At-home microplastics test kit
Test your water for microplastics at home.
Test tap, filtered, fridge, pitcher, or bottled water. Use both tests at once, or save one to retest later. Upload the photos and we count the plastic particles.
The kit
Two tests inside. Compare sources or retest later.
Filter check
Check if your filter lowers microplastics.
Tap water
Test your tap for microplastics.
Compare waters
Test tap, fridge, pitcher, or bottled water.
Real results
Some filters remove microplastics. Some do not.
These are real customer tests from Los Angeles. The point is simple: test your own water for microplastics.
This RO sample had a low count.
An under-sink RO system in Fox Hills came back at 2 and 5 particles across two tests.
See Fox Hills
This whole-house sample had a low count.
A Santa Monica whole-house system came back at 8 and 9 particles across two samples.
See Ocean Park
This fridge filter barely changed the water.
A Pacific Palisades fridge filter came back close to unfiltered tap. The family thought the kids were drinking filtered water.
See Pacific Palisades
What you can test
Use the kit where microplastics might matter.
Filter check
Check if your filter lowers microplastics.
Test before and after filtration, or test again later.
Tap water
Test your tap for microplastics.
Start with the water coming out of your faucet.
Kids' water
Test water for bottles, cups, and formula.
Use the tests on the water your household depends on.
Bottled water
Compare bottled water to your tap.
Use a test on the bottled water you buy.
Bottled water sample
One real test. Not a stock image.
Cleaner sample
The comparison is the point.
“New baby, kept stressing about making formula with tap water. Tested the tap and our Brita. The Brita came back a lot cleaner, so that is what we use now.”
“Had an under-sink filter for years and just trusted it. Tested the tap and filtered side. Filtered came back way cleaner. Good to know.”
“Tested our tap next to the bottled water we buy by the case. Figured the bottled would be cleaner. It was not.”
“Our tap came back basically clean. Hardly any pink dots. I was expecting the opposite.”
From cup to count in about an hour.
About 10 minutes of hands-on work. The rest is waiting.
01
Collect two samples
Test two sources, or test the same source twice over time.
02
Run the kit
Add the stain, push the water through the filter, and shine the blue light.
03
Upload the photos
Pink dots show plastic particles. We count them and send your result.
Everything ships in the box.
Run the test at home. Upload photos when you are done.
Method
The method comes from published microplastics research.
The kit uses Nile Red fluorescence staining to make plastic-like particles show up as pink dots. You run the test at home, upload photos, and we count the particles.
Based on Leonard et al. 2022, Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters. Read the paper.
What the test can tell you
- How many visible particles were caught on your filter
- Whether filtered water has a lower count than tap
- How your sample compares with other homes we have tested
- Whether a filter change made a visible difference
Follow along
See what we are finding each week.
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Common questions
What does the kit test?
It shows plastic-like particles caught on a filter. Pink dots are counted from the photos you upload.
Can I test my filter?
Yes. Test your tap, then test the filtered water, and compare the microplastic counts.
What if I do not have a filter yet?
Test your tap first. If you install a filter later, you will have a real before-and-after.
Is it hard to run?
No. If you can fill a glass and follow instructions, you can run it. It takes about 10 minutes of hands-on work.
More questions? See the full FAQ or read about how it works.