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If you want to keep your clothes wrinkle-free a clothes steamer might be a better and speedier choice than an iron. After all, does anyone really like ironing..?
There are two types of clothes steamer, a handheld steamer, which is the focus of this guide and an upright steamer which is more suitable for someone looking to steam a lot of garments.
In this guide to the best handheld clothes steamers, we’ll help you:
Here is a summary of the best handheld clothes steamers:
Best Overall - Steamery Cirrus 2 Handheld Clothes Steamer
Best for Ease of Use - Electrolux Portable Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer
Best for Travelling - Philips Steam and Go Plus Handheld Clothes Steamer
Best for Value for Money - Beautural Foldable Clothes Steamer
The Steamery Cirrus 2 from the very cool and stylish Swedish based Steamery brand wins our vote for the best overall steamer. The Cirrus 2 combines style, excellent production quality and fantastic performance. With a gentle, but effective steam action, this device is super easy and will effortlessly make your clothes wrinkle-free.
A great and very popular from the well-known Electrolux brand. With “Pump Steam” technology to prevent leaking, plenty of steam power and a decent-length power cord, this is a great all-around model.
This lightweight, compact and portable clothes steamer from Philips is our choice for “best for travelling”. With a small but efficient 70ml water tank and 1 minute heating time, this is the perfect clothes steamer for packing in your suitcase.
The very popular and highly-rated Beautural foldable clothes steamer is our winner for “best value for money”. With a large water tank, 30-second heating time and the ability to be used on pretty much all fabric types this is a great value choice.
You might or might not be aware that if your clothes get wrinkled on your travels, you can hang them in the bathroom while taking a shower and the wrinkles will be no more. Well, the principle of a Clothes Steamer is much the same - only quicker and more powerful!
Simply add water to the steamer, allow it to heat up and run the steamer over the garment in a downward motion with the steamer trigger pressed and the steam will release the wrinkles for a beautiful crease-free garment.
There are a number of benefits to using a clothes steamer, including
There are two main types of clothes steamer with each type having a different use.
A clothes steamer offers a greater deal of flexibility when compared to an iron. They are portable - even the upright models can be moved - and can easily fit into a suitcase if need be.
They are great if you are short of time and don’t need an iron board to make your clothes wrinkle-free. They also offer the added benefit of giving your clothes a refresh - and killing certain bacteria - if they’ve been folded in a suitcase.
But, if you’re looking for your clothes to be pristinely pressed, go for an iron.
The size of the water will dictate how long the steam can be used without refilling. If you’re looking to steam a lot of clothes or upholstery in one go, you should choose a clothes steamer with a larger water tank. Ordinarily, upright clothes steamers have larger water tanks.
Different types of fabrics will require different steam output and therefore different steam settings. For delicate fabrics such as silk that have a lower tolerance to temperature, a lower steam setting will be required.
In most cases, someone is looking for a quick fix to their wrinkle problem, so the time it takes to heat the device and for it to be ready to use, is very important. Most devices will heat up and be operational within a couple of minutes, but be sure to check before purchasing.
The device's weight will depend on whether it’s an upright or portable model. Upright models are, unsurprisingly, heavier than portable devices.
Also, remember to consider the size of the water tank as this will impact the weight when in use.
This feature only relates to upright steamer models but is a very important consideration as it will directly impact how comfortable it is to use the device. An adjustable unit will allow you to steam a lot of garments in one session as it will simply be more comfortable.
Nearly all clothes steamers will come with some accessories, such as lint brushes, or trousers press attachments. Double-check which accessories are included prior to purchasing.
It’s a simple equation. The higher the wattage, the more powerful the steamer will be. In an ideal world, look for a clothes steamer with a minimum output of 1,500 watts.
Some clothes steamers require a trigger or button to be pressed or held in order for the steam unit to work. If you want to steam a number of garments in one go, a trigger might be uncomfortable, so check before committing to a purchase.
Clothes steamers can be used on most fabrics, but double-check the instructions provided with the device beforehand. You shouldn’t use steam on suede, plastic-type materials or wax-based jackets.
If you’re looking to take a clothes steamer when you travel, make sure it’s lightweight and can fit comfortably into a bag or suitcase, remembering to include space for any accompanying accessories.
For upright units, the hose length will dictate how high you can steam. For long dresses, make sure you have a good, lengthy hose.
Again, this is more relevant for upright units. If you’re going to be steaming at scale, make sure you have a long enough cord, so that you won’t have to keep moving the unit of garments themselves.
Yes, a clothes steamer works really well on upholstery and curtains. In fact, much like garments, upholstery can be reinvigorated by steam. Just be careful to check the suitable fabric types in the device instructions before steaming - some fabrics such as velvet or very heavy materials can react badly to steam.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best handheld clothes steamers. Clothes steamers are a great and easy alternative to an iron and can really help with making your clothes wrinkle-free.
Our editors have independently selected and reviewed all of the products you see here. The reviews can contain links from affiliates, which means we may receive a small commission on editorially chosen products purchased through our links.
