Uses for dehumidifier water

If you have a basement and live in anywhere but the desert then chances are you have a dehumidifier or two that run in warm weather. Now a dehumidifier pulls water vapor from the air and turns it into basically distilled water. It is not drinkable because it may have bacteria from the machine and the collection bucket. It is also not ideal for plants, especially edible plants, because it could have metals from the machine but that doesn't mean you need to throw it out. Many people will tell you to use it in your iron to avoid hard water deposits. I also use it for mopping floors since, unlike tap water, it won't leave any deposits. You could also use it to wash off stoops (something we do a lot of here thanks to free range chickens always peeking in the backdoor to see if any treats are coming). I mist my houseplants with a spray bottle of it when they start to look dusty. The fact that it is distilled water means it won't leave hard water deposits on the leaves. It's deposit free nature also makes it ideal for rinsing windows or a spot free shine on your car. I mop the floor of the basement with it once or twice a year. If you really want to save water you can refill the tank on your toilet bowl after you flush. And some people pre-soak especially dirty laundry in it. Remember to minimize contaminants and increase efficiency by cleaning any filters on your dehumidifier regularly. This will also increase the life of your appliance. With all these great uses you may find emptying the bucket to be slightly less of a hassle.