I don't use steam, ever. Our tap water is so darn hard I'm sure it'll screw up any iron and they all say to only use tap water these days. The rowenta travel iron I have says to not use soft water or bottled water. Some people don't have any other choice-most people around here have to have a water softener. We do have unsoftened water in our kitchen cold tap and outside but you can almost see the lime come through the tap.