Best Garment Steamer

Wrinkles not only crease your clothing but also crumple your style. Spending money and time on professional services is not appealing, and neither is an ironing board and iron. So what can you do?

Garment steamers may be a solution. Many feel that using a steamer is easier and faster than ironing. Let us take a closer look at these steamers and then review the following six products:

What Is A Garment Steamer?

A garment steamer, also known as a clothes steamer, makes use of high-temperature steam to remove wrinkles from fabrics or garments. Instead of pushing fibers flat like an iron does, steamers relax the fibers.

This process is considered a more gentle way to remove wrinkles and it also eliminates the scorching that can sometimes happen during traditional ironing. Originally designed as large models for commercial use, smaller models are available on today’s market that can be used at home or even while traveling abroad.

What Are Some Of The Differences Between Irons And Steamers?

An iron and steamer are both used to remove wrinkles from clothing and they both make use of steam to aid in that process. The differences come in how they go about doing this.

An iron uses a heated plate and pressure to remove wrinkles, while a steamer applies hot steam without making contact with the clothing itself. An iron requires an ironing board to remove wrinkles while a steamer will shoot a jet of steam on the material as it is hanging.

What Materials Will A Steamer Work With And Not Work With?

A clothing steamer does not apply scorching heat to remove wrinkles so it can be ideal to use with more delicate and softer fabrics such as jersey, polyester, satin, and silk. There is little chance that you will burn garments made from these materials compared to ironing.

A steamer is ideal to use on jackets or shirts with screen printing on them. They can remove wrinkles on pleats, ruffles, and sleeves more easily. Speaking of pleats, these items benefit from the use of a steamer as it will help to maintain the original shape.

Heavier or thicker fabrics like Pima cotton and twill will not respond as well to a clothing steamer as they would to the direct heat and pressure of an iron. It should also be noted that items that require a crease, such as dress shirts or pants, will require an iron usually.

Are There General Rules To Follow When Using A Garment Steamer?

Obviously, you will want to follow the steamer’s directions for operation in order to use it properly. There are some general rules to follow through, including testing a small area before steaming the entire item. This is even more important with colors as they tend to run.

You will also want to consult the garment's tag to make sure that it is sealed and that it can handle the high temperatures that you will be applying to it. Also, use caution so that you do not use too much steam as it can damage seams on some clothing items.

How Do You Use A Clothing Steamer?

Using a garment steamer is fairly easy. It is recommended to first consult the operating manual for any specifics for the steamer itself. Outside of any specific instructions, the operation of a garment steamer is similar with most models.

The first step is to fill the water reservoir of the steamer. After this, the unit can be turned on and allowed to build up steam. Make sure that the item is hanging on a hanger. Use the wand on the garment with downward strokes. Allow the item to dry.

If you are working on dense or heavily wrinkled items, use a handheld pad as a surface for the clothing as you steam it. It is also recommended to steam from the inside or underneath the garment to use the items weight to help with wrinkle removal.

Remember to hold the wand one or two inches away from the material if it is delicate or has embellishments, pleats, or ruffles.

What Features Should You Look For On A Steamer?

The size of the water reservoir should be considered in comparison to the amount of laundry you do on average in each session. How long it will take to heat up is a factor for some. Upright steamers work well with bedding, drapes, and upholstery.

It is important to take into account things like durability and sturdiness when looking into purchasing a clothing steamer. The amount of steam that a unit can produce at once is also a consideration when working with heavier or thicker materials.

Bulk and cost are also considerations when thinking of operating room and your bank account. Accessories and energy use can also be deciding factors for purchases.

Conclusion

After reviewing the clothing steamers above, we felt that the Elite Garment Steamer By PurSteam offered the best quality for value. The extra accessories, including the ability to press items, is a bonus.

The pole adjustment height and the hose length combine to make this steamer easy to use on longer garments. The large water tank supplies steam for a long period of time, which helps with larger workloads.

Finally, the money-back guarantee and warranty set it apart. We hope that this review aided you in smoothing out your steamer purchase!