I know, I know—distilled water costs money at the store. A gallon is maybe a buck or two, and that feels annoying. But consider this: a brand-new humidifier costs anywhere from $30 to $100.
If you use tap water, you might be buying a new humidifier every winter because the old one gets clogged and stops working. Using distilled water is like giving your humidifier a spa vacation every time you fill it up. Plus, you’ll never have to scrub that weird, slimy, white gunk out of the tank again. Sounds worth it, right?
But Wait—What If You’re Broke Right Now?
Hey, I get it. Not everyone can run out and buy a pallet of distilled water. If you’re in a pinch, boiling tap water and letting it cool is a decent shortcut. Boiling kills some bacteria and helps volatile gases escape, but it doesn’t remove the minerals.
7 Solutions for ultrasonic humidifier problems
A better trick? Use a demineralization cartridge or a filter puck that fits in your tank. It’s like a Brita filter for your humidifier, and it catches most of the bad stuff. It’s not as perfect as distilled, but it’s way better than straight tap water.
