LG TurboSteam is the name LG gives to the steam function on certain washers and dryers: the machine makes steam inside itself and adds it to a wash or refresh cycle to relax wrinkles, freshen fabric and help with allergen-reduction options. On this site it is listed on the WM5500HVA and WM5500HWA front-load washers and on the DLEX7900BE electric and DLGX5501W gas dryers, and the spec rows for those models show the steam line as “TrueSteam / TurboSteam”. It is a feature of the machine, not a separate appliance and not an accessory you add.
What does TurboSteam mean on an LG washer or dryer?
TurboSteam is a marketing name for the steam system. When you see it in a model description, the machine has a built-in steam source and at least one cycle or option that uses it. On a washer that means a steam option on selected wash cycles. On a dryer it means a steam refresh cycle: the model pages list this as “TrueSteam / TurboSteam refresh”. The name tells you the feature is present; it does not tell you which cycles use it, how long the steam runs or how much water the machine uses. For that, use your owner’s manual, because the exact cycle list differs by model.
Our site describes TrueSteam and TurboSteam together in the entry on LG TrueSteam, which calls TurboSteam the faster version of the same idea. How much faster is not stated on any page here, so we do not give a figure.
Which LG models have TurboSteam?
Among the models on this site, the washers with TurboSteam in the key-tech line are the WM5500HVA, finished in graphite steel, and the WM5500HWA, finished in white. Both are 27 in front-loaders with 5.0 cu ft capacity, TurboWash 360, a Direct Drive Inverter motor and ThinQ with Smart Diagnosis. On the dryer side, the DLEX7900BE is an electric dryer with AI Sensor Dry, an EasyLoad door and a Flow Sense duct-clog indicator, and the DLGX5501W is a gas dryer with AI Sensor Dry and the same Flow Sense duct monitor. You can compare the specification lines on the WM5500HVA page.
Not every LG model has it. The WM4200HWA and WM4200HBA washers list TrueSteam instead, and the heat-pump dryers DLHC1455W and DLHC5502W list standard dry cycles with no steam. If steam matters to you, read the spec line for your exact model number, not the series name.
Where does the steam come from?
Steam on LG washers is made inside the machine by a small generator that heats water on demand, not drawn from the hot-water tap. The site’s washer-steam guide states that no hot-water supply is involved. The same site entry on a washer whose steam has stopped describes the visible result: a thin haze of vapor on the inside of the glass late in the cycle, not a cloud. If you were expecting a visible plume, that is not what a working steam cycle looks like. When steam really does stop, our guide to an LG washer steam not working walks through the supply, the inlet screens, scale and what a technician checks.
What is steam used for in a cycle?
According to the site’s TrueSteam entry, steam penetrates fabric better than hot water alone, so it helps relax wrinkles, reduce common allergens and freshen garments between washes. In practice a steam refresh cycle is for clothes that are clean but creased or stale, such as a shirt that sat in the closet, and not for a heavily soiled load. It is a good fit when you want to skip a full wash. It is not a substitute for a cleaning cycle when something has actually soiled the fabric, and it is not a guarantee of any specific result. Fabric care labels still apply: if a label says no steam, or no heat, follow the label.
Is TurboSteam the same as the Allergiene cycle?
No. Allergiene is a separate cycle on the WM models, and the site lists it as AAFA certified, which is a third-party certification for allergen reduction. TurboSteam is the steam function itself, and a cycle may use it or not. Do not treat one name as proof of the other. Read the Allergiene glossary entry for what the certification covers, and keep the two names apart when you read a spec sheet.
When does a TurboSteam problem need a technician?
A steam fault is usually quiet: the machine washes or dries normally and the steam option does nothing, sometimes with no code. Check the easy things first. Confirm the steam option is selected for that cycle, open both water taps fully and clean the inlet screens after closing the taps and unplugging the machine. A tub-clean cycle on the schedule in your manual also helps keep scale down. If you can smell burning or see water coming from the machine, stop it and switch off its breaker with dry hands. Do not open the cabinet to reach the generator or valve: that is a job for a technician. Our LG washer repair and LG dryer repair pages explain what a visit covers.
