Garment steamers have caused second-degree burns, so 500,000 have been recalled

Garment steamers should make your clothes look better, not make you scream in pain before heading to the emergency room or urgent care. That’s why Empower Brands recalled about 518,500 Black & Decker Easy Garment Steamers.

The exact problem, as stated in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice: “The steamers can expel, spray or leak hot water during use, posing a burn hazard to consumers.”

And, this is no idle concern, as Empower has “received 241 reports of hot water expelling from the steamer, including 32 reports of burn injuries, two of which were second-degree burns.”

This covers model Nos. HGS011 with date codes 102ZJ through 204ZJ; HGS011S with date codes 104ZJ through 210ZJ; and HGS011F with date codes 102ZJ through 210ZJ. The model numbers are on the steamer’s bottom. The date codes can be found on the plug blades. If the steamer has a green dot on the bottom of the package or a notched triangle on the underside of the assembly, it’s not in this recall.

The steamers were sold online and in the brick-and-mortar Walmart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond and other retailers from June 2021 through September of this year.

If you have this steamer, reach out to Empower to get a free upper assembly replacement either online; via email at hgsrecall@brandprotectplus.com; or by calling 800-990-5298, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern time.

What should you do if food in your fridge or pantry is recalled? You have some choices