This whole process should take you under 45 minutes, which is less time than you spent doom-scrolling last night. Do it every three months, or whenever the water starts to taste like “meh.” A good rule of thumb: clean after every two filter changes. The filter is the brain; the cleaning is the nervous system.
One fun cultural reference: in Japan, there is a concept called kintsugi—repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer to honor its history. Your water dispenser isn’t broken, but you are gilding its function with this care. You’re not just cleaning; you’re performing a ritual of respect for a machine that serves you silently.
