ChatterBank0 min ago
Distilled Water/white Vinegar
34 Answers
I've just bought an all singing, all dancing steam cleaner which will do almost all of my cleaning and ironing without the need to buy cleaning products - it's good make (morphy richards) and I'd like to look after it. The instructions (and guarantee) insist on the use of distilled de-ionised water. Very expensive to buy if I'm to use the appliance as much as I intend to. It's been suggested a cup of white vinegar mixed with the tap water when I do windows is as good as using distilled water all the time - would appreciate any advice as to whether or not you think this is okay for my new toy - (a domestic goddess I'm not!) I live in a fairly hard water area. Oh yes, and if vinegar is recommended what's best, apple cider vinegar or common or garden white vinegar? Thank you.
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.As someone who lives in a hard water area I am sick to death of every machine from kettle, to iron, to washing machine getting clocked up with limescale. I certainly would not put hard water into your new machine rsvp. Common or garden white vinegar will need to be added to your tap water or use bottled water. I would do the former. Good luck.
Ok :) Personally I don't think it will be as good as using distilled water and your machine will fur up more quickly. Water boiled in the kettle (save the odds and ends when you make a hot drink) has less hardness left in it and might be ok. White vinegar (or brown for that matter) does dissolve the salts in hard water and can be used to clean steam irons and the like but it doesn't remove them and when the steam is made in the machine (well water vapour actually), it leaves any salts or other matter behind, so I don't see how using vinegar would help.
Although acetic acid (vinegar) works as a brightner by dissolving lime residues in dishwashers, it will not prevent the build up of deposits in your steamer and may well damage it. Deionised water is not as pure as distilled water as it may contain small amounts of organic/ non-ionic substances which might produce stains. If the makers say de-ionised is ok and it is satisfactory for you then use it.
The active ingredient in all vinegar is acetic acid. This will dissolve the calcium compounds that will attach themselves in the hotplate in the steam unit.
However, although acetic acid breaks down into water and carbon products when boiled, it strikes me that if you are implying you will put acid in during steam ironing sessions you will end up squirting dilute acid into your clothes, which may rot the fabric.
Can't see that being a good idea.
For the record, white vinegars are the most pure. Other brown ones have caramel and other natural or inserted flavours in them, that may well gum up the innards of the iron.
However, although acetic acid breaks down into water and carbon products when boiled, it strikes me that if you are implying you will put acid in during steam ironing sessions you will end up squirting dilute acid into your clothes, which may rot the fabric.
Can't see that being a good idea.
For the record, white vinegars are the most pure. Other brown ones have caramel and other natural or inserted flavours in them, that may well gum up the innards of the iron.