1. Your pet’s water bowl. Regular tap water is fine. Distilled water? Some vets say it’s okay in a pinch, but it lacks fluoride and minerals your furball needs. Stick to tap.
2. Your houseplants. Oh boy, this is a trap. Plants love distilled water for a week, then they start looking sad. They need minerals to grow! Only use distilled for super delicate carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps.
3. Baby formula. Pediatricians often recommend distilled or purified water because it’s sterile. But don’t use it exclusively—babies need fluoride for teeth. Check with your doctor.
4. The fish tank. Please, for the love of Nemo, don’t use distilled water. Your fish need trace minerals to regulate their body fluids. They will die. (Actually, they’ll swell up and die from osmotic shock. It’s grim.)
5. A long road trip. If your car’s radiator is low, distilled is perfect. Regular tap leaves mineral crust that can clog your engine. So stash a jug in the trunk—but don’t drink it.
