Third-party cartridges exist and generally work; what matters is that one is fitted at all, because an exhausted cartridge fails silently.
The water simply stops being treated, and nothing on the machine says so. On models with an indicator, follow it; on models without, set a reminder by water hardness.
Where originals are worth the premium is on machines that meter cartridge life electronically — a pattern cartridge may not be recognized.
Whatever you fit, price a year of them before choosing between two steam cleaners: on cheap machines, that figure can decide the purchase.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15