How to make distilled water at home

Imagine you’re standing in your kitchen, eyeing the tap water and pondering if it’s pure enough for your new air humidifier or that delicate plant you’re trying to nurture. You’ve heard that distilled water is the best choice for both health and equipment longevity but aren’t keen on buying bottles from the store every time you need it. With a hint of curiosity and a desire for sustainability, you wonder: How can I make distilled water at home without any special equipment?

To make distilled water at home, you can use a simple process of boiling water and capturing the steam. Here’s how to do it: Fill a large pot with water, placing a heat-safe bowl in the center. Once the water comes to a boil, cover the pot with a lid turned upside down, allowing the steam to condense and drip into the bowl, effectively collecting distilled water.

To create distilled water at home, start by gathering your materials. You’ll need a large pot, a heat-safe bowl that can float in the pot without touching the bottom, and a lid that fits snugly on the pot. Fill the pot with tap water but ensure that the water level is low enough so that the bowl, when placed inside, won’t submerge. Then, take the lid and turn it upside down, which will create a sloped surface for the condensate to drip into the bowl.

Next, place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a gentle boil. As the water heats up, steam will rise, hitting the lid and condensing back into liquid. The inverted lid allows the water vapor to drip into the middle bowl, where it will collect as distilled water. Keep an eye on the water level in the pot, adding more if necessary, but be cautious not to let it boil dry.

Once you’ve collected enough water, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Allow the bowl to cool before transferring the distilled water into clean, storage containers. This method is effective in producing small batches of distilled water, perfect for home use, especially for devices requiring purified water or for any experiments where impurities might interfere with results. Plus, it’s an eco-friendly option that limits plastic waste!