Everyday Uses for Distilled Water

By Rehan Iqbal

Distilled water is about as pure as it gets. Water that has been distilled contains virtually no impurities and minerals. When water is this pure, it has many practical, everyday uses. This is what we’ll be investigating, common uses for distilled water.

Though, before delving into the myriad of uses for distilled water, a bit of background information won’t go amiss. Let’s start by a gaining a better understanding of distilled water and how it’s made.

Scientist filling a graduated cylinder with distilled water at laboratory

What is Distilled Water?

In the natural water cycle, water evaporates to become water vapor (a gas). As it rises into the atmosphere, where the air is cooler, the vapor condenses to form clouds. Clouds are essentially a collection of small water drops in a cluster. As the clouds collect more water, they become heavier. At some point, the water in the clouds becomes too heavy and it falls back to earth as rain. This is continuous cycle that has been going on since the dawn of time.

A water distiller mimics this natural process in a controlled environment. Water is heated using electricity, creating steam which is a gas. The steam rises and is sent to a condenser which cools the water, turning it back into a liquid. This is collected as distilled water.

When the water evaporates, the impurities and minerals are left behind. Any matter that does not evaporate at the same temperature as water (approx. 212°F) will not evaporate with the water. This means the evaporated water is almost 100% pure. Only small, almost untraceable amounts of other elements might be present in the water after distillation. For all intents and purposes, distilled water is generally considered to be 100% pure.

Distilled Water vs Purified Water

Water purifiers use filtration media to remove impurities, usually leaving the minerals in the water. Water distillers remove impurities, bacteria, viruses, and minerals. Some water purifiers may remove certain minerals, even add others. Advanced water filter, usually reverse osmosis filtration systems, may also remove bacteria and viruses.

Distilled water is generally considered the purest type of water.

Can you Drink Distilled Water?

Some believe that drinking distilled water is healthier than regular water. This is certainly true if your water supply contains harmful impurities, heavy metals, bacteria, or pathogens. Distilled water is completely sterile, meaning it is free of any harmful living organisms.

Because distilled water is so pure, it is almost tasteless and may seem bland in comparison to tap or bottled water. Because all the minerals have been removed, distilled water does not provide the healthy minerals that our bodies need, like calcium. It may even draw small amounts of these minerals from our teeth or blood to maintain a chemical balance .

Generally, people who have a healthy diet will not experience a mineral deficiency from drinking distilled water. We get all the minerals we need from the food we eat. People who are prone to mineral deficiencies should take supplements to ensure that they remain healthy.

Distilled water is, therefore, perfectly safe to drink and will not affect your health in any way. Albeit not the tastiest water you can get.

Apart from drinking, there many everyday uses for distilled water in our homes, science labs, hospitals, and auto shops.

10 Everyday Uses for Distilled Water

You will probably be fascinated to discover how useful distilled water is. Here are 10 common uses for distilled water. Some may be of great use to you in your home.

Hydration - It is recommended that we drink 8 to 12 glasses water per day. Distilled water is a clean, pure source of water which is necessary for hydration.
Sterile Medical Use - Because distilled water is sterile, it is used extensively by doctors and in hospitals. You may want to consider keeping distilled water as part of your first aid kit. Here are some common medical uses for distilled water:

Cleaning Medical Instruments. It’s sterility and the absence of minerals makes distilled water ideal for cleaning medical instruments. It won’t contaminate the equipment, nor will it leave spots or residue from minerals in the water.
Scrubbing. It is important that doctors and surgeons scrub regularly to prevent cross infections and the spread of bacteria. Distilled water is very hygienic, making it excellent for scrubbing.
Treating Wounds. Being sterile, distilled water is free from bacteria and pathogens. This makes it excellent for cleaning wounds that could become infected from contaminants in regular water.

Laboratory Use - Samples tested in a laboratory cannot contain anything that might contaminate the sample and affect the outcome of an experiment or chemical analysis. Because distilled water is pure, it is frequently used in laboratories for diluting and cleaning.

Distilled water is PH neutral, with a 7PH. This means that it is neither alkaline nor acidic. As a result, it will not the affect the PH of samples that are being tested. It also won’t alter the results for chemical testing through mineral contamination.

Because laboratories require 100% accuracy, distilled water is crucial to ensuring zero sample contamination.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machines (CPAP) - Anyone suffering from sleep apnea, or living with someone who has it, will know how distressing it can be. This is a condition that causes people to stop breathing in their sleep. It is often a cause of snoring as well. Sleep apnea causes sleepless nights for the person suffering from the disorder and their partners.

CPAP machines manage sleep apnea by pumping air into a mask that placed over the nose and mouth. This maintains a constant positive air pressure, ensuring that you can breathe properly all night. It is the best way to get a good night’s sleep if you have sleep apnea. Millions of people depend on them.

Many CPAP machines have a humidifying function to help ease breathing. This requires that the user fills a tank on the machine with water. Minerals and other contaminants in regular tap water can cause buildup, blockages, and corrosion. Distilled water will prevent these issues which is why it is recommended for CPAP machines.
Use in Humidifiers - Just like the humidifier in a CPAP machine can be damaged by using contaminated water, so can your room humidifier. Humidifier manufacturers recommend using distilled water to prevent damage or blockages.

The humidifier will function optimally and last longer if you only use distilled water.
Auto Maintenance - While many car batteries are now maintenance-free, though some still require topping up with water. It is important to only use distilled water for lead acid batteries, as contaminants in regular water can damage the battery and shorten its lifespan.

If you’re going to add water to the cooling system in your car, distilled water is the best. It prevents mineral buildup that can block the system. It also reduces the chance of corrosion in your engine, water pump, and radiator.

While this may seem a little OCD, there are those who recommend washing your car with distilled water. It will prevent spots forming on the bodywork and will not tarnish the paint or trim.
Use in Cosmetics - Water is added to cosmetics, liquid soap, and shampoo. This gives it the perfect consistency.

Distilled water is used for cosmetics because it contains no contaminants, toxins, or microbes that could harm you.
Keep Your Fish healthy - Because fish are susceptible to toxins and bacteria in the water, it is good idea to use distilled water when you replace the water in your fish tank.

It is particularly useful to prevent your fish from harm caused by chlorine that is common in municipal water supplies.

When using distilled water for your fish tank, you may need to check the PH and possibly add minerals that could benefit your fish.
Ironing - Steam irons are really fantastic at removing creases in your clothes with minimal effort. Generally, manufacturers recommend using distilled water in steam irons. Some may suggest using a mixture of 50% tap water and 50% distilled water.

Using distilled water, prevents buildup and corrosion. This prolongs the lifespan of the iron and prevents nasty staining on your clothes.

More Obscure Uses for Distilled Water

You may already be aware of some of the uses for distilled water that I’ve mentioned. Here are a few that I bet you’ve never thought of:

Making superbly crystal clear ice cubes that are completely tasteless and won’t affect the taste of your cold beverages.
Pure baby food and milk formula.
Brewing beer.

The Best way to Make Distilled Water at Home

You can buy bottled distilled water, but it can be a bit expensive and not always that easy to find. If you intend using distilled water regularly or in large volumes, buying a quality water distiller could be your best option.

There are quite a few water distillers commercially available. Some can be expensive but are really great machines. High-end water distillers are usually made from stainless steel to ensure that your distilled water remains contaminant-free.

Generally, these are countertop devices that you plug into an electrical socket. Larger, commercial units are available, but most home users prefer the ease and practicality of a countertop water distiller.

A home water distiller is really easy to use. You fill the reservoir with water, switch it on and let the machine do its work. The water will be heated until it boils, and then condensed. The process can take some time, depending on how much water you are distilling and how effective your distiller is.

If you intend buying a water distiller for your home, do your homework. A high-quality product may cost more, but these will usually last longer and might be more efficient. Even if you have a limited budget, you can find a decent distiller that is more affordable.

Buying a cheap water distiller will take a bit more research as you don’t want to buy cheap junk. That’s just an outright waste of money. Get some advice and read trusted water distiller reviews to get a good idea of what your options are before making a decision.

Water distillers are not that complicated, they all do pretty much the same job, so you won’t get inferior distilled water if you buy a cheap water distiller. The issue is really about quality – how long the machine will last. A more efficient water distiller will end up being cheaper to use in the long run as they will use less electricity. Some machines may also be more effective, distilling a larger amount of water in a shorter time.