What kind of water do you use in a garment steamer?
· STEAMRS Fashion Care
What water should you use in a garment steamer?
Tap water, filtered water or distilled water? The water you use in your garment steamer can affect how many minerals build up inside the appliance over time.
Especially if you live in an area with hard, limescale-rich water, it's a good idea to choose your water carefully. This helps limit mineral deposits in the internal water system and helps your garment steamer continue to work properly.
In this guide, we explain which water we recommend for a STEAMRS garment steamer, when you can use tap water and which liquids should never go in the water reservoir.
We recommend using distilled, deionized or suitable filtered water, especially with hard tap water.
If you live in an area with soft water that’s low in limescale, you can simply use tap water.
Never add laundry perfume, essential oil, scented ironing water or cleaning products to the reservoir.
Fill your garment steamer's reservoir with suitable water. Especially with hard tap water, choosing the right water can help limit mineral deposits inside the appliance.
Why does the water you use in a garment steamer matter?
A garment steamer heats water and turns it into steam. The water itself evaporates, but minerals present in the water can remain in the appliance in small amounts.
Tap water can contain calcium and magnesium, among other things. The amount in the water varies by region. Water with relatively high levels of these minerals is called hard water.
When you use hard water for a long time, mineral residue can gradually build up. That is why water quality is especially important if you live in an area with hard or limescale-rich tap water.
You do not need to descale a STEAMRS garment steamer as a preventive measure
The inside of our handheld garment steamers has a special coating that helps prevent limescale and mineral residue from building up. The most important preventive step is therefore to use suitable water.
The best water for your garment steamer
Different situations call for different types of water. The overview below makes choosing easy.
Recommended
- Distilled water
- Deionized water
- Suitable filtered water
Especially recommended when tap water in your area is hard or high in limescale.
Can also be used
If you live in an area with soft water that’s low in limescale, you can simply use tap water.
If you’re unsure about the water hardness, it’s better to choose one of the recommended options.
Do not use
- Laundry perfume
- Scented ironing water
- Essential oil
- Laundry detergent
- Cleaning products
Can you use tap water in a clothes steamer?
Yes. You can use tap water in a STEAMRS clothes steamer if the water in your area is soft and low in limescale.
So the problem isn’t simply that the water comes “from the tap.” It’s mainly about the amount of dissolved minerals in the water. Hard water contains more of them.
Tap water is fine.
It’s better to use distilled, deionized, or suitably filtered water.
Check the water hardness in your area or, to be on the safe side, choose a water option with low mineral content.
How do I know if I have hard water?
Tap water hardness varies by region. Your water supplier can usually tell you the water hardness at your address or in your town.
You can sometimes recognize hard water in your home, too. For example, look for limescale on faucets, white residue around the showerhead, or limescale deposits in a kettle.
These signs can be an indication. To know for sure, check the official water hardness with your water supplier.
Distilled, deionized, and filtered water
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean exactly the same thing. For a clothes steamer, what matters most is how many minerals remain in the water.
Distilled water
Distillation involves evaporating water and then condensing it again. This separates many dissolved minerals from the water.
VERY SUITABLEDeionized water
Deionization removes charged minerals and salts from the water. This means the water contains very few of the minerals that can cause limescale buildup.
VERY SUITABLEFiltered water
This is a broad category. Not every water filter removes the same amount of minerals. So choose a filtration system that actually reduces the water’s hardness or mineral content.
SUITABLE IF FILTERED TO REMOVE MOST LIMESCALEFiltered doesn’t automatically mean limescale-free
A common assumption is that every water filter automatically removes all limescale from tap water. This is not always the case.
Some filters are mainly designed to reduce things like taste, odor, or certain substances in drinking water, while leaving some of the dissolved minerals in the water.
If you use filtered water in your garment steamer, preferably choose a method or filter that actually reduces the mineral content or water hardness.
Can I use mineral water or bottled water?
Bottled water isn’t automatically a better choice than tap water. Mineral water can actually contain various dissolved minerals naturally.
So don’t choose water just because it comes in a bottle. For a garment steamer, low mineral content is more important than the packaging the water is sold in.
Our rule of thumb: Don’t choose “mineral water” because you think it’s free of limescale. Instead, use one of the recommended water options in this guide.
Can you put perfume or oil in a garment steamer?
No. The water reservoir of your STEAMRS garment steamer is intended for water. Don’t add laundry perfume, essential oil, scented ironing water, laundry detergent, or other products.
When these products are heated, ingredients or residue may remain in the internal water system. This can affect how the garment steamer works.
Want to give your clothes a pleasant scent? Use a product intended for use on or near textiles, following that product’s instructions, but don’t add it to your garment steamer’s water reservoir.
What if I’ve always used tap water?
There’s no need to do anything to your garment steamer right away if it’s still working properly. You don’t need to descale a STEAMRS handheld garment steamer as a preventive measure.
Live in an area with hard water? You can now switch to a water option with fewer minerals.
Has your garment steamer started producing noticeably less steam than before, sputtering, or possibly become clogged? First, go through our troubleshooting steps. If you then suspect limescale buildup, see our separate descaling guide.
Good water.
Fewer minerals.
Better steaming.
Good maintenance starts with something simple: the water you put in your garment steamer. If your tap water is hard, choose a water option with few minerals and use the reservoir for water only.
Here’s how to take good care of the garment steamer you use every day to care for your favorite clothes.
Discover our garment steamersFrequently asked questions about water in a garment steamer
What water should I use in a garment steamer?
If your tap water is hard or high in limescale, we recommend using distilled, deionized, or suitably filtered water in a STEAMRS garment steamer. In areas with soft water that contains little limescale, you can use tap water.
Can I use regular tap water in my garment steamer?
Yes. If the tap water in your area is soft and contains little limescale, you can use it. If your water is hard or high in limescale, we recommend using water with fewer minerals.
Why is hard water less suitable for a garment steamer?
Hard water contains relatively high levels of dissolved minerals, including calcium and magnesium. When the water is heated and evaporates, mineral deposits can remain inside the appliance and build up over time.
Is distilled water suitable for a garment steamer?
Yes. Distilled water contains very few of the dissolved minerals that can cause limescale buildup, making it a suitable choice for a STEAMRS garment steamer.
Is deionized water suitable for a garment steamer?
Yes. Deionization removes charged minerals and salts from the water, making deionized water a suitable choice for a STEAMRS garment steamer.
Can I use filtered water in my garment steamer?
Yes, as long as the filtration system actually reduces the mineral content or hardness of the water. Not all drinking water filters remove the same amount of dissolved minerals.
Can I use bottled mineral water?
Bottled water is not automatically low in limescale. Mineral water can actually contain various dissolved minerals. So, if your tap water is hard, choose distilled, deionized, or suitably filtered water with a low mineral content instead.
Can I use scented ironing water in my garment steamer?
No. Do not use scented ironing water in the water tank of your STEAMRS garment steamer. Fill the tank only with suitable water.
Can I put laundry perfume or essential oil in my garment steamer?
No. Do not add laundry perfume, essential oil, detergent, or other additives to the water. When heated, these can leave deposits and affect the performance of the internal steam system.
Do I need to descale my garment steamer if I have used hard water?
Not if the garment steamer is still working normally. A STEAMRS handheld garment steamer does not need to be descaled preventively. Have you noticed a clear reduction in steam and suspect mineral buildup? First go through our troubleshooting steps, and only follow the separate descaling guide if needed.
