OK folks - here is what I have discovered today after visiting almost every shop in town!
Distilled water is relatively difficult to get. It is not generally stocked...Unbelievable!
CAUTIONS:
(IN UK) Go into a car parts store or a garage and ask if they sell distilled water. You will be told yes. Double check with them and as specifically if it is Distilled or De-ionised. They will look blankly and shrug! It is more than likely De-ionised. Look at the bottle closely... 'Battery Top Up Water' IS NOT distilled water, it is de-ionised.
Major computer stores like PCworld do not sell distilled water. Nor do Halfords, Currys, Maplins, B&Q, Homebase, etc (Some of them offered de-ironised as distilled!)
'Boots' Pharmacy can get it on special order...
Before I read Kodi's suggestion, I did visit a supermarket & sure enough there was a shelf of 'Ironing Water'... Not Suitable. It has perfumes added along with benzines, alcohol and a raft of other chemical stuff. I looked at several brands.. all had additives that I am not happy to try.
R/O or RO or Reduced/Reversed Osmosis water.
Has anyone had any experience with this or knows if it is suitable or not?
I have been assured by several folk who are supposed to be in the know that R/O water is as pure as you can get. It is sold by aquarium shops/dealers. Take your own container & it only costs about £2 for 5 litres.
It is filtered to the Nth degree & purified. It is sterile. (so I am told) It was supplied to me in a sterile container.
Comments invited please
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RO References:
Reference 1 A Patants paper describing RO processes
Reference 2: interesting details on RO...
My conclusion is that RO may well be a satisfactory substitute for distilled water. But this should be confirmed before you use it! (All care but no responsibility.)
Post Script: I have given up on making my own distilled water due to the time involved with the crude method I used. 8 ounces in 3 hours was the 1/8th of what I need... the electricity cost!!!.... conversion factor very low...