Re-use dehumidiier water?

[MKCP5]

We are floating in New England this summer from so much rain and we have a damp basement where the dehumidifier has been humming! Can i reuse that water it absorbs for laundry? Or is it bad and should be thrown outside? Thought I would save the water if I could, but not if it is unhealthy

 

[RadioFanatic]

it's funny you posted this b/c this is exactly what I have been doing for the past couple of months! To be honest, I started simply b/c I was too lazy to walk the bucket upstairs and it was faster to put into the washing machine. I then noticed that, b/c of the water i was putting into it, it was putting less water of its own in!

I've been told that the water from the dehumidifier is some of the cleanest and I've noticed no difference in my clothes.

 

[KAMKIM]

Your post confuses me a little because I'm not sure how you can reuse water for laundry? But if the dehumidifier has been sitting in a damp basement i would think it is filled with bacteria and would not reuse it....

 

[kid-at-heart]

We reuse the water for laundry and plants. If your dehumidiier is clean the water should be clean. If you think the "bucket" could harbor mildew put a little bleach in, shake, empty and rinse.

 

[KAMKIM]

okay since someone else does this I would think its okay, but now I'm really confused how are you putting water into your washing machine? just opening the top and pouring it in? And then when you turn it on it doesn't want to put more water in?

 

[MKCP5]

The de humidifier is brand new and we empty it every morning. The water looks and smells clean and clear. I just ppooured into my washing machine this am becuase I too was too lazy to drag it upstairs and empty on the lawn!

Your washing machine senses how much water it needs by weight and does not overfill because of this

 

[wall*e2008]

We just have out humidifier output hooked into the A/C output and expell is like the A/C water out of the house.

I see no reason if the water is used immediately that there is a health risk, but if it sits it will get slimy.

 

[RadioFanatic]

okay since someone else does this I would think its okay, but now I'm really confused how are you putting water into your washing machine? just opening the top and pouring it in? And then when you turn it on it doesn't want to put more water in?

This is exactly what I do with my washing machine and then it just puts enough water in to reflect the difference bw what I put in and what it needs. I don't know if it does it by weight or a certain line it has to go to, but it works!

 

[RadioFanatic]

The de humidifier is brand new and we empty it every morning. The water looks and smells clean and clear. I just ppooured into my washing machine this am becuase I too was too lazy to drag it upstairs and empty on the lawn!

Your washing machine senses how much water it needs by weight and does not overfill because of this

exactly. I actually have to empty mine twice a day we've been having so much rain lately!

 

[pumpkinfish]

My grandparents used to do this when they lived in Ohio (and had a basement). They were big on conservation and even reused the water from the washer during the spin cycle! Grandpa had it set up to drain into the basement sink and then flow out to fill the next load of laundry.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

I put mine in the washer. with my front loader I have found that I have to put the clothes in then the water otherwise the machine will pump the water out that I put in before refilling! great for watering plants too!

 

[BeenHereB4]

What a timely post! Thanks OP. I've been emptying mine every two days if not more lately. I was going to use it to water the plants, but with all the rain I really don't have to.

I guess it's ok to put in the washer if you are going to do laundry that day, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it start to rust the washer?

 

[pampam]

What a timely post! Thanks OP. I've been emptying mine every two days if not more lately. I was going to use it to water the plants, but with all the rain I really don't have to.

I guess it's ok to put in the washer if you are going to do laundry that day, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it start to rust the washer?

My understanding is that it isn't very good for plants since it is distilled water. It doesn't have the minerals in it that plants thrive on. It is fine for laundry, cpap machines, O2 concentrators etc. I use it for these, but I boil it first, and strain it though several coffee filters. It's free distilled water.

 

[BeenHereB4]

My understanding is that it isn't very good for plants since it is distilled water. It doesn't have the minerals in it that plants thrive on. It is fine for laundry, cpap machines, O2 concentrators etc. I use it for these, but I boil it first, and strain it though several coffee filters. It's free distilled water.

Ah, thanks. Well, at least I won't have to lug it upstairs and out to the garden now.

 

[KAMKIM]

Oh how neat....saves money anyways....cant imagine it would work with a front loader too?

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Along this line Disney Cruise Line does this.
We noticed that everytime we pulled into a port they would begin power washing the outside of the boat. So during the "ask the engineer" meeting my husband asked about it.
They said they save the water that the air conditioning systems puts out and they reuse that water to wash the sea water off the boat.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We have a dehumidifier in the basement and when it gets full I empty the reservoir into the sump pit. I think I'll try the laundry idea! (Even though my laundry room is on the main level of the house, not the basement).

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Your post confuses me a little because I'm not sure how you can reuse water for laundry? But if the dehumidifier has been sitting in a damp basement i would think it is filled with bacteria and would not reuse it....

I agree. Gross.

 

[tink2dw]

After calling around I was told to dump it down the toilet only as it has some chemicals in the water. Even on tv yesterday I saw an ad that said to dump the left over water down the toilet.

 

[TwistofLemon]

My grandparents used to do this when they lived in Ohio (and had a basement). They were big on conservation and even reused the water from the washer during the spin cycle! Grandpa had it set up to drain into the basement sink and then flow out to fill the next load of laundry.

Wow! Your Grandpa is a genious!!