Microplastics are particles, so removing them is a physical filtration problem rather than a chemical one. The number that decides it is the pore size of the filter media: the finer the barrier, the smaller the particle it can hold back. That points at a short list of technologies, and rules out several devices that people assume will help.
Pore size is the whole argument
A sediment cartridge rated for coarse particles will stop grit and rust flakes and let far smaller plastic fragments through. Carbon block media is tighter than loose granular carbon and catches more. Tighter still are ultrafiltration membranes, and tighter again is a reverse osmosis membrane, which is a barrier at the molecular scale and therefore the most complete of the common household options. Look at the rated micron figure a manufacturer publishes, and treat any product that will not state one with suspicion.
What will not help
Boiling does not remove particles, it concentrates whatever stays behind as water evaporates. A softener does nothing here, since ion exchange targets dissolved hardness minerals and passes particles straight through. A basic pitcher aimed at chlorine taste uses loose carbon with wide channels and is not a fine barrier. And a whole-house sediment filter fitted for well grit is far too coarse to be described as a microplastics filter, whatever the packaging implies.
Where to put the barrier
Almost all realistic exposure through water is what you drink and cook with, so point-of-use is the sensible place to spend: under-sink reverse osmosis, an ultrafiltration unit, or a certified countertop system. Whole-house treatment at this fineness is impractical, because a membrane fine enough to catch particles at that scale cannot pass shower and laundry flow without a very large, pumped installation. Treat the kitchen tap properly and leave the rest of the house alone.
Reduce what you add at home
A share of what people measure in household water is added after the tap: bottled water stored warm, plastic kettles and jugs, single-use cups, and food containers that shed when heated. Storing filtered water in glass or stainless steel, not microwaving food in plastic containers, and drinking from the treated tap rather than bottles all reduce the load without buying anything. Our best water filter guide covers picking the certified unit that handles the rest.
Questions people ask about how to get rid of microplastics
Does boiling water remove microplastics?
No. Boiling drives off water and leaves solids behind, so it concentrates particles rather than removing them. Filtration is the mechanism that works.
Does reverse osmosis remove microplastics?
A reverse osmosis membrane is a far finer barrier than any particle in that size class, so it is the most complete common household option.
Is there a legal limit for microplastics in tap water?
No federal drinking water standard sets one, so your utility report will not list them. Removal is a personal choice, not a compliance matter.