Best Clothes Steamer 2024

The best clothes steamer is not only a time-saver but a champion of convenience. Forget wrestling with the ironing board or the meticulous task of smoothing stubborn wrinkles. Simply hang your clothes, steam, and watch the creases vanish.

There are a lot of clothes steamers on the market in 2023. From well-known brands to no-name imports, it is easy to get overwhelmed when choosing a clothing steamer to buy.

Sometimes, it comes down to budget and other times, it comes down to functionality or ease of use. There are steam outputs to be aware of, such as which steamers offer electromagnetic pumps and which handheld clothes steamers can be used horizontally and vertically.

Let’s dive straight into the best clothes steamer for 2023 with my top picks:

Criteria for Choosing the Best Clothes Steamer

Let’s jump right in:

Top 3 Best Handheld Steamers

Handheld steamers are inexpensive, quick to heat up, and easily portable. This makes them a great choice for most people for steaming clothes.

You have the flexibility and freedom to move around without being restricted by fixed-length steam hoses.

Handheld steamers operate from 5 to approximately 15 minutes, depending on water tank size. Some also have multiple levels of steam and built-in steam pumps, giving them as much functionality as a full-sized clothing steamer.

Here are my top choices:

Want more handheld clothing steamer choices? See my full list of best handheld clothes steamers.

Best Standing Clothes Steamer

A standing clothing steamer can also be called an upright steamer, vertical steamer, or full-sized clothing steamer (and many variations of these names).

Upright steamers have a larger water tank, a steamer head attached to a flexible hose, and either one or two telescopic poles to hold your garments and the steamer head when not in use.

This garment steamer is excellent for larger families or if you prefer to steam all your laundry in one go.

With running times between 45 minutes and around 90 minutes, your arm will likely run out of steam before your standing steamer does.

Most vertical steamers have wheels for maneuverability, removable water tanks, and multiple steam levels.

There are various models with plastic steam heads, which are less weighty, and others with stainless steel heads for optimum quality and heat retention.

Pricing varies from around $70 to $200, depending on the brand and the functionality.

Here are my top choices for standing clothes steamers:

Best Professional Clothes Steamer

Professional garment steamers are heavy-duty machines suitable for home and commercial use.

Depending on the style of the water tank, commercial clothes steamers can take anywhere from 1 minute to 15 minutes to heat up. Once heated, they will run for several hours.

Priced anywhere from $200 to over $1000, commercial clothes steamers have more heavy-duty parts and are built to last longer.

A professional steamer for clothes is not only for retail use. They can also be used in the home environment. They are useful for steaming other items around your home, such as upholstery and curtains, without stopping to refill the water tank.

I have used an upright commercial garment steamer to clean a mattress, fabric-covered bed base, benchtops, cupboard doors, shape hats, and more.

Here are my top choices for professional clothing steamers to get you started:

Best Travel Steamers

Travel steamers are mini versions of handheld steamers that usually run for 5 to 10 minutes. Small, portable, and lightweight, they are easily packed into luggage for your next trip away.

Some travel steamers have built-in dual voltage converters, so they can be used across multiple countries if you are traveling abroad. You will often need a wall plug adapter for the country you are visiting.

Here are my top choices:

Factors to Consider When Buying a Clothes Steamer

When shopping for the best clothes steamer, it’s important to consider factors such as heat time, accessories, materials, quality, effectiveness, size, steam duration, dimensions, price point, power level, and tank capacity. Here are the three things I look for the most:

Water tank capacity determines steaming time

The water tank capacity of a clothes steamer plays a crucial role in determining how long you can steam your clothes without refilling.

Opting for a steamer with a larger water tank capacity is recommended if you have a large wardrobe or frequently steam multiple garments at once. This will save you the hassle of constantly stopping to refill the tank.

On the other hand, if you only steam occasionally or have limited storage space, a smaller water tank may suffice.

Wattage affects steam production and heat-up time

The wattage of a clothes steamer directly impacts its steam production and heat-up time. A higher wattage generally means more powerful and efficient steaming.

If you want quick and effective results, consider choosing a steamer with higher wattage. However, keep in mind that higher-wattage models may consume more electricity.

Adjustable settings and attachments enhance versatility

To maximize the versatility of your clothes steamer, look for models that offer adjustable settings and come with various attachments. Adjustable settings allow you to customize the steam output to different fabric types. This ensures gentle yet effective wrinkle removal without causing any damage to delicate materials.

Attachments such as fabric brushes, crease tools, and lint removers can further enhance the functionality of your clothes steamer. Fabric brushes help loosen fibers for better steam penetration, while crease tools provide crisp lines on pants or sleeves. Lint removers are handy for removing lint or pet hair from clothing.

Considering these additional features will ensure that your clothes steamer can handle a wide range of fabrics and effectively meet all your garment care needs.

Other Types of Clothes Steamers

Steam Closets

Steam closets are relatively new to the market (within the last decade) and are closet-like devices that steam multiple pieces of clothing simultaneously. They also offer dual functions, such as drying, sanitizing modes, dehumidifying, and more.

Steam closets are particularly useful for steaming knitwear, sanitizing and drying suits, coats, and jackets, and caring for clothing that cannot be washed in a regular washing machine.

They’re not without their downsides, however. They’re pricey, heavy, have long running times, and require regular descaling, even if you use distilled water.

There aren’t many steam closets on the market in 2023. Samsung and LG are the two main contenders.

We have listed everything to consider when buying a steam closet here.

Steam Irons

Steam irons are essential items in most households, and buying the right steam iron can be confusing. With prices ranging from $25 up to around $300, there are vast differences between brands and functionality of irons.

There’s also the sole plate to consider: a nonstick coating, ceramic, adonized aluminum, or stainless steel.

There are corded irons, cordless models, and irons with built-in boiler tanks that also function as steamers. There are also the steam station model irons, where the water is held separately from the iron, for lightweight ironing and steaming functions.

Consider how often you iron, the type of clothes you own, and your budget, then read our steam iron buying guide below.

Best Steam Press

A steam press is an excellent choice for creating crisp creases like you’d expect from a dry cleaner.

Often used for business shirts, pants with firm creases, and table linens, a steam press is a larger machine that simultaneously tackles tough wrinkles and large areas.

It can be used for most fabrics and without the steam function for dry ironing. With a much larger pressing surface than an iron, a steam press can efficiently get through large amounts of laundry in minimal time.

Prices vary from around $200 for a tabletop steam press to a couple of thousand dollars for a rotary steam press (you may also know these as a mangle or a rotary iron). If you like ironed sheets, you may find this a worthwhile investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Now you understand the different types of steaming and pressing methods available to make doing laundry work faster and easier.

Whether you steam or iron your clothing in one go or prefer to steam just before wearing, many different choices are available on the market.

Our guides and steamer advice will help you make the best decision to suit your needs. After all, it’s about making life easier and less complicated so you can get on with your day in style and de-wrinkled!