Let’s face it – ironing is very far from the top of the list when it comes to our favourite things to do, and we suspect we speak for the entire nation. Clothes steamers – which smooth out creases from a wide range of items without the need for an ironing board – are a brilliant alternative to traditional irons. They not only take up far less space but are more portable, compact and typically come with a much lower price tag.
If you’re considering investing in a clothes steamer, factors to consider include heat-up time – portable ones should take around 40 seconds max, while heavy-duty ones with built-in support boards can take up to two minutes. Wattage is also important – avoid anything below 1,000W. Another factor is steam output, which typically varies from between 25g per minute to 200g. But don’t get overly concerned with output, because features such as ceramic plates and steam-boost functions can more than make up for lower outputs.
Steam settings that allow you to quickly change temperature and steam output will mean you can easily tackle a wide range of garments in a single crease-busting session, while a collapsible design and detachable brushes will be a godsend if space is in short supply.
It’s also worth noting that steamers with built-in flexible ironing boards – which typically have larger built-in tanks – can weigh over 7kg, while handheld ones typically weigh between 1kg and 2kg.
Finally, remember that garment steamers are no longer designed just for clothes. Due to the high temperature of the steam, these gadgets will typically kill 99 per cent of bacteria with just a 60-second cleaning session, so they’re a great way to keep soft furnishings such as sofas and curtains germ-free. Although certain features – such as an extra-long cable – will come in especially handy if you’ll be using your steamer in this way.
Philips Series 3000 STH3010 compact garment steamer
This is a gadget that looks, feels and even sounds like a premium steamer. It’s incredibly travel-friendly, as it comes with its own carry pouch, and has a wonderfully compact design – the highlight of which is a handle that folds flat against the body of the steamer, which helps to minimise the risk of accidental burns.
The hairdryer-style design meant our hands were well away from the steamer’s business end. And there’s a generous two metre cable, which will come in especially handy for steaming sessions in unfamiliar hotel rooms with randomly placed plug sockets (sadly, we tested it in the rather boring confines of our own home, to be clear).
The 0.1l water tank doesn’t have a release button but simply clicks off with a light tug. The steamer made light work of some very deep creases on a tent-like cotton maxi-dress (thanks largely to its super-sized head). We loved the fact that we didn’t have to worry about slotting it back into its stand when taking a pause – it can simply be rested on its tank.
Tefal access DT7050 travel hand steamer
Is it wrong to love a garment steamer because it happens to come in a gorgeous teal colour? Probably, but luckily, there are plenty of other features we love about the access travel hand steamer.
First up is its size – it’s surprisingly compact, fitting easily into the backpack we use for weekend getaways. And with 1,100W of power, it packs more of a punch than most steamers of this size.
The wide, flat base meant it was incredibly stable (a major plus point when you’re steaming garments on the go in a cramped hotel room), while the extra-wide head slashed steaming times, and proved especially useful on larger items.
Russell Hobbs steam genie handheld garment steamer
This versatile garment steamer comes with three attachments – an upholstery one for use on larger items such as curtains, a delicate attachment for materials such as silk, and a lint one to deal with dreaded pet fur.
The steam genie packs a decent amount of power (1,650W), is quick to heat up – we timed it at just under 45 seconds – and has a large 260ml water tank, which allowed us to indulge in steaming sessions of up to 10 minutes. Although the head isn’t ceramic, its extra width was a godsend, allowing us to cover larger garments in record time. Our favourite bit? The cable, which is the longest we’ve come across, coming in at a whopping three metres.
Swan SI12020N handheld garment steamer
This is a very user-friendly garment steamer that instantly de-creased our favourite denim dress. It also comes with the added extra of a garment brush to help smooth down the fabrics – although, to be honest, we found its crease-busting prowess just as impressive with the brush removed.
We would love to have seen a slightly longer power cable than this one, which measures 1.9 metres, but that’s a small gripe. Back to the plus sides, such as it offering 1,100W, which provides more than enough power, and the 250ml tank that slides out incredibly easily (although you don’t even need to remove it to fill it).
Tefal access steam force DT8250G0 handheld garment steamer
This wallet-friendly steamer packs a serious punch, with 2,000W of power, and was incredibly quick to heat up – it was ready to go in 45 seconds. It also has an ergonomic design, which meant we could embark on lengthy steaming sessions without a hint of wrist ache.
We also loved the vertical steam function – many garment steamers have these, although few are actually that efficient, but in this case it was genuinely useful, and made smoothing out creased curtains (don’t ask us how curtains get creased but trust us, they do) a breeze. We also liked the fabric brush, which wasn’t just well designed but easy to attach and remove, too.
Tower T22014RGB handheld garment steamer
This steamer errs on the chunky side but that’s not a complaint – it has a cleverly weighted design, which made it a joy to hold. It was also ridiculously easy to get to the bits other steamers can’t reach, thanks partly to the extra-long 2.5m cable (a godsend if you’re in a hotel where sockets are in short supply).
It’s simple to use, with clear, bold controls (the heat indicator, which turns on when it’s ready to go, is especially bright), and the flow of steam was both powerful and consistent. We appreciated the extra-large 200ml water reservoir, too.
Russell Hobbs 28370 steam genie 2-in-1 fabric steamer
This is one of the more versatile steamers, mainly because of the steam-trigger option, which allowed us to release an extra-powerful burst of steam to smooth out super-tough creases. However, we’re not sure the phrase “2-in-1” is entirely justified here, as there are no obvious dual functions.
Nevertheless, we loved how it came with a travel bag, and although it’s not a steamer that can stand upright, we were smitten with this particular approach to design – when we needed a pause, we could simply rest it on its side. Plus, the absence of a chunky, weighted base meant more room in our holiday luggage when we needed a steamer to hand.
Russell Hobbs steam genie aroma 28040 garment steamer
Do you need to infuse your clothing, curtains or tablecloths with scent as you steam them? No, but we’re definitely converts to this approach after using the steam genie aroma, which has an attachment that allows you to infuse the steam with your own scented oils or fragranced water.
It was also extremely quick to heat up, taking just 45 seconds, and although the head wasn’t the widest we’ve seen, the combination of a large water tank and clever placement of steam vents made for seriously speedy steaming sessions.
