How To Choose The Best Clothes Steamer?

A clothes steamer is a great addition to your household. Steaming clothes to get the creases out is easy, simple, and takes far less effort than using an iron.

A good clothes steamer can save you a lot of time when you are getting ready for a big meeting or a night out, and they can really take the pressure off doing a week’s worth of ironing. Another great bonus is that the heat from the steam removes bacteria from clothes!

You’ll still have to wash them of course, but removing creases AND bacteria is a great bonus.

We have scoured the products out there and found the best clothes steamer available on the UK market, based on their efficiency, price and effectiveness.

Key Considerations When Buying A Clothes Steamer

a) Size

When you look for the best clothes steamer, you are searching for the one that fits your lifestyle the best. Are you looking for a large steamer that can cope with a lot of clothes traffic? Or do you want a small, portable steamer that you can fit in your luggage to take away with you? Whichever type you are after, you need to consider a few things. Does it do the job you want? Does it fit in your house? Does it fit in your bag?

b) Time To Heat Up

If, like most people these days, you are constantly running around and never have time to get anything done, you want a steamer that works efficiently and doesn’t take up too much extra time. There are steamers out there that will heat up very quickly and enable you to steam your clothes very fast, thus saving you a lot of time getting ready – and of course, not having to put up an ironing board and wait for the iron to heat up will save you valuable time.

c) Accessories

Some steamers come with very useful accessories, beyond even the steamer itself. You can get hooks to hang clothes from; a fabric brush to allow the steam to penetrate deeper; a pleat attachment specifically designed for steaming creases into trousers perfectly; and a steam bonnet for dealing with the more delicate fabrics. Some also provide a useful glove to prevent you from steaming your hands! You shouldn’t base your purchase on what you get free with a model, but having some added extras is always a nice touch.

d) Ease To Adjust Steam

Many steamers have different outputs for different clothes, so you can adjust the heat depending on what type of fabric you are steaming. This means that you can steam just about any item of clothing you have (except for ones that specifically state that they shouldn’t be ironed).

Best Clothes Steamer: Reviews

1. Philips GC362/86 Steam&Go Plus Handheld Review

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This is a very streamlined, sleek little steamer which allows you to steam your clothes just about anywhere you happen to find yourself! It’s easy to use and very efficient; despite its small size, one tank of water will de-crease one item of clothing, so you won’t have to stop halfway through and fill it up. It’s a very smart steamer too, with an ergonomic design and contemporary copper and black colours, and it is also very light and so won’t strain any muscles. Versatility is a key feature, as it can be used up or down or all over, and it provides a smooth wrinkle free finish.

What we like about it:

• No need for an ironing board – you can steam your clothes anywhere and any way you like.
• This device works just as well either horizontally or vertically, and will not leak or dribble all over your clothes.
• It offers continuous steam thanks to its electric pump, so you can de-wrinkle a garment in a very short space of time.
• Safe for use on any clothes that are suitable for ironing, even on your delicate items.
• Light and easily portable, so you can easily throw it in your luggage and take it away with you.

2. Tefal DT8150 Access Steam Handheld Garment/Clothes Steamer Review

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A very sophisticated hand held steamer, this one uses a ceramic coating on its heated plate to allow a more even result and greater effectiveness. It is safe for all fabrics – well, all fabrics that can be ironed, anyway – and it comes with its own set of accessories. This one will save you no end of time – it heats up very quickly, allowing you to deal with last minute wrinkles without having to wait ages for your steamer to heat up!

What we like about it:

• It has two steam levels; 20g per minute for your delicate items, and 26g per minute for everything else.
• It is easy to refill – the 0.2L tanks simply slips off to allow you to add more water and do more steaming.
• Comes with an extra long 3 metre cord, so you don’t have to do your steaming cramped around your electrical socket.
• The five accessories make this a versatile model – you will receive a travel bag to store it in, a fabric brush, a pleat attachment, a steam bonnet and a door hook.
• The steam trigger can be locked into place, meaning that you won’t strain your finger holding it down for long periods.

3. VonHaus Upright Clothes Steamer Review

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This upright steamer is ideal for people who prefer steaming to ironing, and who do all their wrinkle-removing with a steamer. It is a heavy duty piece of equipment, capable of powering through your ironing pile in no time. It’s especially good at removing stubborn creases, or for steaming larger than average pieces of fabric or clothing.

What we like about it:

• The seven aperture nozzle covers a large surface area, making this machine ideal for large items. You can even steam your curtains!
• It’s very fast, and will be ready for active duty in just 45 seconds from when you turn it on.
• The large 2200ml tank will give you enough steam for about 45 minutes, so you won’t have to stop and fill it up halfway through the ironing pile.
• Comes with a garment attachment stand. No more fiddling about with coat hangers on the back of doors, simply hang your clothes on the rail and steam away.
• Despite its heavy duty appearance, this one is also suitable for delicate fabrics – simply select the lower steam setting for your more flimsy items.

4. Tefal DR8085 Access Steam Handheld Garment Steamer Review

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This is a simple, easy to use steamer that is highly portable and so suitable for taking out an about with you, whether for a business trip, a holiday, or a trip to stay with friends. It’s compact and ergonomic, making it comfortable to use – and much easier on the back than an iron! It’s a strong, powerful steamer, despite its small size, so you will still get good results on even the most creased of items.

What we like about it:

• It is suitable either for use as a last minute touch up for your clothes, or for long term use to replace your iron.
• Comes with easy to follow instructions – don’t worry if you’ve never used a steamer like this before, the steamer will take you through the basics and set you on your way.
• Steam trigger locks in place to deliver continuous steam so your finger doesn’t get tired.
• This model comes with a fabric brush and a steam cover as well as the steamer itself, so you won’t have to buy these items separately.
• The steam output is up to 24g per minute – this is a lot of punch to be packed by such a small model!

5. Homeasy Clothes Steamer 1500W Handheld Portable Garment Steamer Review

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Although it looks like a small white alien, this is actually a very powerful handheld steamer that will deliver you great results even on the toughest of creases. It will actually promise you quality steaming in less than 25 seconds – a big performance from a small model! This is thanks to its 1500W of power. It has a high steam output, and its wide nozzle allows it to steam large areas easily.

What we like about it:

• Because of its long cord, you can move about and steam at all angles with this model. You can even use it upside down, and it won’t spit or leak!
• This one is not just for clothes. You can use it to steam your furniture, curtains, bedding, kid’s toys, and much more besides.
• The large 280ml water tank provides about 15 minutes of continuous steaming, so you can get all the creases out of all your clothes for the day before having to stop and refill it.
• Comes with added extras – you will also receive a 2 in 1 lint remover, along with a “plump and refresh” brush for your cushions. Also included is a glove to prevent you from scalding yourself, and a handy bag to store your steamer in.
• Plate is made from ceramic material allows a uniform temperature and conductivity for the most efficient steaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to use a steamer to iron clothes?

Always check your garment labels to make sure that they are suitable for steam cleaning – some of the more delicate items will not respond well to hot temperatures, and it may damage them or the steamer.

As a general rule, silk, chiffon, velvet, nylon and some other manmade fabric may not like being steamed. Turning the garment inside out is generally the best way to ensure a good steaming.

1. Fill the steamer’s reservoir with cold water, then plug it in. These little steamers usually heat up to temperature within 2-3 minutes, so you don’t have to wait too long to get the wrinkles out of your clothes.
2. Check for steam by pressing the trigger and making sure a good cloud of steam appears.
3. Next, hang up the garment you want to steam on a coat hanger, or on a door handle at a pinch.
4. Run the steamer down the garment, using long slow strokes. Press the button every now and then to release more steam, if you hit a particularly wrinkled patch.
5. If your garment has embellishments such as sequins, buttons or pleats, hold the steamer further back – a couple of inches from the fabric should suffice.
6. Lastly, allow the garment to dry thoroughly in its hanging position, before you put it on and hit the town.

2. How to clean a clothes steamer?

You can easily clean your clothes steamer, without fuss or chemicals, and it’s a super easy and convenient process.

• Fill the reservoir with one part white vinegar and two parts distilled water.
• Allow the steamer to run, keeping an eye on it, until you see that about half the solution has disappeared.
• Allow the water to cool down so you don’t burn yourself, then empty out the tank and refill it with the same solution.
• Repeat the process above a couple of times (if you suspect a blockage in your steamer then keep repeating this until the blockage has gone).
• Now, empty out the reservoir again and fill it with pure distilled water. Run the steamer again, until half the water has disappeared.
• Let everything air dry completely before you use the steamer again.

If you use your steamer regularly you should look at repeating this process monthly, to keep it functioning at its very best. If you use it less often then you can get away with cleaning it less – but remember than keeping it clean and maintained will make it perform as well as the day you bought it.

3. Where to buy a clothes steamer?

This is not the sort of item you can just pick up as an impulse buy in a supermarket (though the “middle aisle” of certain discount shops may sometimes come up trumps!)

Larger appliances shops such as Argos, should be able to give you what you are after. Dedicated electrical shops also often carry a range, so have a search about your local area. If you can’t find anything in person, or if you live in the middle of nowhere with only small local shops and farmer’s markets, then the internet is your best bet for finding your clothes steamer.