My wife and I both are on CPAP so go through a lot of distilled water for the humidifiers in our CPAP.Last 2 years distilled water has been sold out in stores often. We ordered 6-gallon packs online twice, was 5x the price in the store. Water is too heavy to be inexpensive to ship.Both times the order arrived weeks late, and both times one or two bottles ruptured in delivery.To use this: you should filter the water first with a Brita jug or similar, they have those on Amazon. That will make this unit have to do less work, be easier to clean, and the unit will last longer.The directions are clear(ish) on how to use but not so much to clean. If you don't clean after each use, it will be less effective, the mineral scum at the bottom will keep the heat away from the water, and eventually the unit won't work, and the residue will be too thick to use the unit, and too hard to clean.To CLEAN:After each use, disconnect plugs and let unit sit, with an upsidedown paper plate over the top. The stuff removed from tap or well water smells a little when heated and concentrated. Let it get cool, then take the distiller outside.I pour about an inch of vinegar in the place you pour the water, the main metal part. Use the clear 5 percent vinegar, and don't spill it. You don't want to breathe this, especially if you have lung issues. Will irritate lungs. I wear rubber gloves, a filter mask and do it outside.Cover the top with upsidedown paper plate. Put on top of paper plate a fist-sized rock or an old clean boot, something heavy to keep the plate on. Leave it outside with the vinegar in it for 12 hours. If it's cold leave for more. If the vinegar freezes before you're done, it's OK.After letting it sit, I take a dedicated pot scrubber (plastic, not metal), put on my gloves and mask, go outside and scrub the scum off the bottom. Takes about 10 to 20 seconds. Then I wash it out with the hose. Don't do any of this near where any outdoor pets go, they'll hate the smell.Bring it inside, wash out with a little warm water and a little more scrubbing. Dump water down sink. Dry inside with a paper towel, and let sit uncovered for an hour or two until dry. Put the unit's top back on to keep dust out. It's now ready for the next useGood as new!We change the inexpensive activated charcoal filter 3x a year, mark it on the calendar. It came with one and one extra, but here are more on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JDBV9HYRemoving the metal clip where the charcoal sits is not intuitive, but once you know how, it's easy. Don't force it. Just gently wiggle the metal clip back and forth while gently pulling the clip away from the distiller.
