Distilled water is often associated with steam irons, CPAP machines and car batteries, but it can also be surprisingly useful in everyday beauty, cleaning and household routines.
Because distilled water has had the vast majority of minerals removed, it can help reduce limescale, mineral residue and white marks in a wide range of applications. Here are 10 practical distilled water hacks worth knowing.
1. Use distilled water as a final hair rinse in hard water areas
If you live in a hard water area, your tap water may contain higher levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Some people use distilled water as a final rinse after washing their hair to help avoid mineral residue being left behind.
This is especially useful if your hair feels dull, heavy or coated after washing. Distilled water is not a hair treatment, but it can be a simple way to finish your routine with mineral-free water.
2. Refresh curls between washes
Curly and wavy hair routines often involve refreshing the hair between washes using a spray bottle. Using distilled water in your refresh spray can help avoid the mineral build-up that may come from regular tap water, especially in hard water areas.
3. Make your own facial mist or beauty spray
Distilled water can be used as a base for DIY facial mists, beauty sprays and simple skincare-style sprays because it is low in dissolved minerals.
If you are using distilled water in a homemade beauty mix, always use clean equipment, make small batches and avoid storing homemade products for long periods unless you understand safe preservation.
4. Use distilled water in facial steamers and beauty devices
Many facial steamers and beauty devices work best with low-mineral water. Distilled water can help reduce limescale build-up inside the device compared with ordinary tap water.
If your device manual recommends distilled or purified water, this is usually to help protect the appliance rather than to make beauty claims.
5. Get a streak-free finish on mirrors and glass
Distilled water is a useful cleaning hack for mirrors, windows, glass tables and shiny surfaces. Because it contains very low mineral content, it can help reduce the streaks and water marks that tap water may leave behind.
Use it when mixing homemade cleaning sprays or as a final rinse on surfaces where you want a cleaner finish.
6. Use distilled water in steam irons and garment steamers
This is one of the most popular uses for distilled water. Steam irons and garment steamers can suffer from limescale build-up when used with hard tap water. Distilled water helps reduce mineral deposits and can help protect the appliance over time.
For more detail, read our guide: Best Water for Steam Irons UK | Distilled vs Deionised.
7. Make clearer ice cubes for drinks
Using distilled water in ice cube trays can help create cleaner-looking ice because it contains fewer dissolved minerals than tap water. It may not make perfectly crystal-clear ice on its own, as freezing method also matters, but it is a simple trick for cocktails, iced coffee and summer drinks.
8. Mist delicate houseplants without white marks
If you mist houseplants with hard tap water, you may notice white mineral marks on the leaves. Distilled water can be a good option for misting delicate plants because it helps reduce mineral spotting.
Always check the care needs of your specific plant, as some plants have different watering requirements.
9. Use distilled water in humidifiers
Humidifiers, especially ultrasonic models, can sometimes leave white dust when used with mineral-rich tap water. Distilled water helps reduce this issue and can also help limit limescale build-up inside the appliance.
Read our full guide here: Best Water for Humidifiers UK: Tap vs Distilled.
10. Use distilled water for CPAP machines
Distilled water is commonly recommended for CPAP humidifier chambers because it helps reduce scale and mineral deposits. This can make cleaning easier and help keep the water chamber in better condition.
If you use a CPAP machine regularly, buying distilled water in multipacks can be more convenient than buying small bottles from supermarkets.
You may also find our guide useful: Where to Buy Distilled Water in the UK.
Shop Our Distilled Water
| Product | Best For |
|---|---|
| 5 Litre Distilled Water – Single Bottle | Occasional use, beauty devices, hair rinses and cleaning sprays |
| 2 Pack 5L Distilled Water – 10L Total | Humidifiers, garment steamers and regular home use |
| 3 Pack 5L Distilled Water – 15L Total | Regular users, CPAP machines and multiple appliances |
| 4 Pack 5L Distilled Water – 20L Total | Best value for frequent users, salons and multi-device households |
Where to buy distilled water in the UK
The Somerset Clear Water Company supplies distilled water across the UK, including 5L bottles and larger multipacks for regular use.
Whether you need distilled water for beauty devices, hair routines, humidifiers, steam irons, CPAP machines or general household use, ordering direct can be a convenient alternative to trying to find it in supermarkets.
View our distilled water collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Can distilled water be used for hair?
Some people use distilled water as a final hair rinse, especially in hard water areas. It is not a treatment, but it can help avoid mineral residue from ordinary tap water.
Can I use distilled water in a facial steamer?
Yes, many facial steamers recommend distilled or purified water to help reduce limescale and mineral build-up inside the device. Always check your appliance manual first.
Can distilled water be used for cleaning?
Yes, distilled water is useful for mixing cleaning sprays and for cleaning mirrors, windows and glossy surfaces where you want to reduce streaks and mineral marks.
Is distilled water good for humidifiers?
Distilled water is often recommended for humidifiers because it can help reduce limescale and white mineral dust compared with tap water.
Where can I buy distilled water online?
You can buy distilled water online from The Somerset Clear Water Company, with UK delivery available across a range of sizes.
Looking for high-quality distilled water in the UK?
The Somerset Clear Water Company supplies lab-tested distilled water in convenient 5L bottles and multipacks, with free next working day delivery available across the UK.
Whether you need distilled water for beauty devices, humidifiers, steam irons, CPAP machines, cleaning or everyday household use, we offer a range of sizes to suit both occasional and regular users.
Browse our distilled water collection here