HILLIEN 4 Modes Multifunctional Kitchen & Bathroom Water Filter for Sink Faucet with 2pcs Replacement Filters - 99.9% Chlorine Removal-Hard Water Softener- Compatible with Most of Faucet

Why I tried this faucet filter

A compact add-on that promises both filtration and four water patterns sounded like a gimmick at first. After a few weeks living with the HILLIEN faucet filter on a bathroom sink and then on a kitchen prep faucet, I’ve changed my mind. It’s a small, inexpensive upgrade that meaningfully improves day-to-day rinsing and handwashing, with some caveats around compatibility and expectations for “softening.”

Design, build, and what’s in the box

The unit is a short, grey swivel-mounted aerator with a transparent filter module sandwiched inside. It arrives with a small wrench, a thread converter adapter, and two replacement filter cartridges—nice to see spares in the box. The head articulates up, down, and side-to-side (advertised as 720°), which in practice means I can angle the stream into the corners of a shallow sink or swing the flow outward for filling bottles without contorting.

Controls are simple: a side dial to adjust flow and a selector to switch between four modes. The tactile feel is decent for the price—plastic, but not flimsy. The added length does bring the water stream lower toward the basin, which is usually helpful; if you have a very low spout already, note the extra bulk.

Installation and compatibility

Setup took me under 10 minutes, but only after a couple of basics:

• Remove your faucet’s original aerator. It sounds obvious, yet it’s easy to miss and then wonder why nothing fits.
• Check the included rubber gasket is seated flat inside the filter’s inlet.
• Hand-tighten first, then use the included wrench gently to snug it down. Over-tightening can distort the gasket and cause leaks.
• If you have thread tape (PTFE), a single wrap on metal threads can help, though I got a seal without it.

On a standard bathroom faucet, I needed the included female-to-male adapter. It worked, but I noticed that with the high-pressure mode engaged, backpressure exposed an aging O-ring in my spout and I saw a small drip at the faucet body—not the filter. Moving the filter to a sturdier kitchen prep faucet eliminated the issue entirely. The takeaway: the filter’s “boost” modes can stress already-tired seals. If your faucet is older or has nonstandard threads, be prepared to source an additional adapter or refresh a gasket.

One more note: this is not for pull-down/pull-out sprayer faucets. It’s aimed at fixed-spout bathroom and simple kitchen faucets with standard aerator threads.

Filtration: what changes and what doesn’t

The manufacturer claims up to 99% chlorine reduction. I don’t have a lab bench, but the subjective changes were clear:

• The chlorine smell in my bathroom tap water disappeared.
• Rinsing felt gentler on skin, and soap lathered a bit better.
• A quick sip test showed a cleaner taste with less metallic edge.

The filter element is a multi-layer design with an outer PP cotton layer that catches visible particles and discolors first. Mine began to tint within a day, which is normal and actually reassuring—it’s catching sediment. That discoloration is not a sign the filter is “done”; the inner layers continue working. I’ll follow the three-month replacement guidance unless flow drops noticeably sooner.

A reality check on “softening”: this isn’t an ion-exchange water softener, and it won’t meaningfully reduce calcium or magnesium that cause scale. The water feels “softer” largely because chlorine and other irritants are reduced and the flow pattern is less aggressive on skin. If you need true hardness reduction to protect fixtures and appliances, this won’t replace a whole-home or under-sink solution. As a point-of-use improvement for taste, odor, and daily washing, it’s genuinely useful.

Four modes that actually matter

I expected the mode selector to be a novelty. It isn’t. Here’s how each mode behaved in daily use:

• Gentle anti-splash: A smooth, aerated stream that tames turbulence in shallow basins. This became my default for handwashing and face rinsing.
• High-pressure rinse: A tighter, faster stream that noticeably boosts perceived pressure. It’s great for blasting toothpaste residue off porcelain or rinsing a filter coffee cone. If your supply is weak, this can make the sink feel “new.”
• Adjustable mouthwash mode: Orient the head upward and dial the stream height to a comfortable level for quick rinses or filling smaller bottles. It sounds minor, but it’s surprisingly handy.
• Skin-care spray: A soft, wider spray that works well with warm water for face cleansing. It’s gentler than a typical showerhead mist and avoids splatter.

Two practical tips: switch modes with the water volume eased back to avoid side-spray, and aim the head into the basin before toggling. The mechanisms are smooth, but a mode change midstream can redirect water abruptly and surprise you.

Day-to-day performance

• Flow and feel: The filter balanced flow and control better than the stock aerator. In anti-splash mode, water lands where I want it, even in a shallow sink. In boost mode, it genuinely improves cleaning tasks.
• Swivel and reach: The articulating joint is the quiet star. Angling the stream to rinse the entire basin or clean a razor is a quality-of-life upgrade I didn’t know I needed.
• Noise: Slightly louder in high-pressure mode than a standard aerator, but not obnoxious.
• Durability so far: No cracks, no leaks at the filter itself, and the joints hold their position. After a few weeks, the motion is still smooth.

Maintenance and replacement filters

Swapping cartridges is a 60-second job: unscrew the housing, pull the old filter, seat the new one, and reattach. Two replacements in the box means roughly nine months of coverage if you stick to the three-month interval. If your input water is gritty, expect the outer layer to discolor fast; that isn’t a failure. Rinse the aerator screen occasionally to keep flow steady.

Replacements are easy to find, and I’d pick up a pack when you install the last spare so you’re never stuck.

Where it falls short

• Not true softening: It improves feel and reduces chlorine, but doesn’t lower hardness minerals. Keep expectations realistic.
• Compatibility watch-outs: Nonstandard faucet threads or pull-out sprayers are a no-go. Backpressure from boost modes can expose weak spout seals. If your faucet is old, budget for a new gasket.
• Mode switching splash risk: If you toggle modes at full blast, you can get a surprise spray. Ease off the flow, then switch.
• Added height and look: The grey module is functional but not invisible. In a minimalist bathroom, it’s noticeable. I like the utility enough to tolerate the look.

Who it’s for

• Renters and small-space kitchens that want a no-tools filtration and usability upgrade.
• Anyone sensitive to chlorine smell or taste who doesn’t want to commit to a full under-sink system.
• People who wash their face at the sink and want a gentler spray on demand.
• Homes with low-pressure faucets that could use a perceived boost.

Who should pass:

• Households seeking certified removal of heavy metals or specific contaminants beyond chlorine and particulates. This isn’t a substitute for an NSF/ANSI-certified under-sink filter.
• Those with pull-down kitchen faucets or designer fixtures with nonstandard threads.

Practical setup checklist

• Remove the original aerator before testing adapters.
• Confirm the gasket is seated and not doubled-up.
• Start hand-tight, then a light wrench snug—don’t overdo it.
• Run water for a minute to flush the new filter.
• Keep a towel handy the first time you experiment with modes.
• If you see a drip at the faucet body, check the spout’s own O-ring; the filter may be revealing an existing issue.

Final recommendation

I recommend the HILLIEN faucet filter for anyone who wants a straightforward, affordable way to improve tap water’s taste and everyday usability without installing a full filtration system. It meaningfully reduces chlorine odor, offers genuinely useful spray patterns, and the swiveling head makes small sinks far more functional. Installation is approachable, replacements are simple, and the included spare cartridges add value.

Go in with clear expectations: it won’t truly soften hard water or replace comprehensive filtration for heavy contaminants, and you’ll want to confirm thread compatibility before buying. If those caveats fit your situation, this little add-on is an easy upgrade that you’ll notice every time you turn on the tap.