You can use boiled water for everything: drinking, brushing your teeth, washing dishes, and even watering your Venus flytrap (though that plant judges you anyway). Pro tip: Do not boil water for your humidifier or neti pot—unless you fancy a steam-powered sinus invasion of chlorine.
Surprising fact: You can also use bottled water, but that costs like a luxury car. Or you can buy a filter that removes microbes, but only if you planned ahead like a Boy Scout who stocks diamonds. Spoiler: You didn’t plan ahead, so start boiling now.
Boil water order issued for West Paris | newscentermaine.com
The "Can I Shower?" Panic
Yes, you can shower—unless you’re planning to chug from the showerhead like a deranged pelican. Keep your mouth shut while shampooing, and don’t swallow water like you’re at a frat party. Also, avoid bathing babies or open wounds in non-boiled water, unless you want a tiny human with a new superbug.
If you have a dishwasher with a sanitize cycle, congrats—you can skip the pot of boiling water and live like royalty. For hand-washing dishes, add a splash of bleach after you rinse, like a mad scientist who hates germs. Or just use disposable plates and pretend you’re camping.
