t tell if the Epsom salts and vitamin c is irritating my skin it’s so flared up already. Trying to do GAPS and I want to detox but my skin seems worse (it’s only been a week).

  14. Lou Avatar

    I think you folks need to understand that the ph of the water you drink, and the ph of the water you bath in are two very diffrent ph values.

    Do your own research… im just another ass with an logic based opinion. I am not a medical professional.

    Call me a nut, but i adjust my bath water between 5-6 ph ….i dont care what form the acid. Citric, Ascorbic, vinegar, hell even muriatic will do the job. But no one here can tell you how much to use(and be right)!!!!!!!! Buy a cheap ph meter ….get a electronic pen, or even a pool ph tester.

    Test it. Test it. Test it. Test it.

    All you folks with well water being ignored……

    You don’t have chlorine to deal with, but Think about pathogens and viruses. That’s what the chlorine fixes. Uv light works great for your major issue..
    Bottom line….. for well or city water…

    For your drinking water …..
    Get a 7 stage reverse osmosis filter with UV sterilization for drinking water. Get one with a pump. Ebay…200 bucks or so..

    For you bath water……
    Get a ph meter…
    Acids…. (for legal reasons) stick to the vitamin C…… but get a cheap tester

    Epsom salt is great! Also lowers ph like an avid.

    The clay ……. i did not do the research….it seems like a good idea…..i may try it… dont expect to see am obvious effect. Show me the test that shows your removing heavy metals from you body.

    Chlorine
    filter it for drinking water!!!
    Bath water
    Find me an Olympic swimmer with chlorine poisoning and we will go from there.

    Otherwise it is air soluble….. bubble air through it. Fill the tub with the shower head. All voodoo if you ask me…. i’m no doctor do your own research.

    Big fan of borax…..but will raise your pH levels.

    Borax and boric acid are not the same thing

    Hope that helped someone…..do your own research…i am just a ass with an opinion.

  15. Krista Avatar

    Love the info and comments! I don’t think I have heard a clear answer yet on what the metallic smell is when using Vit. C ascorbate and if it is SAFE. Could you please address that question? Thanks so much! Will start with the Vit. C powder probably and then consider a shower filter after doing some research.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar

      From what I have read, this is a normal result of the process by which chlorine is neutralized, but definitely do your own research to be sure!

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