Another myth busted—using distilled water in the iron

You can find a lot of advice online that recommends only using distilled water for your steam iron, arguing that since it’s mineral-free, minerals can’t clog the iron. But after combing through some of the manuals of our recently tested steam irons, we found that just may be another suburban myth and, worse yet, can possibly void the warranty.

Some manuals say the irons are specifically made to use tap water. Others say the irons use normal tap water, but if the water in your area is very hard, mix with half distilled. And in case you’re wondering, water from refrigerators, dryers, air conditioners, or the clouds is not recommended, so be sure to check your manual.

Our tests of 46 models include conventional steam irons, cordless models, and steam-ironing systems that are used for bigger jobs, such as large baskets of laundry and quilts. And while a steam iron seems like a fairly uncomplicated device, the wide range of performance our steam iron Ratings reveal might surprise you.