The steamer for use in stripping wallpaper comprises a housing (1) accommodating a water tank (2), an electronically heated steam generator (3) and an electric pump (7) for pumping water from the tank to the steam generator (3). The steamer also has a base portion (4) with a peripheral wall (5) and forming a steam chamber (6) to which steam is supplied by the steam generator (3). The water tank (2) has a water capacity of substantially 400cc. The electric heating element has an electrical rating of 1.2 Kw. The pumping rate of the pump (7) to is about 25cc/minute. These values allow a user to use the steamer for about 20 minutes before the water tank (2) needs filling.