Garment steamer buying guide: How to find the best product for you

What is a garment steamer?

A garment steamer is an appliance designed to remove the wrinkles from clothes, linen, soft furnishings and curtains. They work by heating water from a water tank to produce steam, then releasing that steam via a nozzle onto an item of clothing.

The heat from the steam removes the wrinkles and there's no need for you to apply any pressure to the item of clothing. All you have to do is hang the item up.

Why should I consider a garment steamer?

There are several key reasons why you might buy a steamer instead of an iron to rid your clothes of wrinkles:

• If you want to save time

  Rather than going through the hassle of unfolding the ironing board each day and waiting for the iron to heat up, a good clothes steamer could save you time if you're only doing a couple of items. Some take as little as one minute to heat up and are quick and easy to use, allowing you to prepare your outfit for the day or just eliminate an unwanted crease in your favourite shirt.

• If you want to save space

  Ironing boards can take up a lot of room, particularly if you live in a small apartment, so a garment steamer can be a space-saving solution.

• If you travel a lot

  If you're on the go a lot for work and always need to look your best, garment steamers ensure that you don't have to worry about your clothes getting wrinkled in transit. Similarly, you can also take a portable steamer with you when you're on holiday and simply want to look your best.

• If you want to go gentle on your wardrobe

  If you're a fashionista with a wardrobe full of expensive items or you just want to take special care of your delicate fabrics, the fact that garment steamers don't actually apply any pressure to the fabric means they can be a gentler solution.

If you're interested in the cleaning power of steam, you might like our steam mop buying guide

Why shouldn't I consider a garment steamer?

If you're looking for an appliance that can completely replace your iron, a garment steamer probably won't fit the bill. While they can be quite effective on dresses and suits, they often don't perform as well on fabrics like cotton, wool and denim. They also can't provide that crisp, pressed look that a thorough ironing can.

Additionally, handheld steamers usually max out at around 17 minutes of steam time, so anyone with a large pile of clothes in need of de-wrinkling will need to consider a more expensive standing steamer. Keep in mind, some steamers can leave material damp, so they may not be all that useful if you want to steam an outfit to wear straight away.

What types are available?

You have three main options available when buying a clothes steamer:

• Standing (floor) steamers. Designed for home use and typically capable of taking on heavy-duty jobs, standing steamers are roughly similar to a vacuum cleaner in size and take up the most space. They have larger water tanks and offer longer steaming time (up to 90 minutes in some cases) than the other options, but they're the most expensive. Many models also have wheels, a built-in hanger and a number of other attachments.
• Mid-size handheld steamers. More compact than standing steamers, these handheld devices are around the same size as a kettle or large hair dryer and are designed to be easy to use and manoeuvre. They still offer decent power but their smaller water tanks mean steam time is limited to a maximum of 15-17 minutes. You can travel with a mid-size steamer at a pinch, but they're not as portable as a dedicated travel steamer.
• Travel steamers. Designed to be as compact and portable as possible, travel steamers can fit into your luggage when you're travelling for business or pleasure. While they're convenient, they don't have as much power as larger models and are typically limited to 10-12 minutes of steam time. This means they can steam only one or two items of clothing at a time.

Don't confuse garment steamers with steam station irons, which consist of a water tank and an iron that sits on top of it. Steam stations are bigger, bulkier and more effective than traditional steam irons, but they can cost anywhere from $250 up to more than $1,000.

How to compare garment steamers

Before buying a clothes steamer, take some time to think about how you plan to use your new appliance. What clothes and other items will you be steaming? Will you only be using it occasionally or every day? Do you want a steamer portable enough to take with you when you travel?

Answering these questions will give you a better idea of exactly what features you need. When comparing garment steamers, make sure to consider the following factors: