Your coffee maker, your humidifier, your countertop water filter—they all need a reset. The CDC recommends running a full cycle of fresh water through these devices. For coffee makers, make a cycle with fresh water only, then discard it. It’s like a palate cleanser for your morning brew.
Water filters are tricky. The filter itself might have trapped bacteria. Replace the filter cartridge if the advisory lasted more than 48 hours. If not, run a few gallons through it to flush the system. Trust me, your future iced lattes will thank you.
Cultural nod: Remember that scene in Legally Blonde where Elle Woods says “The rules of hair care are simple and finite”? The same applies to post-advisory plumbing care—simple steps, finite results.
The Bathroom Ballet
You might think the advisory was only about drinking water, but your bathroom is a participant too. The CDC says to clean your toothbrush with fresh water. You’ve been using boiled water to brush, but your brush head might have splashed with tap water during the advisory. Give it a good rinse under the now-safe faucet.
Same for your showerhead. Run the shower on hot for a few minutes before your first post-advisory soak. This clears out any water that’s been sitting in the pipes while you were doing that heroic boiling dance. It’s not just about cleanliness—it’s about ritual.
Boil Advisory lifted after Middleburg Hts water main break
Fun fact: The average person brushes their teeth 657 times a year. That’s a lot of water exposure. You want it to be pristine.
