To help you in your search, we tested 30 steamers at home for several hours over the course of two months, evaluating their design, effectiveness, and value. Our winner was the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer, which is extremely lightweight and erases wrinkles in just a few passes. The BLACK+DECKER Easy Garment Steamer—a more affordable, handheld option that is extremely powerful given its size—was another standout option. Here are the best clothes steamers, backed by our testing. You operate this steamer using a simple on-off rocker switch, and we liked that the water tank is fully see-through, allowing you to monitor exactly how much water is left. On a full tank, it can run for around seven minutes, but we did find it frustrating to fill the reservoir. You have to put water in very slowly, otherwise, it backs up and overflows. Otherwise, this steamer is a reliable and effective option that’s suitable for a wide variety of tasks. You can pack it in a suitcase or carry it to the next room to perfectly prepare your outfit for the day, and rest assured that its price point matches its versatility and performance. Price at time of publish: $30 This handheld steamer is surprisingly powerful for its size. Instead of holes on its nozzle, it has a slit, which gives off a lot of steam and makes it very effective (we gave it a 4.5 out of 5). However, you have to keep your hand further away from the nozzle during use, as it gives off a lot of steam that can travel further down the fabric. Price at time of publish: $16 This steamer readily removed wrinkles from our test fabric, needing just one or two passes to smooth the fabric on its highest setting. We gave it a 4.5 out of 5 in terms of effectiveness, with the only downside being that thinner materials tend to slide out of the clips if you pull them taut. All in all, we think it’s a sleek and effective machine to add to your laundry room. Price at time of publish: $100 This unit can be used for up to 90 minutes at a time, and we were impressed by its steaming abilities—it was able to blast through wrinkles in one to two passes, leaving fabric smooth and ready to use. Unlike many other upright options, this steamer doesn’t include a built-in hanger component, but there’s a loop on top of the pole where you can hook a hanger. The only downside we found to this steamer is that the water tank relies on its weight to stay in place, so it gets a bit wobbly when the tank isn’t as full. Price at time of publish: $79 In addition to looking great and feeling sturdy, this handheld steamer also performed quite well. It was able to remove both big and small wrinkles in just two or three passes, and it gave off an impressive amount of steam on its high setting. The power button for this handheld steamer is on the back of its head, and it has an indicator light that lets you know when it’s ready to use. There are two settings to choose from, and a trigger on the front allows you to start or stop the steam as needed. There’s even a sliding trigger lock that provides continuous steam. We scored this steamer 5 out of 5 for design and heat time, and 4 out of 5 in terms of effectiveness. The only major downside we could find is that it occasionally spits water, which can be painful if the hot droplets land on your hand. Price at time of publish: $60 The Conair Steamer offers just one steam setting, but it was incredibly effective, removing wrinkles in a single pass. We ranked it as a 5 out of 5 in terms of effectiveness, but it did lose points on portability, as its wheels don’t work well and it’s somewhat awkward to move from room to room. Price at time of publish: $72 They then evaluated the heat time of each steamer. They timed each pick with a phone stopwatch, before using wrinkled linen napkins to test effectiveness. During this test, they tested out all of the settings and made notes of how many passes it took the steamer to eliminate the wrinkles. They also noted whether the napkin felt damp afterward. Next, they rated the portability of the product and tried packing travel steamers into a packed carry-on bag. They evaluated whether the steamer was easy to hold and carry and if it altered the weight of the bag when traveling. They used their experience to rate the overall value of the steamer, so you know if it’s worth buying. These insights were boiled down to this list of the best clothes steamers, backed by our testing.
What to Look for in a Clothes Steamer
Type
“Home steamers basically come in two varieties: base-mounted steamers and handheld steamers,” says Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care. “Handheld steamers are good to use for a quick touch-up or to travel with. Base tank steamers are used in retail environments because they have larger water reservoirs and therefore will run longer without refilling with water.” There are pros and cons to each of these steamer styles, so you’ll want to consider how you plan to use the unit. For instance, handheld models are more compact and heat up faster, but upright steamers usually have a built-in hanger and/or clips for clothing and are more powerful, getting wrinkles out faster.
Power Level
Most home steamers have a wattage between 500 and 1500, and steamers with a high wattage produce more steam at once. This allows them to work more effectively and get wrinkles out faster. However, keep in mind that a powerful burst of hot steam can harm certain fabrics—synthetic fibers can melt if they get too hot, as can small plastic details like buttons or beading. “Ironing is better at getting wrinkles out of thicker creased fabrics such as cotton and linen,” says Melissa Maker of Clean My Space. “A steamer is great on thinner materials. It can get wrinkles out of thicker knits, too—you’ll just need to work the area a little longer.” However, any high-power steamer should be held approximately six inches away from the fabric to prevent damage.
Extra Features
There are a variety of features you may want to look for when shopping for a clothing steamer. “I like one that comes with attachments or settings, which allow you to steam multiple types of materials, garments, and upholsteries,” says Maker. Common attachments include regular brushes, lint brushes, crease clips, and water filters. Other features you may want to look for include a metal soleplate for ironing, multiple steam settings, a built-in hanger or clips, and a carrying case for portable models.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. As she started her research into clothing steamers, she spoke with experts Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care, and Melissa Maker of Clean My Space for insights on the benefits of steaming, what to look for in a clothing steamer, as well as how to steam clothes properly. Camryn then went on to test 30 different clothing steamers, including both handheld and upright models, evaluating each one on its design, portability, heat time, effectiveness, and value. She took these scores, as well as her overall experience with each steamer, into consideration as she put together this list of the best clothes steamers.
