A new dehumidifier owner turned to the r/ZeroWaste Reddit forum for advice on reusing the water their machine collects instead of pouring it down the drain. "I recently got a dehumidifier and am struggling every time I dump the collected water down the drain. What can I use the water for? And what vessel can I use to store the water?" the original poster wrote.
They also noted that they didn't have houseplants and that their outdoor plants didn't need any extra watering.
Here's what to know
The question sparked a long discussion on Reddit, where the poster wanted both reuse ideas and advice on what type of container could hold the water.
Broadly, the replies split into two camps: people who suggested a few limited household uses, and people who said pouring it out should not automatically be considered wasteful.
When commenters recommended reusing it, they generally stuck to non-drinking chores such as flushing a toilet or rinsing bathroom fixtures and surfaces.
One commenter said: "Tossing it is not wasteful. It's just water you removed from the air. If you don't have plants to dump it into, just use it to rinse your sink or shower floor."
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"Flush the toilet with it," another commenter suggested — and they weren't the only person with that idea.
More background
The main disagreement centered on whether the water was clean enough to reuse. One Reddit user said they had researched it and concluded the water "isn't clean after being in the dehumidifier," saying it's "not for plants or drinking, but maybe cleaning toilet bowl or bathroom sink."
Another user challenged that view, comparing the water to the condensation that forms on the outside of a cold glass. A third commenter took a middle position, saying plants may tolerate the water while warning that the inside of a dehumidifier is "dark and wet," so dust and mold can accumulate there.
What can be done?
Others preferred not to reuse it indoors at all and instead saw value in returning it outdoors.
"It's not wasteful to dump it outside. It's going back into the Earth," one person wrote, while another said taking it outdoors "adds it back to the environment and not a water treatment plant."
The original poster also shared: "I was told by a home [inspector] that its considered grey water and should be put down the drain. It can be used to flush the toilet."
"Nothing is being wasted by dumping dehumidifier water. In fact, you are ADDING water back into the water cycle faster than it would normally get there," another user commented.
Where can I learn more?
For a broader look at how people reuse and manage water, these stories explore practical ideas at home and bigger efforts by cities.
• Off-gridders have adopted a method of reusing water to stretch every gallon at home.
• Long-time preppers have turned water barrel DIY systems into backup supplies during shortages.
• Phoenix officials are building facilities to transform waste into drinking water for the city.
• Scientists have created material capable of sucking water from air inside buildings.
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