Best clothes steamers
1. BEST UPRIGHT GARMENT STEAMER
Fridja F1000 Professional Vertical Garment Steamer
No matter what fabric was thrown at it, this steamer took it in its stride. It rapidly steamed through a large pile of clothes, thanks to its big tank and wide head, and it left everything bone dry.
It proved powerful, but not too strong for delicate fabric, and our polycotton shirt emerged looking as crisp as if it had been ironed. It comes with a generous array of accessories too, including a folding hanger, and has wheels for easy transportation.
However, there was no light to indicate when it was ready to use and no way of controlling the steam. It spat occasionally, too, but we’re being picky.
2. JOINT BEST HANDHELD GARMENT STEAMER
Philips Steam & Go Plus Handheld Clothes Steamer
If you’re frequently on the move and pressed for time, look to this handheld model. It heated up in an impressive 29 seconds and its wide head made quick work of almost all creases, across all fabrics.
However, it proved too cumbersome to tackle intricate areas and the trigger switch can’t be locked, meaning you have to hold it down while steaming.
Despite its small capacity, we were pleasantly surprised by how long its water lasted before requiring a refill. There aren’t many included accessories, but the protective glove is a bonus.
3. JOINT BEST HANDHELD GARMENT STEAMER
Fridja F10 Raf Handheld Travel Clothes Steamer
The compact F10 gave a brilliant performance, eradicating all creases from every fabric except cotton (although it still did a good job). It preheated quickly and its smaller head offered better manoeuvrability than some of its competitors, allowing it to cover every nook and cranny.
It offers two power modes and comes with plenty of useful accessories, including a collar press. Its short power cable limited our reach and it took a little longer than expected to steam linen and silk, but those were our only niggles.
4. BEST BUDGET GARMENT STEAMER
Steamworks Handheld Garment Steamer
This handheld steamer will rid your clothes of wrinkles for a reasonable price. It quickly smoothed creases from all materials tested and left our polycotton shirt looking freshly ironed. It comes with a one year guarantee and is a fraction of the cost of many of its counterparts.
However, it spat sometimes and its short head risks burning your fingers if not handled carefully. It started straining slightly after about two minutes and, despite its speed, our silk, linen and cotton clothes were all left a little damp.
5. BEST CLOTHES STEAMER FOR TRAVEL
Tefal Pure Pop Handheld Garment Steamer
This colourful, slimline garment steamer would make a great holiday companion, quickly heating up and removing creases from warm-weather favourites including viscose, silk and cotton.
It took longer to achieve pristine results on our linen garments, however, and it spat a little, meaning it’s best used when your clothes have time to dry. With a full tank our tester said it felt heavy too. But for an on-the-go steamer, it’s surprisingly effective.
6. BEST CLOTHES STEAMER FOR FRAGRANCED STEAMING
Tefal Pure Tex DT9530G0 Handheld Garment Steamer
Our tester praised the “powerful steam output” of this device, which removed “each and every crease” from viscose and silk garments quickly and effectively, thanks to the larger head. Other materials – including linen and cotton – required another sweep to be 100% crease-free, but the end results were equally impressive.
It reached optimum temperature quickly and we didn’t have to worry about spitting, making it ideal for last-minute touch-ups. The travel-friendly compact design was also a highlight, while the additional magnetic accessory attachments – including pads to assist with everything from lint removal and fragrancing clothing – scored highly with our expert, who added that it would be a great first time steamer for all fabrics.
7. BEST CLOTHES STEAMER FOR FRAGRANCED STEAMING
Tefal Pure Tex DT9530G0 Handheld Garment Steamer
Our tester praised the “powerful steam output” of this device, which removed “each and every crease” from viscose and silk garments quickly and effectively, thanks to the larger head. Other materials – including linen and cotton – required another sweep to be 100% crease-free, but the end results were equally impressive.
It reached optimum temperature quickly and we didn’t have to worry about spitting, making it ideal for last-minute touch-ups. The travel-friendly compact design was also a highlight, while the additional magnetic accessory attachments – including pads to assist with everything from lint removal and fragrancing clothing – scored highly with our expert, who added that it would be a great first time steamer for all fabrics.
8. BEST UPRIGHT GARMENT STEAMER FOR CONTINUOUS STEAMING
Philips EasyTouch Garment Steamer GC487
If you find holding down a trigger uncomfortable, this upright steamer may please as you simply turn on a dial for a continuous stream of steam. This effectively banished creases across most fabrics (as usual, linen needed a few extra sweeps and there were some visible watermarks when finished), and its large steaming head means you can cover more material in one go.
Its hanging system is sturdy, and the detachable water tank is easy to fill, although we found it emptied more quickly than some uprights. There’s also no way of knowing when it’s ready to steam, or when it has reached a new setting, and the dial markings aren’t the clearest. Overall, though, it’s quick-heating and convenient.
9. BEST HANDHELD STEAMER FOR EASE OF USE
Propress Mini Clothes Steamer
Our experts were full of praise for this sleek steamer, which is available in a range of pastel shades. On test, it removed creases quickly and was particularly effective on cotton, polycotton, and even linen. It also worked well on silk, but the fabric was left a little damp, so build in some extra time if you’re steaming any occasion wear.
Another pro to this steamer is its versatility as the head doubles as an iron for more stubborn wrinkles. Testers would have liked a more transparent water tank (so it’s easier to see when top-ups are needed) and more detailed instructions. But it’s a fairly intuitive design, earning full marks for its ease of use.
