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Member since 5/30/13
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Re: Dehumidifier water in steam iron? (posted on 5/23/16 7:11 AM ET)
I was listening to a sewing or quilting podcast last week, can't remember which one, and using water from a dehumidifier instead of purchased distilled water in your iron was recommended.

Seems to make sense, and I can't think of any drawbacks (beyond some of the arguments of tap v. distilled, but let's not go there) to doing this. Does anyone here do this? or know of any reason you shouldn't?
-- Edited on 5/23/16 at 8:47 AM --
-- Edited on 5/23/16 at 9:05 AM --
  
Member since 4/4/05
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Posted on: 5/23/16 8:28 AM ET
In reply to Addierecoy
I think you mean "DEhumidifier water" and I've often wondered the same thing!

As a gardener I regularily use dehumidifier water on a potted bog garden with no problems (the plants are very sensitive to treated water of any kind so distilled or rain water are the only waters to use on bog plantings.) no idea about irons though.
  
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Posted on: 5/23/16 8:30 AM ET
In reply to Addierecoy
My only concern would be mold. We have to put something in the container of our DEhumidifier to keep it from growing out of control.
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Posted on: 5/23/16 8:48 AM ET
In reply to m/m
Yes, yes I did.

Edited, thank you.
  
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Posted on: 5/23/16 11:31 AM ET
If your steam iron says distilled water is recommended, I see no reason why not. However if you have pets or other ways for crud to get in the tray, perhaps filtering it might be a good idea. Our dehumidifier tray fits fairly close in the brackets, but somehow, hair and other debris can make it's way in sometimes.
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Posted on: 5/23/16 12:56 PM ET
In reply to Addierecoy
For me it would depend on the condensing surface of the dehumidifier -- if it's metal, I probably wouldn't use it because metallic compounds can foul irons and stain fabrics.

Many modern irons specify tap water, and if you use distilled water, you're likely to shorten the lifespan of the iron.

  
Member since 12/3/06
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Posted on: 5/23/16 3:02 PM ET
Distilled water is inexpensive. I use the empties for rainwater watering of indoor plants.
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OLD CHINESE PROVERB: I HEAR & I FORGET; I SEE & I REMEMBER; I DO & I UNDERSTAND.
  
Member since 6/18/12
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Posted on: 5/24/16 7:44 AM ET
I use dehumidifier water on my plants too. I haven't put it in an iron though- I just use tap water in it.
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karen
  
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Posted on: 5/24/16 9:08 AM ET
In reply to Addierecoy
I thought about using the dehumidifier water in my gravity feed iron and looked it up on line. The warnings were very negative! Mostly concerned with contaminates like mold. Irons make steam, putting the mold spores back into the air around you. Not one supposed expert thought it was a good thing to do. Most thought using the water for plants was ok, but not all.
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Nancy
  
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