4 ways to reuse dehumidifying water around the house, recommended by experts

Are you getting the most out of your dehumidifier? Yes, you may be doing a great job at preventing moisture and mold, but are you putting the liters of water you collect to good use? If not, these are four ways you can put dehumidifying water to good use around the house.

Some of the best dehumidifiers can extract up to 25 liters of water from the air per day. If you run your machine all day and use it to dry clothes in the winter, that means a lot of water to drain.

Water bills are set to rise by £94 over the next five years, so it pays to get into good habits now and save money at home by reusing some of that water for other household tasks.

The water that comes out of your dehumidifier is not safe for human consumption.

“This water, often called ‘grey water’, is not like tap water – it’s essentially condensed moisture from the air,” points out Fiona Beck, money saving expert at Ocean Finance.

“They can contain dust, bacteria or even traces of metals from the device components making them unsafe for drinking or cooking, but they can be incredibly useful in other ways.” We asked the experts and these are the four things you can safely reuse dehumidifier water for.

1. Watering the plants

Watering your plants with dehumidifying water is a smart and sustainable way to save money.

Some plants like orchids thrive on gray water, but before you put them on your flower beds, Fiona recommends looking at how to make your own dehumidifier.

“One great use is watering your plants, just be sure to check if your dehumidifier has a metal coil or has been treated with any chemicals like antifreeze,” she says.

“This can add small amounts of lead, making contamination dangerous, so avoid using it on edible plants such as herbs or vegetables. For ornamental plants, it’s ideal. If you’re not sure, check your dehumidifier’s manual.”

2. Use it to fill the iron

“It is excellent for filling irons or humidifiers because it is already distilled and will not cause limescale buildup.” “If you use dehumidifier water regularly, clean the collection tank thoroughly every week to keep it bacteria-free,” says Fiona.

Minerals in water cause limescale, so by using dehumidifier water, your iron will work more efficiently and you can descale your iron less.

3. Clean your house

You may have the idea that dehumidifier water is dirty, because it comes from absorbing moisture from the air. However, it can actually be an effective tool when it comes to mopping floors.

“Dehumidifier water is soft water and can be used to clean all types of surfaces such as windows, furniture and floors,” says Julia Gosson, home technology writer at Ideal Home and interior dehumidification expert.

Plus, since this water is virtually mineral-free, it won’t leave streaks or stains in its wake. However, be careful not to use up the dehumidifier water, so you should avoid using it for jobs like washing dishes, for example.

If you live in an area with hard water, you’ll know all about limescale lines that negate your cleaning work. What’s more, soft water is easier to lather and doesn’t leave soap residue behind.

4. To dilute the antifreeze

Dehumidifier water can also be used to dilute your car’s antifreeze. This is for the same reason that dehumidifier water is good to use in an iron.

Antifreeze is needed because cold temperatures can cause the engine to freeze and crack, leading to damage.

It lacks the minerals that cause limescale buildup inside your car’s cooling systems. As the weather cools, you’ll likely need to top up your antifreeze and replacing your tap water with gray water can help save on your water bills.

Our favorite dehumidifiers

Next time you empty your dehumidifier, why not stop and think about what cleaning tasks you can complete using water?