Distilled water is extremely pure water with almost all minerals and impurities removed, while regular drinking water (tap or bottled) still contains dissolved minerals, treatment additives like chlorine or fluoride, and tiny amounts of other substances within safety limits. Both are generally safe to drink, but they differ in taste, mineral content, and best use.

What each type of water is

  • Distilled water
    • Made by boiling water and condensing the steam so that nearly all dissolved minerals, salts, and many contaminants are left behind.
* Result is very low‑mineral, very low‑contaminant water, often used in labs, medical equipment, steam irons, humidifiers, and car batteries.
  • Drinking water (tap or bottled)
    • Treated to be safe for human consumption, usually by filtration and disinfection (like chlorine or UV), and must meet local quality standards.
* Often contains natural minerals like calcium and magnesium and may include added fluoride for dental health in many municipal systems.

Key differences at a glance

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Aspect Distilled water Drinking water
How it’s made Boiled, steam collected, condensed (distillation).Filtered and disinfected (tap) or processed/filtered and bottled.
Mineral content Almost no minerals or electrolytes.Contains natural minerals; sometimes marketed for mineral content.
Contaminants Very low; most dissolved solids, many chemicals, and microbes removed.Within regulated safety limits but can still have trace contaminants and hardness.
Fluoride Removed during distillation.Often added to tap water for cavity prevention in many regions.
Taste Very “flat” or neutral because minerals are absent.More “character” from minerals; some people prefer it for everyday drinking.
Common uses Medical devices, CPAPs, irons, car batteries, lab work, some cosmetics.Everyday drinking, cooking, making beverages.
Everyday hydration Safe if diet is balanced, but not necessary for most people.Generally preferred and more practical for daily drinking.

Health and safety angle

  • For most healthy adults:
    • Drinking distilled water is considered safe if you get enough minerals like calcium and magnesium from food rather than water.
* Because distilled water lacks fluoride, relying on it exclusively may slightly increase cavity risk if there is no other fluoride exposure and dental hygiene is poor.
  • For kids and mineral intake:
    • Very low‑mineral water (like distilled) does not contribute meaningful calcium or magnesium, so it is not a good way to support bone development on its own.
* Regular drinking water with some hardness can modestly contribute to mineral intake, though most minerals still come from food.

When to choose which

  • Distilled water makes more sense when:
    • Using devices that can scale up or corrode from minerals, like steam irons, humidifiers, and some medical equipment.
* Mixing skincare or DIY cosmetic formulas where even tiny amounts of minerals or microbes can interfere.
  • Regular drinking water makes more sense when:
    • You just want safe, good‑tasting water for daily hydration, cooking, coffee, tea, and sports.
* You prefer a bit of natural mineral content and possibly fluoride for teeth.

Why this is a “trending” topic

  • Recent years have seen more interest in:
    • Home water filters, “pure” and “alkaline” waters, and questions about what’s healthiest to drink.
* Online forum debates where people ask if distilled is “cleaner” or “too pure” and whether it’s better than bottled drinking water for things like skincare, coffee, or long‑term health.

TL;DR: Distilled water is ultra‑pure and almost mineral‑free, great for appliances and special uses; regular drinking water is treated to be safe, still has minerals, and is usually the better default for everyday drinking.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.