Filtering water without using expensive cartridges?

LadyDee

I drink black tea. Invariably there is a film on top of the tea - it doesn't affect the taste. Does anybody know of a way of getting rid of this? It tends to leave a residue on the cups.

I am not interested in buying bottled water or buying expensive cartridges as I don't think there's anything really wrong with the tap water - it's just the film I want to get rid of.

Is there a free or virtually free solution old-style solution?

TIA

3v3

How clean is your kettle? Film on a drink made from boiled water is often the result of limescale in your kettle.

LadyDee

3v3 wrote: »

How clean is your kettle? Film on a drink made from boiled water is often the result of limescale in your kettle.

Brand new kettle about a week ago (although I did have the same problem with the old one). I also regularly put my teapot through the dishwasher.

I am in a hard water area though and I agree the problem is probably caused by limescale.

I used to use the filter cartridges but I'm hopeful there is an alternative as I just can't afford to buying them - it just seems such a waste of money!

beemuzed

Would pouring the boiled water through a fine meshed tea-strainer make any difference? Might be worth a try at least.

LadyDee

beemuzed wrote: »

Would pouring the boiled water through a fine meshed tea-strainer make any difference? Might be worth a try at least.

I don't think so, the kettle has an extremely fine filter fitted. I was thinking more of using my Brita jug with a lump of 'something' in it. I know charcoal gets rid of chlorine and am wondering if there is a similar answer to limescale.

j.e.j.

I drink black tea as well The best way I've found is to use good quality tea leaves (not tea bags) and to make sure the kettle's free of limescale.

LadyDee

j.e.j. wrote: »

I drink black tea as well The best way I've found is to use good quality tea leaves (not tea bags) and to make sure the kettle's free of limescale.

Being a good MSEer I have at least a year's supply of PG Tips to use up Definitely no limescale in the kettle as it's brand new.

j.e.j.

I know, it's not very money-saving to be using Whittards nice tea leaves ! I just asked for some for my birthday.

I find it is the tea bags which create this not very nice looking film. Tea bags are made from the lesser quality, dust-like bits of tea leaves and I think some of it seeps out and creates this film. It's more noticeable when you don't add milk to your tea.