I've been using this machine to make 2-3 gallons of distilled water a week. It takes 3.5 hours to do almost a gallon. Seems to be built fine; I got the black one. Mine does not steam at all. All the steam goes into the distiller coils and condenses into the gallon jug. Usually I pour the water into leftover distilled water jugs to use in a CPAP, my cat water fountain, and my Nespresso machine. I store it above my cupboards in two pieces covered with tea towels. I keep the metal “funnel” and straw, the metal jug cap, and the cord inside the main container. And the lid sits beside it. How I clean it after each use: after 3.5 hours I turn it off before it can run down. Carefully, I unplug both the wall cord and the lid cord. Then I lift the top which can be tricky because the bottom is no longer heavy enough to make it easy. Then I sprinkle about a tablespoon of citric acid in the leftover hot water. Swirl around and wait a few minutes, then take a dish scrubber to the bottom. All the residue comes right up. Just rinse it out and it's ready for storage, or another filling of hot tap water and go again.
CS 
