How to make distilled water at home?

It is not uncommon to hear that water is important for your body and that you should always drink enough water every day to stay hydrated. That said, apart from the tap and bottled water, you can also drink distilled water. Of course, the latter is absolutely safe to drink, yet, it lacks the minerals you need because of the distillation process. Moreover, it has no flavor and it’s pretty flat. However, if you don’t mind the taste, know that you can make your own distilled water at home, and that’s what we are gonna talk about down below!

What is distilled water?

Distilled water is water that was first heated all the way to its boiling state, and then cooled down so it goes back to its liquid form. Distilled water is pretty much tasteless due to its minerals and salts that have been removed during the distillation process. Furthermore, this type of water is used in various medical practices, as well as with cars and other industrial parts.

You want to make your own distilled water but don’t know where to start? We have prepared 3 methods for you:

Glass bowl distill tap water

You only need a few things to make distilled water and feel free to use any heating element, such as a stove, fire pit, or grill.

The following are the things you’ll need beforehand:

A big pot made of aluminum or stainless steel
A pot lid with a rounded shape.
Cubes of ice
A glass bowl
A pair of oven mitts or hot pads to protect your hands later on in the process

Here’s what to do:

Pour the water into your big pot until it is halfway full.
Put the glass bowl into the pot. This will collect the water that will fall from the lid.
Place the lid on the pot upside down.
Bring the water to a boiling point. Don’t worry if you’re just heating the water to a high temperature without getting it to a boil, it will still work.
Put some ice cubes on top of the pot’s lid. This will create condensation which will cause the steam to transform back into the water. When that happens, the water will fall into your glass bowl.
Turn off the heat and carefully remove the glass bowl.
Let your distilled water cool down and store it in your fridge afterward.

How to make distilled Tap Water with Glass Bottles?

To make distilled water from glass bottles, first, you’ll need 2 glass bottles. Here are the steps to follow:

Fill tap water in one glass bottle around 5 inches (12.7 cm) from the tip.
Duct tape the tip of the 2nd bottle to the tip of the filled one.
Put the 2 bottles in a 5-gallon (18.927 L) stainless steel kettle, with the full one first.
Put enough water to cover the bottle that has water in it.
Lean the top empty bottle on the rim, which will tilt your bottle at a 30° angle. The angle will help you collect the distilled water
To accelerate the process, you can add a bag of ice on top of the empty bottle. This will cause a hot/cold effect on the evaporated water.
Keep distilling until you get enough distilled water.

Changing rainwater to drinking water

Another way to make distilled water is using rainwater, it is easy and also helps you save some money. Here are the steps to follow:

First and foremost, you will need to collect rainwater. To do so, you just need to place a big enough container outside your home and wait until it rains.
Wait around 2 days after the rain before collecting your rainwater. It will allow some time for the minerals to dissipate.
Put the water in a few clean bottles and store them in the fridge.

Please note rainwater is not always 100% pure, as it can contain some contaminants and bacteria. We recommend filtering or boiling your rainwater before drinking it.

Is boiled water the same as distilled water?

The simple answer is no, as they are entirely different. On one hand, you have boiled water that has had its temperature raised to its boiling point. This process destroys most bacteria but doesn’t remove the minerals. On the other hand, distilled water (or purified water) went through a distillation process that removed all the impurities, and that includes minerals and microorganisms.

What are the side effects of distilled water?

Aside from its flat (and boring) taste, distilled water won’t provide you with the minerals you need like magnesium and calcium. If you often drink this type of water, it can create a slight change in the minerals that were already in your body. But don’t worry, if you already have a common diet, you shouldn’t be lacking minerals from drinking purified water. On a last note, it is a good idea to drink bottled water in case you want to follow your recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables.