Top positive review
125 people found this helpful
Good inexpensive steam inhaler
By Eileen Long on Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2018
After a recent bout with allergies and inconsistent results from my Neti pot, I decided to look for other alternatives and thought a personal steamer might do the trick. As I looked for a consensus, I noticed there's a huge price disparity between many of them and all of them seem to have a large cadre of haters who have had bad experiences. After quite a bit of research, I decided on this unit and so far I've been very happy with the results. The MABIS is a pretty simple device. There are two water chambers. The first one is the water that gets heated and I only put distilled water into that. There's a little measuring cup that tells you how much to fill it but I usually put in a bit more which I will explain later. The water in that chamber is pulled through holes in the bottom into another section which then heats it to the point where it turns into steam, and the steam shoots out into the breathing tube. Pretty simple. The second water compartment is essentially a little plastic drawer you slide into the device and it is not heated. Instead a tube pulls the liquid out and shoots it in a fine stream into the steam from the other compartment as it rises. This 1) cools the steam so it isn't as hot, and 2) allows you to use aromatherapy with the steam. I personally only use the salt packets from my neti pot in this water compartment as the negative reviews made me nervous to try anything too fancy. I've had good results thus far. A quick note - the water 'drawer' actually has two sides. The bigger side is the one where you put the 'aromatherapy' laden water. The smaller side is under the drain and catches all the water that doesn't leave the device as steam. CARE AND MAINTENANCE - I've been worried since the beginning that the device would stop working but I've had no issues since I bought it three months ago. I'm probably jinxing myself but I've been doing a couple of things that might help others and I thought I'd share them as it took me a while to figure this out. First, I've seen people put the suction hose down into the drain section of the 'aromatherapy drawer' to get a longer run time. Don't do that! While that will work and it will allow you to run the device longer, I suspect the longer running time puts a strain on the device's heating element beyond its design. The device ships with a measure device for the 'distilled water compartment' and if you use it the two sections empty at about the same time. I stopped using the measuring cup but I think they include it as a reminder so people do not use the device for too long (they might also include it for legal reasons as without the 'aromatherapy water' to cool the steam, the steam hitting your face increases in temperature real quick). I overfill the the 'distilled section' because I had a couple of uses when it heated all the water out of the distilled section and I started to smell burnt plastic. That's never a good sign so I make sure the water in the 'distilled' chamber never runs out (which is why I put a little extra in). Then key is to only use the device for as long as the water from the 'aromatherapy drawer' isn't empty. Once it runs out (about 6-7 minutes) - turn off the device, unplug it, let it cool a bit, pull out the aromatherapy drawer and empty the drainage water. Then open the 'distilled chamber' and carefully pour the very hot water down the drain. The residual heat of the device will cause the rest of the water to evaporate, which should help its longevity as leaving water in an electrical device is never a good idea. I also make sure to allow it to completely cool if I feel the need to use it the same day. Perhaps I'm being overcautious but I've used this device almost daily for three months and been very happy. I can see where I may need to replace the soft plastic mask someday as I can't image it will take the repeated heating and cooling forever. I can see no issues with hard plastic warping that others have reported but even if it broke today I'd know I got my money's worth. This device cost less my last three months of allergy medicine and I think it has helped my sinuses more than pills or my neti pot. While I hope it isn't something that needs constant replacement, it's been well worth the price so far (and I know I've jinxed myself).
Top critical review
24 people found this helpful
Infuriating design flaw (and a fix for people experiencing melted/jammed purple aromatherapy tank)
By Dale Turner on Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023
I used this steamer four times, following all "user instructions," before the purple aromatherapy tank melted slightly and fused itself to the back inside of the unit. Ridiculous! Why did this occur on the fourth time? The fourth time is the *only* time I did not partially remove the purple aromatherapy therapy tank, immediately after utilizing the unit. Every single time, of course, as instructed, I turned off the unit and unplugged it. Nowhere in this unit's literature does it say to "also pull out the aromatherapy tank." When I thought about what I did differently the fourth time, that was when I realized the problem. (I also came to Amazon to search through comments, and noticed that this was an insanely common occurrence. How in the world has this company not responded to the vast number of people with this complaint?) Can you use this unit without experiencing this problem? YES. If you make this mistake of buying this thing, after you've run the unit's full cycle, *immediately* pull out the aromatherapy tank, part way. Doesn't need to be all the way out, just partially. (Also, consider wiggling it, periodically during operation, for insurance.) Let everything cool off, and all should be well. Can you get the tank out *after* it fuses/melts into the back of the steamer itself? YES. I figured if I reran the unit, by doing exactly the same type of steaming routine (albeit without filling up the jammed aromatherapy tank), it would soften up whatever was melted in the back of that tank. After running its 10-minute cycle, I unplugged the unit, dumped out all the hot water, pulled off the top, stuck an unused pencil, eraser end first, into the hole at the top of the purple aromatherapy tank, and gently tapped with a hammer. (The eraser end was all the way down into the bottom of the tank, on the front face side.) After gently tapping for several minutes, the purple tank popped out. I cleaned it off super thoroughly, and will resume using it, since I have no choice and need to use this for health issues. Hopefully this helps someone. In the meantime, this company needs to get on the ball, and resolve this, or at least make a more thorough recommendation to "pull the aromatherapy tank out partially after using the steamer." Happy New Year!
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Good inexpensive steam inhaler
By Eileen Long - Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2018
Verified Amazon Purchase
After a recent bout with allergies and inconsistent results from my Neti pot, I decided to look for other alternatives and thought a personal steamer might do the trick. As I looked for a consensus, I noticed there's a huge price disparity between many of them and all of them seem to have a large cadre of haters who have had bad experiences. After quite a bit of research, I decided on this unit and so far I've been very happy with the results. The MABIS is a pretty simple device. There are two water chambers. The first one is the water that gets heated and I only put distilled water into that. There's a little measuring cup that tells you how much to fill it but I usually put in a bit more which I will explain later. The water in that chamber is pulled through holes in the bottom into another section which then heats it to the point where it turns into steam, and the steam shoots out into the breathing tube. Pretty simple. The second water compartment is essentially a little plastic drawer you slide into the device and it is not heated. Instead a tube pulls the liquid out and shoots it in a fine stream into the steam from the other compartment as it rises. This 1) cools the steam so it isn't as hot, and 2) allows you to use aromatherapy with the steam. I personally only use the salt packets from my neti pot in this water compartment as the negative reviews made me nervous to try anything too fancy. I've had good results thus far. A quick note - the water 'drawer' actually has two sides. The bigger side is the one where you put the 'aromatherapy' laden water. The smaller side is under the drain and catches all the water that doesn't leave the device as steam. CARE AND MAINTENANCE - I've been worried since the beginning that the device would stop working but I've had no issues since I bought it three months ago. I'm probably jinxing myself but I've been doing a couple of things that might help others and I thought I'd share them as it took me a while to figure this out. First, I've seen people put the suction hose down into the drain section of the 'aromatherapy drawer' to get a longer run time. Don't do that! While that will work and it will allow you to run the device longer, I suspect the longer running time puts a strain on the device's heating element beyond its design. The device ships with a measure device for the 'distilled water compartment' and if you use it the two sections empty at about the same time. I stopped using the measuring cup but I think they include it as a reminder so people do not use the device for too long (they might also include it for legal reasons as without the 'aromatherapy water' to cool the steam, the steam hitting your face increases in temperature real quick). I overfill the the 'distilled section' because I had a couple of uses when it heated all the water out of the distilled section and I started to smell burnt plastic. That's never a good sign so I make sure the water in the 'distilled' chamber never runs out (which is why I put a little extra in). Then key is to only use the device for as long as the water from the 'aromatherapy drawer' isn't empty. Once it runs out (about 6-7 minutes) - turn off the device, unplug it, let it cool a bit, pull out the aromatherapy drawer and empty the drainage water. Then open the 'distilled chamber' and carefully pour the very hot water down the drain. The residual heat of the device will cause the rest of the water to evaporate, which should help its longevity as leaving water in an electrical device is never a good idea. I also make sure to allow it to completely cool if I feel the need to use it the same day. Perhaps I'm being overcautious but I've used this device almost daily for three months and been very happy. I can see where I may need to replace the soft plastic mask someday as I can't image it will take the repeated heating and cooling forever. I can see no issues with hard plastic warping that others have reported but even if it broke today I'd know I got my money's worth. This device cost less my last three months of allergy medicine and I think it has helped my sinuses more than pills or my neti pot. While I hope it isn't something that needs constant replacement, it's been well worth the price so far (and I know I've jinxed myself).
Infuriating design flaw (and a fix for people experiencing melted/jammed purple aromatherapy tank)
By Dale Turner - Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2023
Verified Amazon Purchase
I used this steamer four times, following all "user instructions," before the purple aromatherapy tank melted slightly and fused itself to the back inside of the unit. Ridiculous! Why did this occur on the fourth time? The fourth time is the *only* time I did not partially remove the purple aromatherapy therapy tank, immediately after utilizing the unit. Every single time, of course, as instructed, I turned off the unit and unplugged it. Nowhere in this unit's literature does it say to "also pull out the aromatherapy tank." When I thought about what I did differently the fourth time, that was when I realized the problem. (I also came to Amazon to search through comments, and noticed that this was an insanely common occurrence. How in the world has this company not responded to the vast number of people with this complaint?) Can you use this unit without experiencing this problem? YES. If you make this mistake of buying this thing, after you've run the unit's full cycle, *immediately* pull out the aromatherapy tank, part way. Doesn't need to be all the way out, just partially. (Also, consider wiggling it, periodically during operation, for insurance.) Let everything cool off, and all should be well. Can you get the tank out *after* it fuses/melts into the back of the steamer itself? YES. I figured if I reran the unit, by doing exactly the same type of steaming routine (albeit without filling up the jammed aromatherapy tank), it would soften up whatever was melted in the back of that tank. After running its 10-minute cycle, I unplugged the unit, dumped out all the hot water, pulled off the top, stuck an unused pencil, eraser end first, into the hole at the top of the purple aromatherapy tank, and gently tapped with a hammer. (The eraser end was all the way down into the bottom of the tank, on the front face side.) After gently tapping for several minutes, the purple tank popped out. I cleaned it off super thoroughly, and will resume using it, since I have no choice and need to use this for health issues. Hopefully this helps someone. In the meantime, this company needs to get on the ball, and resolve this, or at least make a more thorough recommendation to "pull the aromatherapy tank out partially after using the steamer." Happy New Year!
Best Steamer for Singers
By Grace B. - Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
I bought this to use for hydrating and soothing my vocal chords. I sing intensely almost every day (I'm talking huge belty Broadway songs) and I am super impressed with this steamer. I notice a complete difference in my voice and vocal ability. I put sterile saline solution in the purple medicine cup at the base of the device with the little straw in it, and the saline really elevates the hydration. People claim that nebulizers are better because the mist goes deeper into your lungs, but for singing you only need the mist to reach your vocal chords, which are located not very far down your windpipe. I prefer steam to nebulizing because you need the heat to loosen mucus and soothe irritated vocal folds. I really like how much steam this device produces and I like that the mask doesn't over the nose and mouth. I use the steamer until my 15 mL of saline runs out and then I wait 30 minutes before I warm up my voice. It's important to let your vocal chords cool down. The only downside to this device is that it's not very portable because it's not handheld or wireless, but the mypurmist steamer is too expensive. Also, many Broadway actors/actresses use this particular steamer. That's even more encouraging! I'm really glad I bought this and when I need a new one, this is what I will buy. If you're trying to decide between different steamers, this one is the best!
Surprisingly good one
By Jon - Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
This device throws a surprising amount of steam compared to some of the other steamers i've owned. You could take it on a trip , it does require wall power or AC generator to run it. It has a cup for special liquid and has an over flow. my only pet peeve is i would have wanted the water tank, and some of the inners to be made of metal or stain steel or glass so as to not leach PVC's or Dioxins into the water. other than that, a very device.
Excellent Product
By Margaret Grant - Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2019
Verified Amazon Purchase
Have used this for about a week and am very happy with the purchase. Short of having a prescription nebulizer with prescription medication for it, this vaborizer is an excellent choice for home care of bronchitis, etc. which is what I'm using it for. It's easy to use. There are two reservoirs; one for plain water and another for water/liquid steam medications such as Vicks or Equate generic. The construction materials seem to be appropriate -- nothing feels flimsy or cheap. I think it's a good value purchase. Cleaning is easy. Some commenters has talked about the "mask" that actually fits to your nose/mouth; perhaps it could be a bit larger. Well, I'm not so sure that's a valid complaint. On my first use, I attempted to keep my face/nose tight to the mask. I wouldn't advise that because you'll trap the vapor and make the inhalation too hot. I find it works best when I hold my face as close as possible but not actually touching. You can inhale two different ways: 1) mouth 2) nose. You either hold your nose within the "mask" or your nose above the "mask" with your mouth open. Accordingly you'll either breath in through your nose; out your nose or in through your mouth; out your nose. As you experiment, you'll get the hang of it. Instructions aren't perfect, but you do have a brain that'll figure it out. Without a doubt, I'd make this purchase again. Couple this device with a neti pot and I think you'd have a home nasal/throat/lungs therapy session. It's well worth the money. Only time will tell the longevity of the device. UPDATE: I've been using this for three years now, and my review hasn't changed. I have no problem with it's durability. It works!! I only use it when I feel a bout of bronchitis coming on. Some complaints talk about it getting too hot; come on!; it has to be hot to generate steam; steam is hot; I merely move my mouth/nose a quarter inch away and the problem is solved. Some have complained about water condensation where they don't think it should exist; come on!; steam condenses into water; water is fluid; when finished with my treatment I merely have a hand towel available into which I turn the unit upside down and let it rest there until the unit dries. Take the collection tray out before you do that and dump it down the drain. Durability? So far, so good for me. So, if it breaks, take a look at the price and buy another because you'll not find a better, inexpensive unit than this one. I call it a best buy. UPDATE #2: Bought in 2019 and it's now 12/2024. The little orange LED light indicating it's turned on stopped working. Now, I have to be careful with the on/off rotating click in-line switch to be sure whether it's on/off. Unit still works in every way otherwise. I've examined the case carefully and can't find any way to disassemble to get at the LED and doubt it would be a convenient fix anyway. Well past warranty and know a contact with customer service would likely be frustrating. I still must say this steamer is great to use. I like it. Seasonal weather changes, being on vacation with humidity changes, almost always leaves me with an onset of bronchitis. This little unit, along with a Pulmicort inhaler, and Flonase saves me from prolonged weeks of discomfort. Be careful with keeping it clean. My doctor leaves me on my own without a recommendation because he is concerned about breathing in contaminated steam. I clean the unit and boil the water to make a saline solution for use.
Almost 5 star except for this problem
By Gr8mole - Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2022
Verified Amazon Purchase
Mabis model 40-741-000 is a 5 star product except for the following. We really hope that Mabis's customer care, quality control, & technical/engineering team take a note of this issue and solve this failure mode via detailed root cause analysis. Mabis model 40-741-000 is probably the safest steam inhaler with the best basic design that is available on Amazon. Best basic design does not necessarily mean equally best on detailed mechanical design, material selection, or quality control. Please refer attached picture. We have bought 6 of these since 2015. All except the current one in use (i.e. 5 out of 6) had the same failure mode. The lid has 2 tabs that fit into the thread of the internal water heater tank. One of those tabs breaks after some use. We have no doubt that the 6th one is going to break the same way. On the last few purchases we have taken the lid out of the new box and put it on the old device. All other parts still new & in the box. The first one purchased in 2015 lasted 3 years, the 2 after that have broken after a year's use. The recent 2 broke within months. We think we are not using it roughly or abusing the product. We went through the manual several times to ensure we are using as advised. It seems like fatigue failure. It is probably combination of poor mechanical design, incorrect assumptions about usage conditions, incorrect material choice, poor quality control, or all of the above. We really hope that Mabis's customer care, quality control, & technical/engineering team take a note of this issue and solve this failure mode via detailed root cause analysis.
Great multi use steam inhalation device
By Robert DeFonte - Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2025
Verified Amazon Purchase
The mabis inhalation therapy steamer is a great inhalation device. Works great. Is perfect for anyone who needs inhalation or aroma therapy.
Never Again Ignore Past Review Writers
By LJ Antigua, Caribbean - Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2023
Verified Amazon Purchase
I had used the Mabis steam inhaler just once (ONCE!) and the tank got stuck. I could not understand what was happening at first, but realised, after trying forcefully to pull it free several times, that it must have gotten seriously stuck.... by the heat. I then went online to see if this was an issue and how to resolve it; and lo and behold, having typed in "stuck" in the customer reviews, I hit gold - the amount of complaints I saw about this one design flaw, written about since 2018 (and perhaps earlier), was enough to convince me to indicate that this product should not be sold until further notice! There was no warning about leaving the item plugged in; or hint that one should pull out the aromatherapy tank slightly to prevent this. It is unconscionable that the company should see fit to continue sales and marketing, knowing this regrettable feature of the product. Why Amazon did not pick up on this unfortunate fact, and stop/ban the product and so protect its integrity, is also a surprise. But, having run out of guarantee time, I was determined NOT to lose out on this; and continue to let the product work its time. So, I've had to improvise and use a tiny funnel to fill the aromatherapy tank, having removed the removeable hose (and suck-tion out the drain tank, if necessary), to continue to use same. Another thing, that blue plastic face guard? It doesn't sit well over the opening. One has to constantly hold it down - which is not good, and most inconvenient and uncomfortable. So, it's ONE STAR for now - there's always hope and room for improvement, once there's life, as someone in marketing must be checking the notice-board!
best of the lot not perfect but good
By Tonycubed2 - Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
Verified Amazon Purchase
I bought this along with the two similaarly priced Vics units. This unit is far faa better. One of the vics units takes 5 minutes to start and barely puts out anything. The other Vics unit puts out some steam but not enough. This opnerivals the steaam output of a large Vics floor machine. It is powerful; And quick to coe out. this unit also has a separaate little compartment to add oils or Vapo Steam liquid. Other 2 did not. Quality 1s good with the rubber funnel thaat faces your face being somewhat lacking. Aall units this small aare meant for 5 to 10 minute treatments and then they run out. They are not mean to be used for many hours while sleeping. Amazon does carry the full size vicks unit for half the price of local stores. Like 15 dollars. Worth buying for all night use. For a quick treatment, this one is fine.
WHOA! That's a lot of steam!
By Josh Fields - Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2010
Verified Amazon Purchase
This is a fantastic product, works just as advertised, seems of very high quality components, has a few great features, is easy to use, and gives a dramatic improvement in symptoms. So why only four-stars? Simple: it works WAY too well. I mean, it feels like I'm holding my face over an 8-qt pot of water which has been boiling rapidly for 10 minutes or so. I can't physically bear the pain to put my face fully on the mask for more than a second or two; my face burns, my lips burn, even the insides of my nostrils burn. I realize that this may better than others on the market that don't produce enough steam, but it was way too much for me. It does include a "variable steam control," however this doesn't seem to reduce the volume that much. According to the manual, this controls the "size of the steam particles," and suggest you choose based on whether you're inhaling through your nose or mouth. I'm not sure exactly what they mean by that, since, to my knowledge, you can't change the size of water vapor... but then again, there is a lot I don't know about the world, so maybe I'm wrong. Regardless, the control should have more effect on the volume of steam, or they should add a heat control. Sure it wouldn't be as simple, but everyone could find their exact comfort zone. Some people get on me about reducing star ratings in reviews for products that work too well. My question is: If your oven far exceeds the temperature you set it at, is that just working too well? What about a lighter that works so well it lights your beard on fire? I hate to go here, but what about the recalled Toyotas? Those worked a little too well... Back to the point: I think that product manufacturers need to take personal preferences into consideration when designing a product like this. Not everyone is going to like steam burns on their face more than they like their congestion.I really think a simple heat control, or a better steam control would make this product perfect for most folks' needs. That said, the situations in which I use it do lend themselves to not having my face crammed in the mask. If I hold my face a few inches away, I get the perfect amount of steam, and can still the computer screen and desk, so I can work on composing, homework, editing photos, what-have-you. Overall, unless you know you are extremely sensitive to steam, I would absolutely recommend this product. Even if you do have to hold your face a few inches away, it still works wonders, and is very durably made. EDIT: 10/17/10: I figured out that if you mix a saline solution to put in the aromatherapy chamber, but let the saline solution cool for a few minutes (or mix it cold, but that's not my thing) then the temperature of the steam seems to be a bit cooler. Not a massive difference, but enough so that I can put my face up to the mask for about 10 seconds at a time now.
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