A fabric treatment appliance comprises a steam generator having a housing with an inner surface defining a chamber and having a surface treatment that inhibits adherence of scale to the inner surface. In another embodiment, the fabric treatment appliance can include a water supply line configured to supply water from a household water supply to the steam generator and a filter fluidly coupled to the water supply line and configured to filter water supplied to the steam generator to thereby inhibit formation of scale and sludge.