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If you want to keep your clothes wrinkle-free and looking great a clothes steamer might be the choice for you. They are super simple to use and are quicker than setting up and iron and ironing board. And, who really enjoys ironing, anyway…?
In this guide to the best upright clothes steamers, we’ll help you:
Here is a summary of the best upright clothes steamers:
Best Overall - Tefal Ixeo Power QT2020
Best for Ease of Use - Fridja F1000 Vertical Clothes Steamer
Best for Sanitising - Tefal Cube Steam Sanitiser Clothes Care System
Best for Value for Money - Quest 42320 Upright Garment and Fabric Steamer
Our pick for the best overall upright clothes steamer is the Tefal Ixeo Power QT2020. It’s not the cheapest, but if you see the purchase of an upright steamer as a long-term purchase and if you are going to use it a lot it’s well worth the money. It does take quite some time to set up initially and isn’t the smallest unit to store, but it really performs!
The steam element packs a punch with ⅝ bar pressure giving 90g/min of continuous stream and a massive 200g/min boost when the trigger is pulled all from a significant 1.1lite water tank.
The Tefal Ixeo Power’s design is super flexible allowing you to steam clothes upright, angle the board horizontally or at a 30 degree angle, giving the ability to essentially use as you would with a normal ironing board.
Product Dimensions: 40 x 40 x 168 cm
Capacity: 1 litres
Power/Wattage: 2170 watts
Weight: 13.3kg
The super simple Fridja F1000 is our pick for the best upright clothes for ease-of-use. It’s very straightforward to set up initially and to use. Simply fill-up the extremely large 2.2 litre water tank, turn on and steam.
With a quick time to steam of 35 seconds and a water tank that provides over 60 minutes of steam time, the Fridja is an all-round and easy-to-use winner.
Product Dimensions: 32 x 25 x 80 cm; 5.4 Kilograms
Capacity: 2.2 litres
Power/Wattage: 1500 watts
Voltage: 230
Material: Stainless Steel
Special Features: Corded
Item Weight: 5.4 kg
If you’re looking for the added benefit of refreshing and sanitising your clothes, the Tefal Cube is the option for you. Doubling-up as an iron, this clothes steamer, whilst not exactly upright offers you the ability to easily freshen-up items around your home including cushions, pet and dog beds, curtains and soft toys.
Very light for ease of moving around your house and a powerful 90g/min of steam, with the ability to boost to 200g/min this is a great option for freshening not only your clothes but your soft furnishings too.
Product Dimensions: 24.4 x 15.5 x 30.5 cm
Capacity: 1.1 litres
Power/Wattage: 2170 watts
Item Weight: 3.8 kg
The very popular and well-rated (over 1,000 4-star rating on Amazon) is our choice for the best value for money clothes steamer. Whilst functional in design, the Quest 42320 delivers on steam output, ease-of-use and performance.
Product Dimensions: 40 x 36 x 29 cm
Wattage: 1800 watts
Item Weight: 4.29 kg
You might or might not be aware that if your clothes get wrinkled, 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 easier 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 an upright 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 the boot of a car 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.
Upright clothes steamers are a great and easy option for anyone looking to regularly iron a number of garments. They are easy to use, can be set-up quickly and, in most circumstances, can replace an iron and ironing board and iron.
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.
