7 Distilled Water Benefits and Uses (More Than Just Drinking!)

Purified, distilled, whatever—water is water, right? Actually, distilled water has some unique benefits and uses that other types of water don’t.

These aren’t all limited to health and nutrition, either. Distilled water is also (uniquely) helpful for watering plants and washing your hair.

It has automotive uses as well and is the only type of water that can be used in certain medical devices. Believe it or not, it even improves the look of your ice cubes!

And that’s not all. The guide below lists all sorts of other distilled water benefits that you never knew. Read on to learn all about it.

What Makes Distilled Water Unique?

The unique benefits listed below are due to the process used to obtain distilled water. Namely, it’s derived by boiling water and allowing the steam to condense so it can be collected.

As a result, distilled water is the purest type of water with no impurities at all. Even the minerals that are normally contained in purified drinking water are not present in distilled water.

Distilled water is available in bottles or jugs at the grocery store. You can also make it at home with a personal water distiller system like this one from Durastill.

1. Make Superior Ice Cubes

Has this ever happened to you? You put ice cubes in your drink to keep it cool. A few minutes later the drink tastes, well, not the same.

That’s because the tap water you use for your ice cubes contains chlorine, fluoride, and all sorts of other minerals/chemicals. Such things are even found in filtered water. These extra ingredients can significantly alter the flavor of any drink you put them in.

But distilled water contains only pure water. Thus, it won’t affect your drink’s flavor in the slightest. As a bonus, the ice cubes themselves are crystal-clear rather than cloudy.

2. Distilled Water Is Better For Baking

For the same reason, distilled water is best in every recipe. It doesn’t mask or add to the flavor of the recipe. Instead, it brings out the flavors that are actually supposed to be there.

This is even more true of drink recipes. For instance, why would you want your lemonade or coffee to taste like tap water? Distilled water makes for way more enjoyable beverages.

3. Protect Your Appliances

Because of their high mineral content, other types of water can leave mineral residue behind after they dry. This is especially true of the hard water that comes out of the tap in some homes.

If such water is used in any of your appliances, the mineral buildup they leave behind can cause problems. For instance, the buildup can wear out, clog, and eventually break your coffee machine. 

But, since distilled water contains no minerals, it won’t leave any residue behind to cause buildup. This can save you a lot of money because it allows your appliances to last longer.

4. Cleaning

Mineral deposits also get left behind when you use tap water to clean things. For example, this is what causes water spots on your dishes.

To that point, you wouldn’t even consider using tap water to clean your mirrors. What a streaky mess that would be.

You could, however, use distilled water. It contains no minerals or impurities whatsoever—nothing but pure water. So, after the water evaporates, there’s absolutely nothing left behind.

Even better, you’ll save money by using distilled water to clean glass surfaces in your home. That is, distilled water is a lot cheaper than good-quality window cleaner.

5. Washing Your Hair

Hard water residue certainly isn’t good for your hair and scalp, either. This can gunk up and weigh down your hair making it look flat, inflexible, and lifeless. It also makes the color look more pale/faded. 

All you have to do to fix this is rinse with distilled water when you shampoo.

6. Baby Formula

Do you buy powdered or condensed formula for your baby? If so, the formula mix itself contains all the minerals, vitamins, and nutrients he/she needs. 

More to the point, your baby certainly doesn’t need the laundry list of toxins that may be included in your tap water. Possible tap water contaminants include lead, arsenic, and viral/bacterial pathogens. Using distilled water to mix your baby formula instead keeps your baby safe from these hazards.

7. Water Your Plants

The benefits described above also apply when you use distilled water to water your plants. To reiterate, your plants enjoy a healthy dose of hydration that’s devoid of chemicals, minerals, and other contaminants.

Plus, your flowers will look brighter and more colorful than ever when they aren’t covered in water spots. There won’t be any health-hindering mineral buildup in your plants’ soil, either.

8. Breathe Cleaner Air

Do you use a humidifier or a CPAP machine? Distilled water is the only type of water you should use in these devices, ever.

Otherwise, the mineral buildup will eventually wreck them. And, more importantly, it’s not healthy to breathe in chlorine vapors or any other chemicals that might be lurking in your water.

9. Your Car’s Battery/Cooling System

Your car’s radiator, and in some cases, the battery, will sometimes need to be topped off with distilled water. The chemicals and minerals contained in all other types of water would unquestionably destroy these devices.

Remember These Distilled Water Benefits

Now that you know what you’ve been missing, don’t miss out on these distilled water benefits anymore. Instead, head to the store and stock up on distilled water at your earliest convenience.

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