Ways To Use Distilled Water Around Your Home

While you may associate the use of distilled water with cleaning baby feeding tools or filling your nasal rinse pot, this type of water actually has multiple uses around the home that you don't expect. Distilled water, unlike your kitchen or bathroom sink water, goes through a distilling process which, includes boiling it then cooling it back down. This specific method of distilling removes up to 99.9% of the salt, minerals, and other materials from the water. While you may or may not like the taste, distilled water is purified and can be used around the home for various tasks and chores, including filling your clothing iron, watering your plants, and making your own all-purpose cleaner.

Thanks to its purified properties, distilled water can be greatly beneficial to many cleaning tasks, as it is more streak-free than other types of water. It doesn't leave behind any residue on your surfaces, and it also reduces the chance of mineral deposits or buildup. Distilled water is also preferred for home cleaning tasks due to its lack of minerals, which in regular water can sometimes react with chemicals in your cleaning products, making them less effective. Whether you already have bottles of this product or you're looking for a cleaner way to sanitize your home, there are many ways to use distilled water around the house. 

While it may not be the top priority on your chore list, cleaning your TV can protect the screen and increase its overall visibility. The next time you need to remove smudges or dust buildup on your flatscreen, you should grab a bottle of distilled water to clean your TV. Dampen a microfiber cloth with distilled water and gently wipe the stains, smudges, and fingerprints to remove them. Don't apply the water directly to the screen as you could damage the TV. If the stains are still there, you can add a few drops of dish soap to the mix. 

When considering what distilled water can and can't do for your plants, did you know you can use it for watering? Minerals like fluoride, typically found in faucet or tap water, often cause a poor reaction in plants. Some plants are be extremely sensitive, including spider plants, peace lilies, palms, and more, so you should try hydrating them with distilled water instead. However, note that since distilled is stripped of most minerals, it therefore lacks beneficial minerals, too. If you plan to use it on your plants and you notice stunted growth or discolored leaves, you may want to supplement healthy minerals for your plants in another form. 

If you want your shower doors and windows to be free of streaks and mineral build-up, then you should try using distilled water for these chores. This is a water rule you might want to follow when steam cleaning glass. Tap water can contain minerals like calcium and magnesium, which can cause that pesky buildup, even when you're wiping down the glass surfaces with a powerful cleaner. Whether you're cleaning these areas by hand or with a steam cleaner, make sure to use distilled water to ensure you end up with a streak-free, crystal-clear finished product. 

While it's not unsafe to fill your humidifier with regular tap water, you may want to use distilled water, thanks to its numerous benefits. Distilled is the preferred type of water for humidifiers, as it improves your air quality and keeps the machine working properly. Some individuals may be sensitive to tap water minerals as they are dispersed throughout their home. Tap water can also create white dust, made from minerals, which will cover your furniture. Tap water can also cause mineral scale, which clogs the machine. 

You can even use distilled water to DIY your own all-purpose cleaner, saving you some extra cash and allowing you to customize your favorite scent. Not only does distilled water help keep your surfaces streak-free, but it will keep away that pesky mineral buildup, especially on areas like chrome fixtures. For a basic cleaner recipe, combine 1 cup of distilled water with 1 cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle. If you want to add a scent, put in around 10 drops of your favorite essential oil, like orange, peppermint, or lavender. 

Instead of using tap water in your clothing iron, opt for distilled water. Not only does this type of processed water help prevent discoloration and staining in your clothes, but it can also assist with removing any minerals or other materials that could potentially clog your iron. Tap water can contribute specifically to limescale buildup, which will eventually harm your iron's ability to transfer heat. If you live in an area with especially hard water, or water with unwanted odors, using distilled water will ensure your clothes don't smell either.

You can use distilled water to deep clean your favorite pieces of jewelry. (Mineral water can leave buildup or deposits on your pieces.) Whether you clean your pieces by hand or you have an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, you should opt for distilled water, as it is a safe choice that works best for all types of materials, including diamonds, gold, platinum, and other hard stones like rubies. Simply mix distilled water with dish soap and wipe your jewelry carefully with a soft cloth.