While chlorine is a powerful disinfectant, it remains a controversial chemical. If you are hesitant about drinking something that smells like a cleaning agent and dries out your skin, you are not alone.
Fortunately, you have options. We are going to break down exactly how to remove chlorine from your water so you can enjoy a drink that is pure, healthy, and tastes great.
Key Takeaways
- Chlorine disinfects municipal water but often leaves an unpleasant taste and odor.
- Effective removal methods include activated carbon filtration, boiling, and evaporation.
- Chloramine (chlorine plus ammonia) is harder to remove and resists evaporation.
- Vitamin C and chemical neutralization are fast solutions for bathwater or small batches.
What Is Chlorine?
Most of us associate chlorine with swimming pools, but this chemical is a workhorse in the industrial world. Beyond keeping summer dips safe, it plays a role in manufacturing pesticides, paints, textiles, and even medications.
In its natural state, chlorine is a gas. However, water treatment plants compress it into a liquid to use as a disinfectant. It is cheap, effective, and easy to transport, which is why it became the standard for municipal water sanitation over a century ago.
Is Chlorine Safe to Drink?
We often take chlorinated water for granted, but it has a bit of a bad reputation. It gets blamed for dry skin, brittle hair, and that stinging sensation in your eyes after a swim.
Here is a fun (or gross) fact: chlorine itself usually isn’t what burns your eyes. That sting comes from chloramines, which form when chlorine reacts with organic matter like sweat or urine (1).
While that sounds nasty, it highlights exactly why chlorine is in your tap water. It binds to bacteria, viruses, and parasites to destroy them. Without it, our water supply would be a breeding ground for diseases like cholera and typhoid.
However, just because it kills bugs doesn’t mean it is harmless to humans in large quantities. It is a toxic chemical that requires careful handling (2).
The Dangers of Chlorine
Chlorine is excellent at stopping the spread of disease, but the benefits largely stop there. Once the water reaches your tap, the chlorine has done its job. Drinking it or bathing in it long-term can have potential downsides:
- Gut health issues: Chlorine is designed to kill bacteria, and it cannot distinguish between harmful pathogens in the pipes and the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Drinking chlorinated water may disrupt your microbiome (3).
- Trihalomethanes (THMs): When chlorine reacts with organic particles in water, it creates byproducts called trihalomethanes. These compounds have been linked to a higher risk of certain cancers.
- Potential birth defects: Some studies suggest a link between chlorinated water byproducts and adverse reproductive outcomes. A Taiwanese study noted a potential connection between high exposure and issues like cleft palates (4).
- Food sensitivities: Emerging research suggests that chlorine byproducts might play a role in how our bodies react to certain foods. While more research is needed, a study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology highlighted a potential correlation (5).
The Chloramine Complication
If removing chlorine sounds easy, there is a catch: chloramine. Many municipalities are switching from standard chlorine to chloramine (a mix of chlorine and ammonia) because it stays stable in the pipes longer.
The problem? Chloramine is much harder to remove. It does not evaporate easily, and standard filters often struggle to catch it.
Quick Tip
How to Remove Chlorine from Water
Getting chlorine out of your water is simpler than you might think. Whether you want to improve the taste of your coffee or protect your skin in the shower, there is a method here that fits your budget and lifestyle.
Water Filtration
The most reliable way to remove chlorine and chloramine is filtration. While various technologies exist, activated carbon is the superstar here.
Carbon filters work by adsorption. As water passes through the filter, the carbon grabs onto the chlorine molecules and traps them, letting clean water flow through.
For even deeper cleaning, reverse osmosis systems push water through a semi-permeable membrane. These systems are the gold standard for home purification, removing chlorine, fluoride, lead, and almost all other contaminants (6).
Pros
- Removes chlorine instantly
- Improves taste and smell immediately
- Can be installed under the sink or used in pitchers
- Reverse osmosis handles wide range of contaminants
Cons
- Installation required for under-sink models
- Ongoing cost for filter replacements
- Standard filters may miss chloramine
Evaporation
Chlorine is a volatile chemical, meaning it naturally transitions from liquid to gas over time. If you are on a budget, you can simply let the water breathe.
Fill a pitcher with water and leave it uncovered on the counter or in the fridge. Over 24 hours, most of the chlorine will evaporate into the air. Keep in mind that temperature matters; warmer water releases chlorine faster than cold water.
However, this method does not work for chloramine. If your city uses chloramine, the water could sit there for days without changing.
Pros
- Completely free
- Zero installation or tools needed
- Natural process
- Simple solution for watering plants
Cons
- Takes at least 24 hours
- Ineffective against chloramine
- Water can collect dust while sitting out
Chemical Neutralization
Using chemicals to clean chemicals sounds counterintuitive, but it is standard practice in brewing and winemaking.
Potassium metabisulfite (often sold as Campden tablets) is a powerful scavenger that neutralizes chlorine and chloramine almost instantly. One tablet can treat up to 20 gallons of water.
Another excellent option is Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It is safe, edible, and neutralizes chlorine on contact. This is a favorite trick for people who want to take a chlorine-free bath without installing a whole-house filter.
Pros
- Works instantly
- Effective against both chlorine and chloramine
- Vitamin C is safe for skin and consumption
- Very inexpensive per gallon
Cons
- Campden tablets can have a sulfur smell
- Requires buying additives regularly
- Not a “set it and forget it” system
Boiling
If you need chlorine-free water for cooking or tea, the stove is your friend. Heat speeds up the evaporation process significantly.
Boiling water for about 15 to 20 minutes will drive off the chlorine. Like the evaporation method, this is great for chlorine but significantly less effective for chloramine, which is heat-stable.
Pros
- No equipment required
- Kills bacteria as a bonus
- Simple and accessible
Cons
- Uses a lot of energy (gas or electric)
- Time-consuming for large batches
- Doesn’t remove chloramine well
- Water needs to cool before use
UV Light
Ultraviolet (UV) light is typically used to kill bacteria, but it also has the power to break down chlorine and chloramine.
When water passes through a powerful UV chamber, the light energy degrades the chemical bonds of the chlorine. It acts as a physical purification method that doesn’t add anything to the water or alter the taste.
While highly effective, UV systems are usually an add-on to a larger filtration setup rather than a standalone solution for chlorine.
Pros
- Chemical-free process
- Breaks down chloramine effectively
- Does not alter water pH or taste
Cons
- Expensive initial cost
- Requires electricity
- Bulbs degrade and need annual replacement
FAQs
How Much Chlorine Is in Tap Water?
The CDC states that chlorine levels up to 4 milligrams per liter (4 parts per million) are safe for drinking. Most municipal water supplies aim for lower levels, typically between 0.5 and 2.0 ppm. While these levels prevent waterborne illness, they can still affect taste, smell, and the delicate balance of bacteria in your digestive system.
How Can I Test My Water for Chlorine?
The easiest way is to use a home water test kit, similar to those used for swimming pools. Dip a DPD test strip into a glass of tap water and wait for the color to change. Compare the color to the provided chart to see your concentration levels. For higher accuracy, digital colorimeters are available but are generally unnecessary for average home use.
Does Salt Remove Chlorine from Water?
No, standard salt-based water softeners do not remove chlorine. They are designed to remove hard minerals like calcium and magnesium. However, some modern softeners come with a built-in carbon filtration stage (often called a “refiner”) which will remove chlorine. If you have a standard unit, you will need to add a separate carbon filter.
Does Baking Soda Remove Chlorine?
Baking soda does not effectively neutralize chlorine in drinking water. However, it is often used in homemade recipes to help strip chlorine buildup from hair after swimming. For treating water, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a much more effective chemical neutralizer.
Does Vinegar Remove Chlorine?
Vinegar does not remove chlorine. Adding vinegar to chlorinated water simply results in acidic water that still contains chlorine. To remove the chemical physically, you are better off boiling the water or running it through a carbon filter.
Does Bottled Water Contain Chlorine?
Generally, no. Most bottled water is treated using reverse osmosis or distillation, which removes chlorine. However, if the bottle is labeled “from a municipal source” and hasn’t undergone further purification, it is possible. Always check the label; if it says “Purified Water” or “Spring Water,” it is likely chlorine-free.
Does Boiling Water Remove Chloramine?
No, boiling is not an effective way to remove chloramine. Unlike standard chlorine, chloramine is chemically stable and does not evaporate easily with heat or time. To remove chloramine, you need a catalytic carbon filter or a chemical neutralizer like Vitamin C.
Conclusion
Chlorine plays a vital role in modern sanitation, preventing countless diseases every day. However, once the water reaches your faucet, that chemical job is done. Drinking it or bathing in it can dry out your skin, ruin the taste of your beverages, and potentially impact your health.
Whether you choose to install a carbon filter, let your water sit out, or use a pinch of Vitamin C, dechlorination is an easy win for your home. Assess your water quality, check if your city uses chloramine, and pick the method that works best for you.
