Is Dehumidifier Water Good for Plants? Find Out
Dehumidifiers are often used to keep the humidity levels in homes low during the summer months, but some homeowners also use them year-round. The water that is collected by dehumidifiers drains out of the unit and into a sink or laundry tub, where it can usually be dumped down the drain with little risk to human health.
But for the plants that you consume, say, capsicum, tomato, chillis, don’t use the water from the dehumidifier. If you own a small kitchen garden, do not consider using dehumidifier water.
But if you own a garden with plants that are not for consumption purposes, you can use the dehumidifier water after boiling it. That being said, let’s see some other ways to treat dehumidifier water before using it.
Dehumidifier Water Treatment Tips
If you plan on using dehumidifier water to irrigate your houseplants or your garden, you will need to treat it first. Here are some guidelines for treating dehumidifier water:
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1. Boiling the water
Boiling the dehumidifier water will help remove the harmful substances, killing bacteria in the water. Heat the water at 100 degrees Celcius for at least 10-15 minutes, you’ll notice white residue on the surface of the water.
Use a cloth and drain the water in a different container, that’s it. You can now use this water for watering plants that are not edible.
2. Adding a pinch of salt to the water
Citrates in the salt will reduce the solubility and absorption of metals from water. The citrate serves as a chelating agent, which means that it binds to metal ions and prevents them from discoloring or damaging the plants.
3. Letting the water sit for a day
The water will usually clear up after sitting undisturbed overnight. Clear dehumidifier water can be used, but it should be discarded if it has bits of white floating in it.
When boiling your dehumidifier water, remember that some bacteria will remain even after boiling. This is why it’s crucial to allow the water to cool before using it on plants or adding it to your compost bin.
Alternative Uses For Dehumidifier Water
Dehumidifier water is good for more than just watering plants. Here are some alternative uses:
1. Cleaning floors
Dehumidifier water can be used to remove stuck-on dirt from floors. The minerals and chemicals left behind will not damage your flooring material, so that you can use it as a spot cleaner for tile, linoleum, wood, and other types of flooring.
2. Cleaning windows
Dehumidifier water can be used to clean windows. Water with a high mineral content will leave streaks on glass if it is not allowed to dry thoroughly, so you might need to use distilled water for this purpose instead.
If you prefer using dehumidifier water over distilled water, just be sure that the window has been dried completely.
3. Making your own steam cleaner
Dehumidifier water can be used to make your own steam cleaner by mixing it with vinegar. All you have to do is boil about a cup of the water, mix in two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar, and use the mixture in your steam cleaner or steamer to clean walls, fabric, tile, grout, and other surfaces.
4. Car wash
If you want to give your car a quick wash, mix about 1/2 cup of dehumidifier water with one gallon of water in a bucket, then use this solution for rinsing your car or washing it down.
5. Toilet Flush
You can use the dehumidifier water in your toilet tank to flush. Just add about half a cup of it into the tank, and you shouldn’t experience any clogs or other problems with your toilet’s plumbing system.
Can you drink dehumidifier water?
No matter how tempting it is to use dehumidifier water on your thirsty plants, you shouldn’t consider drinking it. Dehumidifier water can contain high amounts of minerals and chemicals that accumulate in the unit over time.
These pollutants may not be visible to the naked eye, but they can still pose risks to your health, so it is best to use dehumidifier water only for other purposes, not for drinking or watering your plants.
So…Is Dehumidifier Water Good for Plants?
Not dehumidifier water is not suitable for edible plants at all. Dehumidifiers contain various parts made up of heavy metals, and when the water passes through such metals, it is not considered safe for edible plants.
Boiling the water may help only a little, but it won’t remove the heavy metals present in the water that is visible to the naked eye.
You can use the water for other purposes listed above and use only fresh water for your plants. If you are a grower, you will know this already, but if you didn’t, now you do. Share this with your grower community as well.