Which water do you use in a garment steamer?
Tap water, filtered water, or distilled water after all? The water you use in your garment steamer can affect the amount of minerals left behind in the appliance over time.
it is wise to consciously choose which water you use. This limits Especially when you live in an area with hard, limescale-rich water, it is mineral deposits in the internal water system and help your garment steamer to continue functioning properly.
In this guide, we explain which water we recommend for a STEAMRS garment steamer recommend, when you can use tap water, and which liquids absolutely do not belong in the water reservoir.
Preferably use distilled, deionized, or suitable filtered water, especially with hard tap water.
Do you live in an area with soft, low-limescale water? Then you can simply use tap water.
Never add fabric fragrance, 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 to limit mineral deposits in the appliance.
Why does the water in a garment steamer make a difference?
A garment steamer heats water and turns it into steam. The water itself evaporates, but minerals present in the water can remain in small amounts remain behind in the appliance.
Tap water may contain calcium and magnesium, among other substances. The amount present in the water varies by region. Water containing relatively high levels of these we call these minerals hard water.
When you use hard water for a longer period, mineral residues can gradually build up. That is why water quality is particularly 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 the buildup of limescale and mineral residues. The most important preventive step is therefore to use suitable water.
The best water for your garment steamer
Not every situation calls for the same water. The overview below makes the choice simple.
Recommended
- Distilled water
- Deionised water
- Suitable filtered water
Especially recommended when the tap water in your region is hard or is highly limescale-rich.
Also suitable
Do you live in an area with soft, low-limescale water? Then you can simply use tap water.
When in doubt about the water hardness, it is better to choose one of the recommended options.
Do not use
- Laundry fragrance
- Scented ironing water
- Essential oil
- Laundry detergent
- Cleaning products
Can tap water be used in a garment steamer?
Yes. Tap water can be used in a STEAMRS garment steamer when the water in your region is soft and low in limescale.
The problem is therefore not simply that the water comes from the tap. It is mainly about the amount of dissolved minerals in the water. With hard water, this amount is higher.
Tap water is possible.
Prefer distilled, deionised or suitable filtered water.
Check the water hardness in your region or, to be safe, choose a water option with few minerals.
How do I know if I have hard water?
The hardness of tap water varies by region. Your water supplier can generally indicate the water hardness at your address or in your town.
You can sometimes also recognise hard water in your home. For example, look for limescale on taps, white deposits around the showerhead or limescale residue in a kettle.
These signs can be an indication. If you want to know for certain, then check the official water hardness with your water supplier.
Distilled, deionised and filtered water
the same. For a garment steamer, the key factor is how many minerals The terms are often used interchangeably, but do not mean exactly ultimately remain in the water.
Distilled water
During distillation, water is evaporated and then condensed again. This removes many of the dissolved minerals from the water.
VERY SUITABLEDeionised water
During deionisation, charged minerals and salts are removed from the water removed. As a result, the water contains very few of the minerals that can cause limescale deposits.
VERY SUITABLEFiltered water
This is a broad category. Not every water filter removes the same amount of minerals. Therefore, choose a filtration system that actually reduces the hardness or mineral content of the water.
SUITABLE, PROVIDED IT IS FILTERED TO REDUCE LIMEFiltered does not 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 intended to reduce things like taste, odour or certain substances from drinking water, while some of the dissolved minerals remain in the water.
Do you use filtered water for your garment steamer? Then 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 is not automatically a better choice than tap water. Mineral water can naturally contain various dissolved minerals.
Therefore, don't choose water solely because it comes from a bottle. For a for a clothes steamer, a low mineral content is more important than the packaging in which the water is sold.
Our rule of thumb: don't choose ‘mineral water’ just because you think it is free of limescale. Instead, use one of the recommended water options from this guide.
Can you put perfume or oil in a clothes steamer?
No. The water reservoir of your STEAMRS clothes steamer is intended for water. Do not add laundry fragrance, essential oil, scented ironing water, laundry detergent or other products.
When such products are heated, ingredients or residues can remain in the internal water system. This can affect how the affect the clothes steamer.
Would you like to give your clothes a pleasant fragrance? Use a product for that purpose that is intended to be used on or with textiles according to the instructions of that product, but do not add it to the water reservoir of your clothes steamer.
What if I've always used tap water?
There's no reason to do anything to your clothes steamer right away if it is still is still functioning properly. You don't need to do anything to your STEAMRS handheld clothes steamer not descale it preventively.
Do you live in an area with hard water? You can now switch to a water option with fewer minerals.
Have you noticed that your clothes steamer is producing significantly less steam than before, is sputtering or possibly clogged? First, go through our troubleshooting guide. If you then suspect actual 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 clothes steamer does. If you have hard tap water, choose a water option that's low in minerals, and use the reservoir exclusively for water.
How to properly care for the clothes steamer you use every day to cares for your favorite clothes.
Discover our clothes steamersFrequently asked questions about water in a clothes steamer
What water is best to use in a garment steamer?
For hard or limescale-rich tap water, we recommend using a STEAMRS garment steamer with we recommend using distilled, deionized, or suitable filtered water. In areas with soft, low-limescale water, tap water can be used.
Can I simply use tap water in my garment steamer?
Yes. If the tap water in your region is soft and low in limescale, you can use tap water. For hard water or water with high limescale content, we recommend a water option 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 residue can remain in the appliance and build up over time.
Is distilled water suitable for a garment steamer?
Yes. Distilled water contains very little of the dissolved minerals that can form limescale and is therefore a suitable choice for a STEAMRS garment steamer.
Is deionized water suitable for a garment steamer?
Yes. During deionization, charged minerals and salts are removed. This makes deionized water a suitable choice for a STEAMRS garment steamer.
Can I use filtered water in my garment steamer?
Yes, provided the filtration system actually reduces the mineral content or the water hardness. Not every drinking-water filter removes the same amount of dissolved minerals.
Can I use bottled mineral water?
Bottled water is not automatically low in limescale. Mineral water may actually contain various dissolved minerals. Therefore, it is better to choose distilled, deionized, or suitable low-mineral filtered water when your tap water is hard.
Can I use scented ironing water in my garment steamer?
No. Do not use scented ironing water in the water reservoir of your STEAMRS garment steamer. Fill the reservoir only with suitable water.
Can I put fabric fragrance or essential oil in my garment steamer?
No. Do not add fabric fragrance, essential oil, detergent, or any other additives to the water. When heated, these can leave residue and affect the operation 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 functioning normally. A STEAMRS A handheld garment steamer does not need to be descaled as a preventive measure. Do you notice significantly less steam and suspect mineral deposits? First, go through our troubleshooting steps and only follow the separate descaling guide.
