PURPOSE: To prevent a condensate from falling on a washed article from a ceiling, by raising the surface temp. of the ceiling of a steam washing tank, inclining the ceiling surface or constituting said ceiling surface from a non-condensible material.

CONSTITUTION: The article 3 to be washed in the horizontal cylindrical steam washing tank 1 is washed by solvent vapor and vapor is condensed on a cooling surface 2 and recovered in a receiving tank 9 to be recirculated to and reused in the vapor washing tank. In order to prevent the condensate from falling to the article 3 to be washed from a ceiling 8, a heating means 10 is provided to the surface of the ceiling 8, the surface of the ceiling 8 is inclined or a member for constituting the ceiling 8 is constituted of a non-condensible material.