It doesn’t matter if you drink distilled water on a daily basis or if you only buy it occasionally to use in your steam iron; at some point, you’ve probably asked yourself this question. Does distilled water go bad?
If you distill water at home using a steam distiller, you’ve probably given some thought on more than one occasion to the possibility of putting some of it away in case of an unexpected circumstance. You most likely did not know the best way to go about doing that.
Or, it’s possible that you only use water that has been distilled on an as-needed basis to refill the humidifier or any other household appliance that calls for it. And after some time had passed, you started to get curious about whether the half-full container of distilled water that you had purchased from the store ever goes bad. You are concerned about the condition of your home appliances and want to make sure they are in the best shape possible, even though no one will ever drink the water.
In any case, if you have any inquiries or uncertainties regarding the storage, shelf life, or “going bad” of distilled water, then you will find the answers you seek in this article.
However, before we begin, I would like to bring to your attention the fact that there is a great deal of debate regarding whether or not it is healthy for humans to consume distilled water. Because it is not pertinent to the discussion at hand, I will not go into any further detail about that in this article. In other words, the choice of whether or not to drink water that has been distilled is entirely up to you. Even if you are only going to use it for household appliances, you will still find some information in this article that will be helpful to you.
How to Preserve Water That Has Been Distilled
The fundamental recommendations for storing “plain” water and distilled water are extremely comparable to one another. Store the bottle or container that has not been opened in a cool location that is out of direct sunlight. Once you’ve opened it, you should always make sure to keep the container tightly sealed when it’s not being used.
Keeping Distilled Water Available for Use in Household Appliances
Let’s talk about the different ways besides drinking that water can be stored. If this is the case, then you should keep the product away from any solvents or chemicals, including gasoline, paint thinners, household cleaners, and dry cleaning chemicals. Simply to err on the side of caution.
It is recommended that you use a container made of high-density polyethylene if you intend to keep the distilled water for an extended period of time. Obviously, if you’re only going to be storing a few ounces at a time for ironing, there’s no point in purchasing one of these.
Storing Distilled Water for Drinking
In the event that you intend to consume the water that you distill at home, it is recommended that you store it in a glass container. This is due to the fact that the majority of home water distillers feature a glass tank. However, a plastic bottle that is approved for food use and does not contain BPA will work just as well.
If you want to store some water in case of an emergency, you can do so in either one large container or a couple of smaller containers. Either option will serve its purpose. Remember to check that they are designed to come into contact with food. Even though it is believed that distilled water can remain risk-free indefinitely as long as it is kept in an airtight container, I would still recommend replacing it every few months just to be safe. Especially if it’s stored in a container made of plastic.
How Long Is the Shelf Life of Distilled Water?
When stored correctly, bottled distilled water can be kept for an almost indefinite amount of time, just like regular water.
When it comes to distilled or purified water that is designed to be used in home appliances, it can easily last for several years when it has not been opened, and it can last for another year or two after it has been opened as long as it is properly cared for. There is no point in getting worked up about the possibility that the water used in your steam iron will “go bad” and cause damage to the appliance in some way.
If you distill water at home, the water will probably be at its highest quality somewhere between seven and ten days after distillation. After that amount of time, it might start to have a slightly rancid smell. Even though it can technically be consumed at this point, it is recommended that you get rid of it and start over with a new batch.
How To Determine If Water That Has Been Distilled Has Gone Bad
In a nutshell, if the distilled water was stored correctly, it ought to be completely safe for consumption as well as for use in the various appliances found in the home. But as I’ve already mentioned, after a few days of opening the bottle or distilling the water, it might start to “smell” ever so slightly, and as a result, it won’t taste very good. This could happen even if the water hasn’t been exposed to any contaminants. In most cases, the problem lies more with the container than it does with the water itself.
However, you should throw away the distilled water if you find that the smell of the water has changed noticeably or if you discover that any impurities have made their way into the container. The same thing applies if it has an odd taste. You are free to use the water if it is appropriate for use in appliances, appears normal, and smells normal.
