A lot of. people consider a garment steamer to be a gentler and easier way of removing wrinkles when compared to a steam iron, and with the right product, they can make bringing out the best in a large garment easy. The better products are capable of bringing out plenty of steam for a prolonged period without the need for more water, but this isn’t the only trait to look for.
There is plenty to distinguish the best from the average which is why we have created the following list of the best garment steamers. Each one has something different to offer and there is a steamer for every budget.
- Editor’s Choice
J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer with Plastic Steam Head, 120 Volt (Amazon) – Review - Beast Professional
PurSteam -2020 Official Partner of Fashion-Full Size Steamer for Clothes (Amazon) – Review - Best Budget
Hilife Steamer for Clothes Steamer, Handheld Garment Steamer Clothing (Amazon) – Review - Best Fast Heat Up
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Hand Held Fabric Steamer (Amazon) – Review - Best Value
PurSteam Garment Steamer, Heavy Duty Powerful Fabric Steamer (Amazon) – Review - Best With Vertical Board
Rowenta Master Valet IS6300 Professional Grade (Amazon) – Review
Editor’s Choice: J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer with Plastic Steam Head, 120 Volt
Somewhat of a classic, this is the best garment steamer available, and a common sight in many closets both professional and at home. There is a durable feel to the plastic outer housing and what a lot of people like is the fast two-minute heat up time so there is less waiting around. The steam head is a generous six inches wide, making it easier to work fast without missing any areas and it provides 90 minutes of steam time from one full tank.
The water capacity is 3/4 of a gallon which explains why it lasts such a long time and in terms of safety, there is a fused link for an automatic shut off. It features a no-drip valve system and a five ft hose to give the user plenty of room, making it an all-round excellent garment steamer that works fast to remove wrinkles on a variety of materials.
- Six-inch wide steam head
- Heats in two minutes
- Provides 90 minutes of steam
- Generous 3/4 gallon water tank
- 5 ft hose
Beast Professional : PurSteam -2020 Official Partner of Fashion-Full Size Steamer for Clothes
For many people, PurStream is the go-to brand when it comes to garment steamers and in this professional grade product, it is easy to see why. A superheated steamer that is capable of delivering 30% more steam than the competition, it is one of the best value products considering its performance.
There are 4 different adjustments available including the high pressured steam, and a long woven hose to make the actual steaming easier. There is a safety cap that prevents burns and a large, removable water tank that makes refills simple. The handheld steam board makes it easy to steam awkward areas such as collars and sleeves as well as clips to hold larger items in place.
- Can push out 30% more steam
- 4 levels of steam
- Safety cap
- Removable water tank
- No flat surface for clothes
Best Budget: Hilife Steamer for Clothes Steamer, Handheld Garment Steamer Clothing
For travel or anyone on a tight budget, this is a great garment steamer that is easy to use and does a good job of removing stubborn wrinkles. The capacity is a small 240 ml which may not seem like a lot, but this gives the user 15 minutes of steaming time which considering that this is a handheld garment steamer, which is a lot.
The 9 ft power cord is larger than most and it has 700 watts of power behind it, not bad for something so compact. Because of its size, it is easy to fit into a suitcase to take on a business trip or holiday and weighs just over half a kilo. One of the most popular portable garment steamers. on the market, it has been described as a lifesaver on more than one occasion.
- 15 minutes of steaming
- Convenient size
- 9 ft power cord
- Portable
- 240 ml capacity
Best Fast Heat Up: Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Hand Held Fabric Steamer
Besides the pleasant looks of this handheld garment steamer, it packs quite a punch into its compact size. Although it does an excellent job of getting out deep wrinkles fast, it is also ideal for keeping clothes and fabrics hygienic. Because of the powerful steam, it kills 99.9% of bacteria and germs, even bed bugs come up a cropper when blasted with this product.
There are 5 steam settings meaning it can push out 50% more steam that is also 50% hotter than a lot of the competition. The slotted ceramic soleplate makes for a smoother movement over a garment and there is also a built-in creaser for making the perfect pleats. To top it all off, it has a 40-second heat-up and 20 minutes of steam time.
- 5 steam settings
- Smooth movement
- 40-second heat-up
- 20 minute steam time
- Some people find it a little heavy
Best Value: PurSteam Garment Steamer, Heavy Duty Powerful Fabric Steamer
Another excellent garment steamer from PurStream, this has a 61 oz water tank that lasts up to 60 minutes when the steam is continuous. What impresses is the fast heat-up time, taking around 45 seconds to a minute. It makes a fast and reliable alternative to ironing so if you hate the back and forth of using a heavy iron, the 248 degrees F of heat is going to be a dream to work with as it penetrates fibers deeply to remove wrinkles quick.
It is suitable for all fabrics and can be used on drapes and upholstery. We like that it comes with all the accessories needed for a variety of uses including clips and a fabric brush.
- Large 61 oz water tank
- Fast heating within a minute
- Up to 248 degrees F heat
- Includes lots of accessories
- Better on lighter materials
Best With Vertical Board: Rowenta Master Valet IS6300 Professional Grade
Used by both professionals and those who need a reliable garment steamer at home, it has the benefit of a roll and press vertical board to make it easier to work with. The 2.4 L water tank lasts a long time on a single fill and the 60-second heat-up time makes it good to go in no time. We also like the powerful 30 gallons a minute of steam to make light work of deep creases and wrinkles.
It offers an hour of continuous steam and there is a built-in hanger to ensure a garment stays in place as the steamer works its way over the creases. It packs down pretty small and the on and off button can be operated by stepping on it.
- 2.4 l water tank
- Heats up within 60 seconds
- 30 gallons of steam a minute
- Roll and press vertical board
- Clips are not high quality
When it comes to getting out stubborn wrinkles, there is an easier alternative to pushing an iron over a garment and a lot of people consider a steamer to be a saving grace that is much easier to use. This is only when using a quality product, and finding one can be easier said than done.
Because so many products seem too good to be true, we have created the following buyer’s guide. It details everything there is to know about these convenient products, so you end up with a good one.
Large Water Tank
A generous water tank influences most of the major aspect s of a garment steamer so it needs to be as generous as possible. A good size will mean a longer continual steam time which is better for anyone who likes to do a lot in one go. This is going to be less important for a portable product because these are designed for their compact size. A couple of liters is a good place to start.
Continual Steam Time
Leading on nicely, this is where the professional-grade products excel. A stand-up garment steamer should offer around an hour or above. A portable garment steamer might only last around 15 minutes but this should suffice for most needs on the go.
Fast Heat Up
it doesn’t matter if the product is portable or a heavy-duty garment steamer, fast heat-up is important and the better products only take around a minute before they are ready to use. If the product takes 5 minutes or above, it might be best to consider another brand or model.
Gallons Per Minute Of Steam
The power of the product is vital when it comes to removing deep wrinkles. Without the backing of a decent amount of watts and gallons per minute, the steam is not going to be able to penetrate the fibers, soften them, and loosen the wrinkles to leave a garment looking its best.
Long Cord
This is going to make life easier because being at the mercy of a sort cord makes for an awkward streaming experience. Some people have a preferred spot to steam a garment, and to be it easier to reach, a long cord of around 6 ft and above is ideal.
Included Accessories
To make the steaming more convenient, a built-in hanger means the product is ready for clothes from the get-go. What will make this even easier is a backboard but not every product offers such a luxury. Other common accessories include clips and some brands offer better quality brushes than others.
Multiple Steam Options
Not every garment will have deep-set wrinkles which are difficult to remove without full steam power, and this is where different settings are important. Being able to turn things down a bit can help, as can the ability to give it everything the streamer has got.
Some people will find it difficult to transition from a steam iron but essentially, the two work in similar ways. Both generate steam that requires a water refill from time to time, but a steamer requires less effort on the users part compared to pushing a heavy iron over an ironing board.
In terms of price, a garment steamer might surprise a lot of people by being more affordable than a high-end steam iron and they also heat a lot faster than most irons. There is a reason why fashion industries opt for a steamer over an iron, especially when time is restrictive. A steamer is certainly a better choice for any decorative garments that have the likes of sequins that are otherwise awkward to iron.
Thankfully, there are products for every budget and although most reputable brands don’t cost over $100, it is possible to go a little higher and find more quality. However, there are portable products for under $30. Choosing one of these will mean there is a need to compromise on features such as water tank capacity and steam time but it does mean that anyone can get their hands on a garment steamer.
Any difficulty removing wrinkles can require a different approach and sometimes ironing can make matters worse when not using a quality product. A garment steamer helps to penetrate fibers a little deeper to remove wrinkles. There are other benefits too, including the fact that it is hygienic. Not only does a garment steamer kill a large number of bugs and bacteria, but they can kill bed bugs and give drapes a deep clean.
A lot of people prefer them to the alternatives because they are easy to use, are quick to remove wrinkles, and available at a reasonable price.
There is an extend as to which a steamer will help but in terms of dried-on stains and grime, it is not going to work miracles. They can certainly help to lift a layer of stains, making it useful for some cleaning. They tend to work better on upholstery for this rather than garments.
Some products will boast of their ability to kill 99.9% of bacteria, but in fact, this is a trait that most garment steamers offer. As long as they reach the high temperatures necessary to kill bugs and bacteria, this is a benefit that everyone can enjoy. Anything around 175 degrees F and above should suffice for this, something that the better garment steamers are capable of.
After taking a close look at the best brands in the business, we found the J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer with Plastic Steam Head to be the best available. Not only does it have a large 3/4 gallon water tank that ensures the user gets up to 90 minutes of continual steam, but it is available at a reasonable price.
It heats in two minutes meaning it is no slouch and has a six-inch-wide steam head to make steaming garments faster than most.
