Which water do you use in a garment steamer?
Tap water, filtered water or distilled water? The water you use in your garment steamer can affect the amount of minerals that remain in the appliance over time.
Especially when you live in an area with hard, limescale-rich water, it is wise to choose the water you use carefully. This helps limit mineral deposits in the internal water system and helps the garment steamer continue to function properly.
In this guide, we explain which water we recommend for a STEAMRS garment steamer, 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 laundry fragrance, essential oils, 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 in the appliance.
Why does the water in a garment steamer make a difference?
A garment steamer heats water and converts it into steam. The water itself evaporates, but minerals present in the water can remain inside the appliance in small amounts.
Tap water can contain calcium and magnesium, among other things. The amount in the water varies by region. Water containing relatively high levels of these minerals is called hard water.
When you use hard water for an extended period, mineral residue can gradually build up. That is why water quality is particularly important when 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 build-up of limescale and mineral residue. The most important preventive step is therefore using suitable water.
The best water for your garment steamer
Not every situation calls for the same water. The overview below makes the choice easy.
Recommended
- Distilled water
- Deionized water
- Suitable filtered water
Especially recommended when the tap water in your area is hard or very high in limescale.
Also suitable
Do you live in an area with soft, low-limescale water? Then you can simply use tap water.
If you are unsure 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 clothing steamer?
Yes. Tap water can be used in a STEAMRS clothing 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. That amount is higher in hard water.
Tap water is fine.
It is better to choose distilled, deionized, 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 tell you the water hardness at your address or in your town or city.
You can sometimes also recognize 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, check the official water hardness with your water supplier.
Distilled, deionized, and filtered water
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. For a clothing steamer, what matters most is how many minerals ultimately remain in the water.
Distilled water
During distillation, water is evaporated and then condensed again. This separates many dissolved minerals from the water.
VERY SUITABLEDeionized water
During deionization, charged minerals and salts are removed from the water. As a result, the water contains very little of the minerals that can cause limescale.
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 LOW-LIMESCALE FILTEREDFiltered 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 primarily intended to reduce things like taste, odor, or certain substances from drinking water, while some of the dissolved minerals remain in the water.
If you use filtered water for your clothes 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 is not automatically a better choice than tap water. Mineral water may naturally contain various dissolved minerals.
So do not choose water simply because it comes in a bottle. For a clothes steamer, a low mineral content is more important than the packaging in which the water is sold.
Our rule of thumb: do not choose ‘mineral water’ because you think it is limescale-free. Instead, use one of the recommended water options in 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 residue may remain in the internal water system. This can affect how the clothes steamer works.
Would you like to give your clothes a pleasant scent? Use a product intended for use on or around textiles according to its instructions, but do not add it to the water reservoir of your clothes steamer.
What if I have always used tap water?
There is no reason to do anything to your clothes steamer right away if it is still working properly. You do not need to descale a STEAMRS handheld clothes steamer 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 produces noticeably less steam than before, sputters, or may be clogged? First, go through our troubleshooting guide. If you then suspect limescale buildup, see our separate descaling guide.
Good water.
Fewer minerals.
Better steaming.
Proper maintenance starts with something simple: the water you put in your clothes steamer. If you have hard tap water, choose a low-mineral water option and use the reservoir for water only.
Learn how to properly care for the clothes steamer you use every day to care for your favorite clothes.
Discover our clothes steamersFrequently asked questions about water in a clothes steamer
What water is best to use in a clothes steamer?
For hard or limescale-rich tap water, we recommend using distilled, deionized, or suitably filtered water in a STEAMRS clothes steamer. In areas with soft, low-limescale water, tap water can be used.
Can I simply use tap water in my clothes steamer?
Yes. If the tap water in your area is soft and low in limescale, you can use tap water. For hard or highly limescale-rich water, we recommend using water with fewer minerals.
Why is hard water less suitable for a clothes 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 clothes steamer?
Yes. Distilled water contains very few of the dissolved minerals that can cause limescale and is therefore a suitable choice for a STEAMRS clothes steamer.
Is deionized water suitable for a clothes steamer?
Yes. Deionization removes charged minerals and salts from the water. This makes deionized water a suitable choice for a STEAMRS clothes steamer.
Can I use filtered water in my clothes steamer?
Yes, provided that the filtration system actually reduces the mineral content or hardness of the water. 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 can actually contain various dissolved minerals. Therefore, if your tap water is hard, it is preferable to choose distilled, deionized, or suitably filtered low-limescale water.
Can I put scented ironing water in my clothes steamer?
No. Do not use scented ironing water in the water tank of your STEAMRS clothes steamer. Fill the tank only with suitable water.
Can I put laundry fragrance or essential oil in my clothes steamer?
No. Do not add laundry fragrance, essential oil, detergent, or 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 clothes steamer if I have used hard water?
Not if the clothes steamer is still functioning normally. A STEAMRS handheld clothes steamer does not need to be descaled preventively. If you notice significantly less steam and suspect mineral buildup, first go through our troubleshooting steps and follow the separate descaling guide only if necessary.
