Clothes steamers allow you to quickly and easily remove creases from your clothes without having to wrestle with a bulky ironing board. And when you want to make sure your outfit is wedding ready at a moment’s notice, a clothes steamer will save you a trip to the dry cleaners too.
Our guide to using clothes steamers includes some handy tips and a few of our favourite models for tackling your creased garments at home.
How to use a steamer
What does a steamer do to clothes? They basically works in the same way that steam irons do. Simply turn one on, wait for it to quickly heat up, then use it on your creased clothes. The power of steam goes to work on even the most troublesome of creases, getting rid of them easily.
5 top tips for using a clothes steamer
Here are some helpful tips to make every clothes steaming session as effective as possible:
Always use distilled water: This helps to stop the clothes steamer getting clogged up over time.
Make sure the water’s fully heated: Let your clothes steamer warm up first for the best results.
Hang the clothes you want to steam: Use a hook or clothes hanger so you have 360-degree access. The weight of the clothes will also help lessen creases.
Always hold the steamer nozzle upright: This prevents any drips or spills on your clothes or floor.
Lightly brush fabrics with the nozzle: This can help the steam to penetrate the material better. But be careful with fabrics like silk and velvet — you’ll want to hold the nozzle at least an inch away.
What is the best clothes steamer for home use?
From small handheld steamers to full upright garment blasters, there are loads of clothes steamers ideal for home use. Here are a few of our favourites…
A portable clothes steamer for convenience
The Breville CompactSteam Travel Clothes Steamer might look small, but it packs a steamy punch. It can straighten out even the most crumpled clothing — and its ergonomic design makes it comfortable and easy to use.
Even the most delicate fabrics can be safely steamed, so you don’t have to worry about ruining that silk shirt you love. And it heats up in just 26 seconds, so even if you’re in a rush to get out of the door you’ll still be able to look the part.
What’s more, if you’re going away on holiday or a business trip, you can still look sharp thanks to its foldable design. It’ll easily fit in your suitcase and even comes with a handy heat-resistant storage bag to keep it and anything around protected.
Go large for even quicker steaming
When you need a bit more steam, the Pifco Upright Garment Steamer gives you plenty of power. With a 2100W power output and a large 1.8 litre water tank, you can steam through a pile of your wrinkled clothes in one go.
The large steam head diffuses the steam and lets you effortlessly refresh and sanitise your favourite outfits, killing up to 99.9% of bacteria and odours. And you won’t have to worry about getting a nasty burn either, as a heat protective glove comes included.
Three steam settings help you remove creases from all types of fabric, from delicate silk blouses to thick corduroy jackets. And the vertical support with an included clothes hanger can hold whichever item you want to steam in place — meaning no aching arm holding up that shirt or dress!
A powerful clothes steamer that does the work for you
For super-powerful and efficient steaming, the Tefal Care for You YT4050 Automatic Clothes Steamer is the model to go for. It’s one of the best clothes steamers out there and can automatically reduce creases and dry up to three garments at the same time. All you have to do is hang up your clothes, add the included straightening weights, and the machine will handle the rest.
It can get to work on wrinkles in as little as 10 minutes, letting you crack on with the rest of your morning routine. It has a few cycles to suit all kinds of fabrics too, and there’s even a 40-minute sanitise setting that kills 99.99% of viruses and germs — perfect for children’s clothes and toys.
When it’s done, you can easily tuck the steamer away thanks to its clever retractable design. You don’t have to lift it either, as there are wheels on the base. Making it a breeze to move under the stairs or into a storage cupboard.
FAQs
How does a clothes steamer work?
A clothes steamer works by converting the water stored in its tank into steam. This is then directed onto your clothes so the steam can penetrate the fabric and relax the fibres — removing the wrinkles. It's gentler than ironing as it doesn't require direct contact with the fabric, meaning there's less risk of heat damage.
Can I steam any fabric?
Clothes steamers are safe for most fabrics including cotton, linen, wool, silk, and polyester. But you do need to be careful with more delicate materials like velvet, chiffon, and synthetics as they’re more sensitive to heat.
Any more questions?
Need more help deciding on the best tech for tackling creases? Then chat to one of our tech experts on ShopLive. They’ll happily answer all your questions and can help you checkout when you’ve made your choice. Or read our best steam irons for wrinkle-free clothes article if you like getting the ironing board out!
