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.