Best Steam Press

Each week, you find yourself taking a load of clothes to have them steam pressed. It takes time and costs money. The idea of standing over an ironing board for hours trying to remove wrinkles with a hand iron may be even less appealing.

A solution could be a steam press. Let’s take a closer look at what a steam press is and what it can offer you. We can review these five steam presses to see if one of them may be right for you:

What Is The Difference Between An Iron And A Press?

Most of us are familiar with the traditional iron. They are a metal (or ceramic) triangular surface that is heated and then pressed on clothing to remove creases.

Almost all irons today have a water reservoir that allows the user to inject steam into the clothing while ironing. Steam helps to get wrinkles out faster than traditional “dry” ironing.

A steam press is larger than a hand-held iron, making it easier and faster to remove wrinkles in fabrics. These features are ideal for a household where family laundry can pile up quickly!

The water reservoir on a press will likely be larger, which means it will need refilling less often. The larger surfaces on a press can help to eliminate the problem of clothing moving around while you press.

The bottom and the top of a press are the same sizes, allowing the fabrics to lay flat on the press while pressure and steam are applied evenly across the entire garment. This feature allows you to press larger items like pants or shirts more easily and quickly.

A steam press comes with multiple settings that can give you more options that will better match the material being pressed. While a press is heavier and larger than a hand iron, they are often more compact in design when the addition of an ironing board is considered.

What Should A Steam Press Not Be Used For?

A steam press will work well on most fabrics like cotton, polyesters, silks, or wools.

There are some materials that you will need to take precautions with, or even avoid all-together.

Suede and materials that have been waxed (waxed cotton jackets for example) may be damaged by steam pressing. Materials that contain plastic may melt when steam pressed.

Chiffon, sheer, silk, and velvet are materials that you will need to take precautions with while steam pressing. Shirts with prints may need to be turned inside out before pressing them.

To be safe, always refer to the labels on garments before you steam press them.

How Do You Use A Steam Press?

Each product will have design elements and features that are unique, so it is recommended to follow manufacturer’s instructions for the best (and safest) results. With that being said, there are general steps to the process of using a steam press.

You will need to fill the water reservoir on the press before using it. You will also want to select a setting that is recommended for the fabric being pressed.

A steam press should be turned on and then allowed to warm up for one or two minutes before using it. This will allow the heat and steam to build up to optimum levels.

The press is then opened and the garment is placed on the bottom surface of the steamer. The press is then closed for a recommended length of time to fully press the item.

Some items will need to be pressed in sections, depending upon the size of the press and the garment itself.

What Are The Things That Should Be Considered When Selecting A Steam Press?

Size does matter - A smaller steam press may be desirable for an individual that needs something that is portable while traveling. A smaller steam press may also be ideal if it is being used on small items only, such as cloth napkins for example.

The majority of users, however, will want to look for the largest surface area that they can afford. A larger surface area can give you the ability to press more items with one press. If the surface area is too small, you may find yourself needing to press garments in sections instead of all at once.

Convenience and safety are important - The use of non-stick coatings can help to prevent issues. Timer controls and heat settings will help in applying the proper amount of heat and steam for specific fabrics.

Safety is an important consideration when working with heat and steam. The more build and design features that a press has dedicated to material and user safety, the better your experience will be.

Other considerations - Your budget will also be a factor in your selection. While more expensive than a hand-held iron, their ability to offer efficiency and speed can justify the additional cost. You can save money long-term as well if you currently use professional cleaning services.

Conclusion

After looking at the five presses in more detail, we feel the Steamfast SF-680 Digital Steam Press is the best offering. The SF-680 offers a decent footprint to work on, allowing for more items to be wrinkle-free with fewer pressings.

The digital material-based settings allow a user to concentrate on the laundry and not the interface. Automatic shut off, 10-ounce reservoir, non-stick plate, and one-year hassle-free warranty combine convenience with safety for a better experience. We hope that this article helped to iron out any wrinkles in your steam press research!