🔥 Is Distilled Water Just Boiled Water? The Key Differences Explained

A very common question we see online is:

“Is distilled water just boiled water?”

The short answer is no — boiled water and distilled water are not the same.
They’re made in completely different ways and have very different purity levels.

Here’s the simple explanation.

💧 What Is Boiled Water?

Boiled water is simply tap water heated to 100°C.
Boiling:

• Kills bacteria

• Removes some dissolved gases

But it does not remove:

• Minerals

• Salts

• Metals

• Chemical contaminants

• Limescale-causing ions

So boiled water is safer to drink — but not purified.

💧 What Is Distilled Water?

Distilled water goes through a much more advanced purification process:

1. Water is boiled until it becomes steam

2. The steam rises and leaves contaminants behind

3. The steam is cooled and condensed back into pure liquid water

This produces ultra-pure water that is:

• Free from minerals

• Free from salts

• Free from most organic compounds

• Ideal for sensitive appliances and scientific use

If you'd like a full comparison between distilled and deionised water, see our guide:
👉 Distilled vs Deionised Water — What’s the Difference?

🔍 Key Differences at a Glance

Here are the main differences between boiled water and distilled water:

Boiled water DOES NOT:

• Remove minerals

• Remove salts

• Remove metals

• Remove chemical contaminants

• Prevent limescale

Distilled water DOES:

• Remove minerals

• Remove salts

• Remove metals

• Remove most organic compounds

• Provide ultra-high purity suitable for appliances

And importantly:

• Both kill bacteria, but

• Only distilled water is suitable for appliances and sensitive equipment

🔧 When Distilled Water Is the Right Choice

Distilled water is recommended for:

• CPAP machines

• Steam irons

• Humidifiers

• Car batteries

• Cooling systems

• Cosmetics and skincare

• Laboratory work

• Dental equipment

Using tap water or boiled water in these applications can cause:

• Limescale buildup

• Mineral deposits

• Reduced appliance performance

• Shortened lifespan

For advice on choosing the right water for your iron, read our helpful guide:
👉 Best Water for Steam Irons — Distilled vs Deionised

🇬🇧 Why Choose The Somerset Clearwater Company?

At The Somerset Clearwater Company, we produce all our distilled water in-house in Somerset, ensuring consistent purity and reliable quality.

You get:

• UK-made distilled water

• Batch-tested purity

• Fresh production

• 5L, 10L & 25L sizes

• Fast nationwide delivery

🛒 Shop Distilled Water →

🚚 Ready to Order?

Browse our UK-manufactured distilled water for home, laboratory, and commercial use.

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