How to Clean a Rowenta Steamer
Do you have a Rowenta handheld steamer or Rowenta garment steamer? If so, then you’ll want to know how to clean and descale it! Descaling is a process that removes hard water deposits and mineral build-up from your machine’s heating chamber. This will maintain the performance of your clothing steamer and extend its life.
Follow these directions for how to clean a Rowenta steamer and keep your clothing steamer working to its full potential.
How to Clean a Rowenta Handheld Steamer
Rowenta make many different models of handheld garment steamers. Despite the different models, descaling and cleaning a Rowenta handheld steamer remains the same. Here are the instructions to clean a Rowenta handheld steamer:
- Remove the water tank from your Rowenta handheld steamer.
- Empty out any remaining water.
- Fill the water tank with 50% tap water and 50% white vinegar.
- Turn on the Rowenta garment steamer to the highest setting and let the vinegar and distilled water mix run through the steamer until the water tank is empty. Note – do this in a well ventilated room, unless you love the aroma of white vinegar throughout your home!
- Keep an eye on how well your garment steamer is working as it nears the end of the water. If it is producing a continuous strong flow of steam this is a good sign. If your steamer is shooting steam in bursts, or producing a low volume of steam (despite being on the highest setting) you may need to repeat the process above.
- Once you are happy with how your Rowenta steamer is working, remove the water tank from the steamer and rinse with clean water.
- Refill your Rowenta steamer with distilled water if you are ready to continue steaming. If not, leave the tank empty until you are ready to use. For longevity of your Rowenta steamer, I recommend using 50% tap water and 50% distilled water. Here is a link to distilled water at Walmart for around $1-$1.50 per gallon.
How to Clean a Rowenta Valet Clothes Steamer
Rowenta make many models of full size clothing steamers, including the Master Valet, Compact Valet and Precision Valet. Regardless of the model of Rowenta full size clothing steamer, if it has a removable water tank, the cleaning instructions remain the same.
Rowenta recommend descaling upright garment steamers once a year, or after 50 hours of use.
I also note that these are not the official descaling instructions from Rowenta. In some user manuals, Rowenta recommend using tap water in your steamer (for steaming), then to clean, fill the tank again with tap water and pour out.
This makes no sense whatsoever to me. Regular tap water is not going to descale anything. It is the minerals in tap water that cause build up and you need an acid (like vinegar) to be able to remove the scale. There are many comments on the Rowenta website about how their steamers have stopped working in short amounts of time, and not started working again even after following Rowenta’s cleaning instructions.
Therefore, here is the process I use for cleaning an upright clothing steamer, and I would suggest using for the Rowenta Valet steamers also:
- Remove the water tank from your Rowenta upright steamer.
- Empty out any remaining water.
- Fill the water tank with 50% tap water and 50% white vinegar.
- Turn on the Rowenta garment steamer to the highest setting and let the vinegar and distilled water mix run through the steamer until the water tank is empty. You should do this near an open window, or in a well ventilated room, unless you love the aroma of white vinegar throughout your home!
- Keep an eye on how well your garment steamer is working as it nears the end of the water. If it is producing a continuous strong flow of steam this is a good sign. If your steamer is shooting steam in bursts, or producing a low volume of steam (despite being on the highest setting) you may need to repeat the process above.
- Once you are happy with how your Rowenta steamer is working, remove the water tank from the steamer and rinse with clean water.
- Refill your Rowenta steamer with distilled water if you are ready to continue steaming. If not, leave the tank empty until you are ready to use. For longevity of your Rowenta steamer, I recommend using 50% tap water and 50% distilled water.
Important Information About Rowenta’s Calcification Sensors
Many Rowenta steamers have built in calcification sensors, and auto shut off sensors. According to Rowenta, these sensors do not work correctly when used with 100% distilled water. That is why for Rowenta steamers, my recommendation is to use a mix of 50% tap water and 50% distilled water for steaming, instead of 100% distilled water, like I recommend for other brands of clothing steamers. I have made a list of all the Rowenta steamers, and what water can be used, which you can find here.
Descaling a Rowenta IXEO Iron and Steamer Combo
If you have a Rowenta IXEO All in One Steamer and Iron Combo, DO NOT use the vinegar and water solution to descale. This Rowenta steamer has an anti calcification cartridge. A light will flash on the unit when the anti-calcification cartridge has come to the end of its life. Generally, the cartridges last around 8 months.
When the cartridge indicator light flashes, you should then proceed with replacing the anti-calc cartridge. These can be purchased directly from the Rowenta website for around $18 + shipping.
Cleaning a Rowenta Commercial Steamer
Rowenta recommend purchasing a descaling agent to use in their commercial steamers. Here are a some choices:
- Professional grade universal descaling agent to remove limescale and calcium buildup.
- Simple to use in steam cleaner boiler tanks that heat the water.
- Also use in your coffee machine, shower, and general cleaning of limescale around the house.
- 3 sachets of all-purpose descaler for limescale removal
- Works quickly
- Use in steam cleaner boiler tanks and household appliances
The instructions for cleaning a Rowenta Commercial Garment Steamer are as follows:
- Unplug the unit and remove water container from main unit by releasing container lock and pulling up.
- Fill the water tank with fresh water and shake up and down to remove any scale. Pour out the water, and repeat if necessary.
- Purchase a quality decalcifier agent and follow the instructions of the manufacturer for the proper ratio of
the mixture to water and use. - After filling the water container turn it up and down to descale.
- Attach the water container to the steaming unit, plug in and switch on.
- Let the appliance run on the highest steam setting until the water container is almost empty. I recommend doing this in a well ventilated area or near an open window. Please do not steam any clothing or curtains with the descaling agent.
- Unplug and detach the water container. Tip out any remaining water and rinse with fresh water.
- Fill water container with fresh water and repeat steps 5 and 6. Note: If after descaling you believe that there is still buildup in the boiler, repeat steps 1–8.
What Water Should I Use in a Rowenta Steamer?
There are 68 different model numbers of Rowenta garment steamers. Depending on which model of steamer you have, you may receive different advice in the user manual regarding what water to use.
Here is the advice from the Rowenta Commercial clothing steamer user manual (model number IS7850U1):
The steamer can be used with regular tap water (up to 12 grains of hardness). If your water is harder than this,
Rowenta IS7850U1 User Manual
Rowenta recommends mixing half tap water with half distilled water which reduces the hardness; or just use inexpensive bottled spring water; or 100% distilled water.
Some Rowenta steamers with built in anti-calcification should not have 100% distilled water used, and having read all 68 user manuals, there is different advice in all of them.
The general theme across the user manuals is that you can use a mixture of tap water and distilled water in ALL Rowenta steamers.
How Do You Clean a Rowenta Steamer Exterior?
To clean the outside or exterior surfaces of your Rowenta steamer, simply wipe with a lint free cloth. You can dampen the cloth if needed. Wait until the clothes steamer has completed cooled before cleaning.
Make sure that you do not immerse any part of your Rowenta steamer in water. If you find there is calcification build up around the sole plate of your steamer head, use a toothpick to help release this from around the outside of the steam holes, but do not poke it into the holes or inside the head of the steamer.
Contacting Rowenta
Cleaning your Rowenta steamer is a simple process that will help to keep it in top working order. If you have any questions about how to clean or descale your machine, please consult the user manual for information specific to your model and always contact Rowenta customer service if needed.
Here is how to get in touch with Rowenta:
Rowenta USA Customer Service – Phone: 1-800-769-3682
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:30pm EST
Rowenta Canada Customer Service – Phone: 1-800-418-3325
Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm EST
Rowenta UK Customer Service – Phone: 0435 602 1454
Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm
Rowenta Australia Customer Service – Phone: 1300 307 824
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Other Countries – Please check the Rowenta website for country specific information, including Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Mexico.
I hope this guide has helped you understand how to clean your Rowenta steamer. If you don’t have a Rowenta steamer, please follow the general guide to cleaning your garment steamer, as these instructions are specific to Rowenta steamers.
As always, don’t forget my reviews on other popular models of steamers are available too. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.
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