Why is my steamer spitting water?

Bracha Moskoff
by Bracha Moskoff

My clothes steamer isn't producing a lot of steam and is starting to spit water. Why would this happen and how can I fix it?

Steamer spitting water



Have a hard water clog?!

Is there anything that white vinegar can't solve? this is the one that Amazon reviewers swear by!



  14 answers
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 19, 2023

    It could e because you are in a hard water area. Descale

  • It sounds like you have water in the hose. Hold the nozzle high to let the water drain back into the steamer.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Feb 19, 2023

    Sounds like it has a clog or a blockage, see if you can clear it out with vinegar.

  • Janice Janice on Feb 19, 2023

    The steam opening may be slightly clogged with hard water. You can use white vinegar to clean it.

  • Dee Dee on Feb 19, 2023

    It probably got clogged in the water line. Try running white vinegar thru the line. It may take serveal times. My coffee pot does the same thing. If you live where there is hard water, the tubes need to be cleaned out every other month or so.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Feb 20, 2023

    It is probably clogged. You can clean with white cleaning vinegar to remove any deposits. Then run water through it a few times to clean out the vinegar.

  • Deb K Deb K on Feb 20, 2023

    Hi Bracha, hope this helps you out, chances are you have hard water build up in your steamer. Here's how to clean it.

    1. Empty the Water Tank: With the steamer unplugged and cool, empty any water from the tank.
    2. Fill the Tank With Vinegar: Fill the water tank with distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar. Allow the vinegar to sit in the tank for at least 30 minutes (up to two hours is best) to help break apart the limescale and mineral deposits.
    3. Heat the Vinegar: Turn on the steamer and choose the highest heat setting. Expel the vinegar into a bucket or sink.
    4. Fill the Tank With Distilled Water: Fill the tank with distilled water and allow the steamer to heat the water. Expel the water into a sink or bucket at the highest steam flow setting.


  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Feb 20, 2023

    Yep I agree with the majority of the answers, it seems like it needs to be descaled to me. I would fill with white vinegar and steam away until it cleans it out completely. First though make sure it is safe to use vinegar in your product.

  • Hi Bracha! The steamer leaks because water has filled the hose and the pressure forces water out from the connection between the water container and the base. To solve this problem, you need to hold the nozzle high to let the water in the hose drain back into the steamer. This unclogs the hose so that steam can flow properly.

  • Bracha Moskoff Bracha Moskoff on Feb 21, 2023

    Wow, thanks for all the answers everyone, I really appreciate it!

  • Mogie Mogie on Mar 02, 2023

    Here is a answer that is a little different but worth checking out. When too much water is added to the water tank, the boiling water will start to “spit” out of the steam nozzle. To prevent this from happening, please be sure to only fill the water tank to the “MAX” line.

  • Deb K Deb K on Apr 24, 2023

    Hi Bracha, it sounds like you may have hard water deposits in your steamer, nope this helps you out.

    Fill the water tank with distilled white vinegar or cleaning vinegar. Allow the vinegar to sit in the tank for at least 30 minutes (up to two hours is best) to help break apart the limescale and mineral deposits.

    Expel the Vinegar: Turn on the steamer and choose the highest heat setting. and expel the vinegar through the steamer then rinse it thoroughly afterwards


  • Frieda Frieda on Apr 24, 2023

    Mix half & half vinegar & water & let sit for about 1 hour. Keep your mixture incase it needs more time.

  • Debra Debra on May 21, 2023

    can you use anything else if you don't have vinegar? Because I cleaned mine with DAWN. I let it soak and all the scaling came out. Just having an issue now with spitting, it has done it before as well.