The essential cleaning supply is water! However, should you use tap water without any treatment? Usually, tap water is clean enough to use in your housework. However, in some areas of Illinois State, the hardness of water can reach an extremely high level!
Does it mean that you can’t use tap water for cleaning? Not exactly! But using distilled water has many benefits over mineral-filled tap water. Learn here how using distilled water in your chores could benefit you!
Distilled vs. tap water: What’s the difference?
All tap and bottled water are treated (or purified) to remove contaminants. Tap water is usually safe to use, but it doesn’t mean it’s pure—as it always contains minerals dissolved. However, this is not necessarily a bad thing.
On the other hand:
Distilled water is also purified, but with a different method. The process is similar to the water cycle. The water first boils into steam. Then, it condensates into liquid again, but with the contaminants left behind.
In other words, distilled water is “purer” than tap water. And this difference increases depending on how “hard” the water is.
Let’s speak more about the hardness of water.
Hardness of water
Water can be “harder” or “softer,” depending on the number of minerals dissolved in it. As mentioned above, the hardness of water can reach high levels in Illinois. On the other hand, distilled water removes all those minerals found in tap water during the distillation process.
Hard water is not necessarily worse. The main minerals found in hard water (calcium and magnesium) are essential nutrients!
However:
Natural minerals found in hard water might be a drawback for cleaning. Here is how tap water can affect your chores!
Benefits of using distilled water for cleaning
When it comes to cleaning, mineral deposits in tap water can have subtle reactions. Of course, using distilled water for cleaning is not mandatory, but it can benefit you in some specific chores!
Here are some benefits that you can get with distilled water!
1. Streak-free window cleaning
Mineral deposits in tap water might end up as streaks! If you are using a commercial window cleaner, make sure to rinse the glass with distilled water. Otherwise, you are just replacing the chemical residue of the cleaner with mineral residue in the water!
In the same way, if you are rinsing a glass or a stainless steel surface, use distilled water to avoid streaks! Also, remember to use distilled water in any DIY glass cleaner you make. It will reduce the probability of window streaks!
2. Soap works better with distilled water
Usually, soap builds less lather in mineral-filled tap water. Soap depends on complex chemical reactions between the soap and the dirt molecules. However, when minerals like calcium are present in the water, they react with soap and reduce its cleaning power!
3. Distilled water can maintain vinegar acidity
Do you like to do your own cleaning products? Then, you might be familiar with all the uses vinegar has for cleaning! Many of the DIY recipes out there involve white vinegar and water. However, hard water is usually alkaline and might not mix well with vinegar.
What does this mean? In a broad sense, you are balancing vinegar’s acidity by mixing it with alkaline water. Vinegar is great for some cleaning chores because it’s acidic, and distilled water can maintain it that way!
Learn more cleaning tips with Illinois Valley Clean Team
Illinois Valley Clean Team is an experienced residential cleaning company in the Illinois Valley area. You can find helpful tips and advice on our blog page. Let us share what we’ve learned with you!
Or do you need a hand with your cleaning chores? Let Illinois Valley Clean Team clean your home for you! Request an estimate right now!
