Steamfast SF-465 QuickSteam Professional Garment Steamer

I used this product for 3 years- about 3-4 times a week. I would say moderate usage. I went to turn it one one day and nothing. The light was on but nothing happened so I followed the manual and cleaned the mineral deposits which I shouldn't have had and a ton of black rocks came out into my sink! Anyhow, after cleaning it out, still nothing so I'm assuming the motor/engine whatever powers the thing is dead. I won't try to get it fixed as I am done with this model. Another thing I noticed is that when I would steam garments, it would deposit black stuff on my clothes. It did come out when I washed it but really... Poorly made if you ask me. It got two stars instead of one because it do the job when it wasn't spewing black and when it worked.

This steamer does the job of getting the wrinkles out and it heats up fast. However, you have to be very careful because the water drips from the steamer head and the water is very hot! When it drips, it drips on your clothes so you're spending time trying to dry out the water drips on your clothes. You have to be careful, because sometime when you have the hose tilted, it can drip down your hand and the water is very hot! I don't know if I just received a bad model, but the model that I got broke down on me twice! First time it broke down on me was within 6-month that I own the steamer, the power stops working, no power, no heat, so since it was within the warranty, I sent it back, they fixed it. But, after 6-month of receiving it, the power stops working again! So it appears that the lifetime for this model is 6-months, at least the model that I received anyway. To me, it's not worth the trouble to pack it up again, ship it and wait for it to come back, plus I'm out of my warranty period. I don't use this everyday, maybe 4-times a month at most. I don't know why the power just stops working after 6-month of use, but when it works, it works great.

I bought this steamer in August 2005, and I swore I would never iron again. I used it 2-3 times a week, and it was fantastic. The only problem I had was that it would occasionally get clogged with mineral deposits which would come out onto the clothes, but using distilled water helped solve that problem.But a month ago, the heating element in the main unit stopped working. Top Innovations said they could send a new unit, but the cost of that was only a little less than buying a whole new steamer. I've noticed that most clothing stores use steamers made by Jiffy, which is where my next steamer will be coming from.UPDATE JANUARY 2011: I've been using the  Jiffy Steamer J-2000 Residential Series 1300-Watt Garment Steamer  ever since I wrote the initial review, and it has been really terrific -- even better than my old SteamFast. And it hasn't broken down! I'd recommend the Jiffy over this one.

I love this steamer. It's the second one I've bought. I had the same one for over 10 years and then bought a new one when I had to. Works well and is easy to use. Once in a while it spits water onto my clothing.

After a year it is clogged up with calcium and won't work. Tried the white vinegar cleaning but still does not work.

I was happy with this product when it worked, but it didn't last long enough to justify the expense (in spite of the fact that I was very careful to follow all manufacturer's instructions). It stopped working on my first morning back to school, and as a teacher/mother, I don't have time for the last minute crisis it created. I'm looking for a better one to purchase, but because I didn't get my money's worth from this one, I'm worried about spending too much for the next one.

Broke after a few months

I've read great reviews about this steamer and poor reviews. The poor reviews claim that the unit did not work. The great reveiws report claims of great steam fast, just like the Good HouseKeeping seal. I figured that if I bought the unit from Amazon, I could always return it if I was unsatisfied. I like to steam my clothes. I have a Jiffy portable unit for travel and home. I wanted to get a full size unit for home use. This unit is great. It heats up fast (less than a minute). Be sure to hold the trigger and wait. It is not a passive steamer. A pump activates to provide a nice flow of steam. This unit has a water filter. It slides into the drain plug on the bottom of the unit. In the package you will receive information about accessories. I called the support company, Top Innovations and ordered a few extra supplies. I ordered two extra water filters (for $2.99 each) and also a A-465-K1 Accessory Kit. This kit has an entirely separate hose and nossle with various attachments. This will allow me to steam clean counters, stove, tile. I want it to clean the interior floors of my vehicles after the winter. I hope this information helps. If you are considering a home unit with fast steam, a water filter and available accessories, then this may be the model for you. Michael from Johnstown, Pennsylvania