Can you use the water from a dehumidifier?

Don't drink it, and don't give it to pets. Beyond that, manufacturers disagree, so the safest answer is to follow your own machine's manual and, when in doubt, pour it down the sink or toilet.

What manufacturers say

Manufacturer	What it says about the collected water
Philips	Don't drink it, give it to animals, or water plants with it (manual)
Meaco	Non-edible plants only; don't consume it (manual)
Danby	It's grey water: not suitable for drinking, but fine for watering plants (FAQ)
De'Longhi	Don't use it in a steam iron: it may contain particles that block the iron and reduce steam (FAQ)

The Philips, Meaco and Danby guidance all says the collected water is not for drinking; the De'Longhi advice is about steam irons, not drinking safety. Don't assume boiling makes it drinkable. On plants they range from "no" to "yes", and Meaco draws the line at anything you'll eat. If you want to use it on plants at all, ornamental ones are the cautious choice, and only if your own manual allows it.

Why the caution

The water sits in a tank, sometimes for days. The US EPA notes that standing water can be a breeding ground for moulds and mildew, and says the evaporation trays in dehumidifiers should be cleaned frequently (US EPA).

Keeping the tank clean

Empty it when it's full, rather than leaving water sitting in it.
Clean it as your manual says. Philips, for example, says mildew can form in the tank and to clean it with tap water at least weekly, and elsewhere in the same manual suggests daily (manual).
If you run the machine on continuous drain, check the hose end isn't sitting in standing water.

Uses we haven't verified

We haven't verified a safe-use recommendation from a manufacturer or health body for drinking it after boiling, for aquariums, or for car radiators, so this site doesn't suggest any of those.

Sources

Each source below was opened and checked against this page on 30 October 2026.