I have a Proctor Silex that I've had for a lot of years. It has a spray and a steam function and I use tap water in it. I also have a water softener so don't know if that's an important part of it's long existence or not. I remember running vinegar water through it at some point--like we do for coffee makers--when I thought it was getting a little sluggish on steam. No automatic shut-off but I'd think would be a problem for those of us who want instant heat when we want to press.