Best Clothes Steamer 2020 (Updated March ’20)

garment steamer

If you are looking for a way to get your clothing looking sharp and professional, you will want to consider getting a garment steamer. A garment steamer does a much better job of removing wrinkles from items of clothing and is much easier to use than an iron. These handy items have come a long way over the years. They are available in many different styles and sizes and are very easy to travel with as well. If you are not quite sure what a clothes steamer is, this guide will help you understand exactly what they are and how they can help you put your best foot forward, no matter what the situation. A garment steamer removes the wrinkles from clothing by using steam that relaxes the fibers in the material. If you are searching for the best steamer, then steameradvisor.com is your source to find the best steamer for you.

Garment Steamer Reviews

The difference between in what a garment steamer does versus what an iron does is that an iron flattens the material as opposed to relaxing the fibers the way the steamer does. For this reason, a garment steamer is a perfect choice for getting the wrinkles out of delicate materials that an iron can damage.

 

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Clothes Steamer Overall

Jiffy J-4000M

4.4/5 Product Rating
If you are looking for an effective heavy-duty clothes steamer that will last and run for nearly two hours, then this is the model for you! I was very impressed at the Jiffy Steamer J-4000M and I know you will be too. This is the best clothes steamer overall, because of how well it works, its durability, and the steam time per filling. For a full review of the best steamer, click here to read more.
– Marliyn Briggs

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca 

Best Clothes Steamer Runner Up

Jiffy J-2000M

4.4/5 Product Rating
The Jiffy Steamer J-2000M is a great garment steamer that heats up in 2 minutes and lasts for one and a half hour. This is the best clothes steamer for medium to large sized jobs and the its relatively small size coupled with powerful wattage makes it a great choice. For my full review, please click here to learn more.
– Marliyn Briggs


See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Garment Steamer

Rowenta Master Valet

4.2/5 Product Rating
The Rowenta Master Valet is my choice for Best Garment Steamer. This household standing steamer has a press hanger feature that I found to be very helpful. This high wattage steamer paired with the great accessories gave me everything I need in a garment steamer. I have a full review and breakdown of this steamer; click here to read more.
– Marliyn Briggs

 

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Steamer for Home or Light Commercial

Jiffy J-2000

4.8/5 Product Rating
The Jiffy Steamer J-2000 is a perfect choice for those seeking a home or light commercial steamer. Like its metal headed counterpart, this steamer heats up in 2 minutes and lasts for one and a half hour. This is a great choice for a mid-line steamer with quality brand recognition. For the full review, please follow this link to read more.
– Marliyn Briggs

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Heavy Duty Budget Steamer

PurSteam Full Size

4.4/5 Product Rating
The PurSteam is a sensible choice for those of you watching your budget, yet need a full size garment steamer. This has a telescopic pole with a hanger top, pant press, a fabric brush, and wheels on its base to move around easily. This is one of the few models in its price range that has multiple steam settings; the 4 level steam adjustment make it friendly to multiple fabrics. This budget friendly garment steamer offers a smooth flow of steam for a plethora of steaming needs.
– Marliyn Briggs

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Dual Heat Fabric Steamer

Conair ExtremeSteam

4.3/5 Product Rating
The Conair ExtremeSteam fabric steamer heats up the water at the base and at the nozzle. This unique feature paired with the remarkable 1800 watts of power provide us with concentrated steam resulting in quick results. This has a user friendly removable water tank, a telescopic pole adjustment, and a 360° rotating collapsible hanger. Please be cautious with this steamer, as several users including myself have found out; it truly does provide very hot steam.
– Marliyn Briggs

 

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Heavy Duty Budget Garment Steamer

PurSteam XL

4.3/5 Product Rating
The Pure Steam XL is the best heavy duty garment steamer and a wonderful alternative for those seeking a high powered garment steamer. If you slowly pass over your garments, then this will prove to work well for you. This is lightweight, easy to assemble, and has a removable tank for quick refills. The table review below will show you wattage, steam time, and heat-up times for this and other models. Read more for a full review.
– Marliyn Briggs

 

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Budget Fabric Steamer

Steamfast SF-407

3.4/5 Product Rating
As I state in my full review, the Steamfast SF-407 excels in the right areas for a steamer and leaves out unnecessary features to present a budget friendly fabric steamer. This is a durable and low-cost fabric steamer that heats up in less than a minute, includes a fabric brush, and a telescopic pole with a clothes hook.
– Marliyn Briggs

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best Travel Steamer

PurSteam Elite

3.8/5 Product Rating
If you do not need a large steamer or need a travel steamer than the 850 Watt PurSteam is a great choice. This PurSteam Elite model is a great wrinkle buster, defroster, sterilizer, and sterilizer. I have found it to be gentle on most fabrics (read your fabric care labels) and a great alternative to using an iron. It comes with a travel bag, it heats up quickly, and is the perfect size for travel. Click here for my review.
– Marliyn Briggs

View on Amazon

See also on
Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.ca

Best Portable Steamer

PurSteam Enrichment

3.6/5 Product Rating
The Pure Enrichment by PurSteam is a great fabric steamer that provides ten minutes of steam time and hearts up in less than two minutes. This fabric steamer has plenty of power and is fully effective at steaming your fabrics. The automatic shut-off is a great feature for us red-eye travelers that tend to be forgetful from jetlag. For my in-depth review, please click here.
– Marliyn Briggs

Benefits of Using a Garment SteamerDurable garment steamers that last for years

There are many benefits to using a garment steamer. It is these benefits that are making it much more desirable for people to purchase a steamer as opposed to using an iron, even if it is a steam iron. We’ve outlined these benefits below.

  • Better for Delicate Fabrics – Many shirts, blouses, dresses and even slacks are made from materials that can get damaged, scorched or ruined by an iron if the right setting isn’t used. Some items are just not meant to come in contact with a blazing hot iron.

A steamer takes these dangers away by removing the wrinkles without even having to contact the material directly. The steam does all the work and the material is left undamaged and looking professional, wrinkle-free and terrific. You can use a garment steamer on all kinds of fabrics including lace, silk, satin and polyester…all fabrics that an iron would normally damage.

  • Use for Drapes, Upholstery, and Mattresses â€“ One of the many great things about a garment steamer is that they can be used on other things besides clothing. Want your drapes to look fresh and crisp?       Pull out the steamer and use it on them.

It is the perfect way to get things around the house to have that fresh, crisp look as well. You can even steam your sheets and comforters for perfect, wrinkle-free beds too. Another benefit that many may not know is that you can use them on your mattresses to get rid of dust mites and odors in the mattresses.

  • Easily Reaches all Areas of Clothing – When you use a regular iron, there are certain parts of the garment that an iron really can’t get into easily. There is no way to use an iron and get every part of the item of clothing wrinkle-free. When you use a garment steamer, no part of the fabric is going to be left wrinkled. Whether it is the collar of a dress shirt or the shoulders of a blouse, the steam will reach it and get those wrinkled areas straight and smooth.
  • Restores the Shape of Garments â€“ If any of your clothing has been stretched out of flattened but cleaning or wearing, a garment steamer can help. The steam of the garment steamer actually helps flattened and stretched out items if clothing regains its volume and shape so it looks as good as new.
  • A Great Replacement for Dry Cleaning – A good garment steamer will replace the need for dry cleaning your items as it will freshen, de-wrinkle and steam your clothing to perfection. Dry cleaning can be very costly but your garment steamer will help you save that money and use it for something else you need or want.
  • Great Portability â€“ Another great benefit to having a garment steamer is how easily they can be taken with you anywhere. If you’re working and have an important meeting after work or a special dinner out planned, you can bring your garment steamer with you and freshen your clothing quickly and easily in your office or even the restroom in just minutes. The same applies to travel for business or pleasure.       You will have a fast, easy way to get your clothes looking brand new.
  • Super Easy to Use â€“ Garment steamers are so simple to use you will wish you had purchased one a long time ago. All you have to do is fill the reservoir with water to the appropriate fill line and you’re all set.
  • Time Saver – It is much faster to de-wrinkle an outfit with a garment steamer than it is to use an iron.       Add in not having to drag out the iron, wait for it to heat up, find a flat place to lay your items and you have a super convenient and even enjoyable way to get your clothes looking fresh, clean and crisp.
  • No Chemicals Needed – Another positive that many consumers love about using a garment steamer is that they require no chemicals to use. All you need to get exceptional results is water which makes this a very eco-friendly choice for getting wrinkle-free, fresh, crisp clothing.
  • Reduces Wear and Tear on Clothing â€“ When you wash your clothing repeatedly it weakens the fabric and can fade it as well. Using a garment steamer on your clothing to clean, freshen and sanitize them will reduce the rate in which they wear out. Your clothing will stay looking good as new for longer when you are not washing and drying it over a few days.

 

Different Types of SteamersHigh quality garment steamers

There are two basic styles of garment steamers available to consumers: the floor model garment steamer and the compact, handheld steamer. The type that is most often purchased by consumers is the handheld, compact style due to the needs that most consumers have.

The floor model style is often used by dress shops, tailors, and dry cleaners. Regular consumers also sometimes buy the standing, floor model garment steamer but for the most part, that is not the type of steamer the average consumer purchases due to space issues.

The compact style is perfect for using anywhere including and maybe even especially while you are traveling.   Even when you are very careful, clothing inevitably gets wrinkled when you are traveling, even if they are in garment bags.

Having a steamer ensures that once you take your clothing out of the suitcase or garment bag, you can hang it up, take out your steamer and get it looking perfect and ready to wear. For businessmen and women that are traveling for important meetings, a garment steamer is a true lifesaver when it comes to presenting yourself in the most professional and put together manner possible.

Many models of garment steamers have a set of steamer tools that come with it. These tools offer various additional functions and may include items like a lint brush and/or bristle brush.

How to Use a Garment Steamer

Using a garment steamer is not complicated at all. In fact, it is much easier and safer to use than a regular iron. The steps are super simple.

  1. Fill the base/reservoir with water to the fill line
  2. Heat up until the water turns to steam
  3. Hold the steamer with the nozzle facing the wrinkled areas of the clothing and press the button so steam is emitted onto the garment.
  4. Continue to move the steam over the different areas of the item you are steaming until it is wrinkle-free.

Assess Your Needs and Lifestyle

There are several questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down the field of choices and assist in the shopping process so you end up with the right garment steamer. Take these things into consideration when you are making your garment steamer choice and that will ensure that you get the steamer that will fit your specific clothing needs.

  • Do you need to travel with the steamer? – If you will not ever be traveling with the steamer or if you have plenty of room to have a free-standing floor steamer AND a travel one, then you may consider the freestanding garment steamer. Due to all of the attachments they usually have, a floor standing garment steamer is a good, multi-purpose item.
  • Do you travel a lot? â€“ If you are on the road a lot, the travel garment steamer could very easily become your best travel buddy. It will easily keep your clothing in peak condition and you will always look sharp wherever you go, even if you live out of your suitcase. The travel garment steamer fits inside your suitcase very easily.       Travel garment steamers have a smaller reservoir, so you may have to fill them more often but they are super convenient to travel with and are much easier to deal with and use than an iron.
  • Do you Wear a lot of Professional Style Clothing? –  If you dress in suits every day or you wear dresses and business clothing on a daily basis, a garment steamer should be a must have in your life.       It is SO much easier and faster to take care of the wrinkles in your clothing with a garment steamer than it is dragging out the iron. Your clothing will always look fantastic and wrinkle free and you will feel a lot more professional as well.
  • What Type of Clothing do You Own? â€“ If your wardrobe consists of jeans and T-shirts, you may not see the need for a garment steamer, but if you own a lot of dress clothes or clothing that requires dry cleaning or you do a lot of high end entertaining or business functions, a garment steamer will have you looking professional and impressive every time you go out.

Maintaining Your Garment Steamer

Benefits of using a good garment steamerIf you take good care of your garment steamer, you will have it around for a long time and get your money’s worth and more from it. There are some basic maintenance steps that you can do to ensure that it continues to work well and provide the kind of results you want. These steps are for the basic cleaning on your garment steamer.

  1. Turn off the steamer and unplug it.
  2. Let the steamer cool down before cleaning; at least 30 minutes to an hour should be sufficient.
  3. Wrap up the power cord and put away.
  4. Remove the steamer hose and drain any water out of it.
  5. Remove the water reservoir and dump out any leftover water not used in the steaming process. Let it dry completely.
  6. Remove any water that is in the steamer where the tank goes.
  7. Collapse the telescopic rod and coil the hose and put away.
  8. Put the water tank back on the steamer after it is dry.
  9. Store the appropriate parts in the housing unit that the manual instructs users to store.
  10. Make sure there is absolutely no dampness or water in the steamer anywhere if you are going to be storing the unit for any length of time.

 

ConclusionChoosing the best garment steamer for your home

Ironing used to be a commonplace, weekly activity that housewives did for their family’s clothing. But due to the faster pace of life, different clothing materials that resist wrinkles and dryers that reduce a number of wrinkles that clothing has, the need for weekly ironing has almost fallen by the wayside completely.

Not all clothing comes out wrinkle free though and there is still a difference in appearance between a shirt that has come out of the dryer right away and been hung up, and a shirt that was steamed with a garment steamer. Due to the results it gets, garment steaming is becoming a common activity to get clothes looking crisp and wrinkle-free and is not just for professionals anymore.

You’ve heard the term, ‘clothing makes the man or woman’ and that is true even in today’s more relaxed society of accepting people’s eclectic styles. If you love elegant clothing but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on dry cleaning bills, you will love what a garment steamer can do for you.

You will save a lot of money on buying replacement clothing as well because your clothes will last longer and stay looking great a lot longer when you use a steamer rather than washing and drying or using a traditional dry cleaning service that uses a lot of chemicals in their process. It doesn’t matter how expensive your clothing is, if it looks like you slept in it, the clothing will look shabby and unkempt.

A garment steamer will make your whole wardrobe as well as your household items like upholstery, drapes, sheets and your mattresses looking and smelling fresh, clean and crisp. It is an item that pays for itself time and time again.

Top 10 Clothes Steamers Comparison Chart

Image Product Power Steam Time Heat-Up Time
Jiffy Steamer J-4000M 1500W 105 15
Jiffy Steamer J-2000M 1300W 90 2
Rowenta Master Valet 1550W 60 1
Jiffy Steamer J-2000 1300W 90 2
PurSteam Full Size 1500W 60 1-2
Conair ExtremeSteam 1800W 60 1 1/2
PureSteam XL 1500W 60 45 Sec.
Steamfast SF-407 1500W 45 45 Sec.
PurSteam 850 Watt 850W 10 90 Sec.
PureSteam Fabric 850W 10 2