9 Best Garment Steamers | Top-Rated Clothes Steamers of 2024
It may have been controversial when they came for skinny jeans and side parts but the latest thing to be cancelled by the young 'uns is something most will celebrate.
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It is universally agreed that ironing is one of the worst chores on the household roster.
It’s laborious to set-up, lengthy to execute and there always seems to be … more.
Now Aussies have declared that ironing is officially over with recent research from LG Electronics showing that almost half of us are ditching ironing completely. with close to three in 10 saying they never iron and 42 per cent saying they only iron when absolutely necessary.
It's not that wrinkled clothes are "in", rather, we're all switching to using garment steamers.
It's a no brainer when you realise they remove wrinkles and freshen fabric in a fraction of the time of ironing. And, while it might not always be the perfect replacement for an iron, many garment steamers now have impressive crease-busting abilities and can also work wonders on soft or delicate materials that can’t be ironed.
Because they’re so portable, garment steamers are also ideal for travel and for using around the house to freshen up curtains and bedding. Sold? Same here.
If you're looking to make the switch to a steamer, one of the most popular options is the Russell Hobbs Steamer Genie, which is making it even easier to iron, steam, refresh and sanitise clothes regardless of whether you're at home, office or in a hotel.
"(It) has saved me so much time and energy. It easily gets creases out of our clothing in a fraction of the time and now I don’t have to worry about setting up the ironing board," raved a fan.
There's also the Tefal Pure Pop Garment Steamer, which tackles both creases and fluff as a "must have" steamer that doubles as a hair and lint remover.
BEST GARMENT STEAMER OVERALL
Philips 7000 Series Handheld Garment Steamer, $149 (down from $179) at The Good Guys
Philips 7000 Series Handheld Garment Steamer
What You Need To Know
This Philips Handheld Garment Steamer (STH7060/80) is perfect for travel, offering an adjustable two-in-one head that you can use as a steamer or an iron. It also comes with two water tanks (100ml and 200ml), allowing you to downsize when luggage space is tight.
Shoppers are calling the portable garment steamer “good value for money”, mostly thanks to its short heat up time and easy to use functionalities that make steaming a breeze.
This Philips steamer irons the whole clothes perfectly and is truly a lifesaver in ironing those complicated parts of clothes. It's also perfect for travel or office. It also comes with a glove and a small curtain that you can use during ironing your clothes. Plus, this steamer gives a very fresh feeling to the clothes which is not the case with iron.
“Simple and easy to use and it allowed us to steam a lot of pieces of clothing in a short period of time,” one person praised on The Good Guys website.
“The handheld steamer is quick, easy to use (and) saves me from having to set up my ironing board. The larger water container lasts through quite a few items,” agreed a reviewer.
“A fantastic steam iron! Love the eco and max feature to moderate temperatures and (how it) glides on my garments!” a third wrote.
BEST TRAVEL GARMENT STEAMERS
Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Steamer Supreme, $139 at The Good Guys
Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Steamer Supreme
What You Need To Know
Also called the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie (RHC470), this Russell Hobbs gadget replicates a ‘regular’ iron more than most hybrid garment steamers, making it an easier transition if you’ve never used a steamer before. It even features a ceramic soleplate, similar to other irons.
“The Russell Hobbs 2-1 Steamer Supreme has saved me so much time and energy. It easily gets creases out of our clothing in a fraction of the time and now I don’t have to worry about setting up the ironing board. As a mum of four I’m all about products that make my life easier so this is a treat!” praised a shopper.
“It is so versatile and easy to use, the steam button has a lock and it seems to be in the perfect place for ease of use… It also comes with a heat resistant bag to store it in which is really handy. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking at getting a steamer,” agreed another.
“The only thing is it only has one heat setting but it comes with different steaming covers so it covers a wide range of materials.”
Tefal Pure Pop Garment Steamer, $109 (down from $149.95) at Myer
Tefal Pure Pop Garment Steamer
What You Need To Know
Aside from the Philips handheld steamer, this Tefal Pure Pop Garment Steamer makes another great travel buy. Not only does it boast a fun a compact design, but it also doubles as a hair and lint remover to help you achieve a perfect finish. The handheld steamer even has a super quick heat up time of just 15 seconds.
“This is a must-have item. It cuts down so much time in busy mornings – no more ironing bulky uniforms. It’s quick to heat up, easy to use and powerful. It’s a winner!!” raved a happy shopper.
Philips Steam and Go Handheld Garment Steamer, $119.20 (down from $139) at Amazon Australia
Philips Steam and Go Handheld Garment Steamer
What You Need To Know
This Philips garment steamer (GC362/80) can be used both horizontally and vertically on those too-tricky-to-iron areas of clothing. The super compact steamer can also travel with you to ensure you have crisp, unwrinkled clothing wherever you go.
The steam plate is always heated to its optimal temperature too, so you don’t need to worry about it causing damage to your clothes. It also features a 70ml detachable water tank that’s easy to fill and a handy 2.5m cord for maximum reach.
“Simple to use, heats up quickly and does not leave water marks behind. Good stream of steam,” a fan posted.
“Great little travel friend, lightweight and easy to use!” agreed another.
BEST BUDGET GARMENT STEAMERS
Sunbeam Power Steam Handheld Garment Steamer, $79 at The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
This budget friendly Sunbeam handheld garment steamer (SG1000) takes just 40 seconds to heat up and is designed to provide up to 18 minutes of continuous steam. It also has a decently sized 300ml water tank plus two settings that let you steam on a variety of fabrics.
“I LOVE the ease of use of this machine. It’s easy to manoeuvre, it heats quickly, disperses steam evenly and removes wrinkles quickly and easily…given how much I paid for my previous steamer, this one is a steal”, a customer posted, rating it five stars.
“The steamer heats up super quickly and is easy to use. I’ve taken it on holidays, to a wedding and daily use. It’s perfect for me,” agreed another.
Russell Hobbs Handheld Supreme, $99 at The Good Guys
Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Steamer Supreme Handheld Steamer
What You Need To Know
Whether you want to refresh your winter knits or require a more delicate hand to gently decrease a silk top? Shoppers are loving the versatility of this portable Russell Hobbs garment steamer (RHC410), which features a metal press designed to mimic an iron head to help tackle stiffer fabrics like suits, linen and denim. Fans say it "worked a treat" on a range of materials, including on non-clothing items like pillowcases and bed sheets.
“Makes ironing some of my trickier dresses so easy, better than using an iron and board. Just hang off the back of your door and off you go! Also perfect for getting rid of last minute creases,” an impressed reviewer posted.
"I used it for linen, cotton and silk materials and everything turned out really well. I'm so happy with it that I'm buying another one for my son!" a second person raved.
"It does its job effectively and is quite simple to use. It is more effective on silk than on solid fabrics, but it still works. It does more than what you pay for in terms of functionality," another commented on The Guys website.
Kambrook SwiftSteam Garment Steamer, $69 at The Good Guys
What You Need To Know
Looking for a lightweight and affordable steamer? The Kambrook SwiftSteam Garment Steamer (KSS120GRN) weighs just a little over 1kg and packs a 250ml water tank, which is slightly larger than your standard 200ml reservoir, all for under $75. The portable model also comes with a detachable fabric brush to lint and dust from upholstery, allowing you to easily prep your linens, fabrics and upholstery before giving it a refresh or an ironing out.
"I bought this after using a friend's. It is brilliant for getting the creases out of linen, chinos, jeans, t-shirts and also delicate fabrics that are too scary to iron. It's great for those times when you don't want to wear crumpled clothing but don't want the bother of getting the iron and ironing board out. The water tank is a good size, heats up quickly and is lightweight when full. You do need to pull the fabric taut while steaming but that's easy if you can find a place to hang the garment that's within reach of the electricity socket. Very happy with this purchase!" praised an Amazon Australia customer.
“Love it. This is a life-changer. I no longer dread ironing my silk shirts or indeed any fabric, thick or thin. I quickly wave this steamer over it for a minute or two and it freshens it up, gets rid of creases and I’m ready to go. Highly recommend it," another person commented.
BEST UPRIGHT GARMENT STEAMERS
Philips All-in-One 8000 Series Ironing Solution, $399 (down from $599) at Amazon Australia
Philips All-in-One 8000 Series Ironing Solution
What You Need To Know
Can’t decide whether to invest in a good iron or steamer? This Philips steamer and iron (GC628/80) covers all bases with a multi-angle board that can be adjusted to any position, plus a tapered design to help you steam harder to reach areas like collars, sleeves, shoulders and children’s clothes.
And unlike with some garment steamers, this lets you steam both horizontally and vertically.
"We live in a small apartment with minimal storage space, so this has been a lifesaver. It's easily stowed away in the corner of our laundry cupboard. The unit heats up surprisingly fast and I'm never concerned about it damaging my clothes. The option to use it as a steamer or an iron (or somewhere in-between) is something I didn't realise I would love, until I had it," praised a shopper.
"It's been great for steaming those winter clothes that have been sitting in the cupboard waiting to be used! Prior to using the unit, I would have winced at the idea of spending a few hundred on an iron. I've changed my mind after using it for a few weeks. It's multiple products rolled into one neat unit."
"From opening the box till set up through to use, you can be ready to go in under five minutes... I always used to wonder who those people were that iron pillowcases and now here I am steaming my pillowcases at a every sheet change. It has become my new obsession," another fan posted.
Tefal IXEO Power All-in-One Iron Steamer Station, $519 at The Good Guys
Tefal IXEO Power All-in-One Iron Steamer Station
What You Need To Know
The Tefal IXEO All-in-One Steamer Station (QT1510) heats up in just 45 seconds and comes with a three-position ‘Smart Board’ so you can zip through your morning shirt ironing or get in between pleats with ease. You can also hang a clothes hanger through the hook and use the machine as you would a normal garment steamer.
Tefal’s IXEO all-in-one steamer machine additionally boasts a three-position ‘Smart Board’ so you can zip through your morning shirt ironing or get in between pleats with ease.
Shoppers say the “powerful” steamer makes “ironing a breeze” and “will leave no creases on your clothes”, with many praising the model for its easy to use functionality and versatility.
“We have had a couple of garment steamers but this one rocks. Powerful steam, trigger on handle saves water and thus tank lasts longer. Hose is not bulky like others and the base and hose are separate so you don't need to bring the stand to do curtains etc,” raved one fan.
“I’ve had hand held steamers for years, but this machine takes steaming to a whole new level! I love the board which provides the convenience of a small ironing board. And the steam (is) unbelievable!” agreed another.
BEST STEAM IRONS
Don't think a steamer and iron is the right combination? Stick to the classics and check out some of the best irons below.
Tefal Ultimate Pure Anti-Calc Steam Iron, $199 at The Good Guys
Tefal Ultimate Pure Anti-Calc Steam Iron
What You Need To Know
While Rowenta irons are one of the most popular options on the market, they're not currently available in Australia. Although you can find alternatives like the Tefal Ultimate Pure Anti-Calc Steam Iron with similar features.
If you've been eyeing the 2800W Rowena Steam Iron, this model also has an anti-drip function to avoid staining clothes and an anti-scale system and anti-calc collector to prevent limescale buildup over time. It's additionally backed by 2400W of muscle power and a steam output of 55g/per minute (250g/min on boost mode).
Philips Azur 8000 Series Steam Station, $148 (down from $229) at The Good Guys
Philips 8000 Series Steam Station
What You Need To Know
The Philips Azur steam iron is often featured in roundups for best irons. It contains OptimalTEMP technology to avoid burns, and a convenient quick calc release slot so you can e get rid of any limescale or calcium buildup.
Russell Hobbs Digital Supreme Iron, $69 (down from $79.95) at Amazon Australia
Russell Hobbs Digital Supreme Iron
What You Need To Know
This Russell Hobbs steam iron stands out with its Colour Control Technology, a sort of digital display which you can use as a guide when checking the Digital Temperature Indicator inside the water tank to see whether the iron is at the right temperature for your particular fabric. The ceramic soleplate is also made with a Colour Protecting Conditioner to help prevent the colour of your clothes from fading or changing,
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A GARMENT STEAMER
To help iron out the fine details on which garment steamer you should buy, we considered these several features as the most important when deciding which products to include in our round-up.
Type of garment steamer: You can either opt for a handheld steamer or an upright steamer. Handheld models are portable and more affordable, making them a great travel companion or a handy go-to gadget when you need to quickly iron out some wrinkles on a shirt before heading out. Upright steamers (otherwise called standing or vertical steamers) are heavier duty and ideal for those who need to steam larger amounts, regularly. These generally come with larger built-in water tanks, hangers and more features, but tend to be bulky and expensive.
Heat up time: The heat up time typically depends on the size of the water tank. Most handheld steamers have a 200ml reservoir, often require approximately 40 seconds to preheat, while larger units (including standing models) will likely take one to three minutes.
Steam time: The general rule is the larger the water tank, the longer the steaming steam.
Water tank: Garment steamers can have either removable or built-in water tanks.
Steamer lock: Some garment steamers have a trigger lock to maintain a constant release of steam , while others need the trigger to be held (similar to using a stick vacuum).
Different steam settings and accessories: Garment steamers can cater to a variety of items by offering multiple steam modes or different attachments. Some accessories include an attachment for delicate fabrics, which gives textiles like silk more gentle treatment, and an upholstery attachment to give furniture a refresh whilst getting get rid of dust, dirt and odours.
Safety features : the most common safety feature is the overheat protection function, which a standard function in appliance that switches appliance off once it reaches a specific temperature. Most irons and steamers also have an auto shutoff feature that turns the unit off if unused for a certain amount of time (usually 15 minutes). Other safety features may include a self-standing design, or a temperature regulating function like Russell Hobbs' One Temperature Technology which maintains the same temperature.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GARMENT STEAMER VS IRON: WHICH IS BETTER?
Garment steamers are a handy appliance for quickly refreshing light to middleweight fabrics or delicate items that can’t be ironed. Handheld steamers are also great for throwing in your suitcase to decrease clothing when an iron and board isn’t available.
However, garment steamers don’t offer the same crisp result as an iron, which makes them more of an additional purchase, rather than a replacement, for an iron.
Although you can find many garment steamers with a press plate, allowing you to use the steamer as if it had a ceramic or stainless steel soleplate. Think of it like a hybrid between a steam iron and dry iron.
Unlike steam irons, which use steam to relax the fibres in the fabric and flatten wrinkles, dry irons don't have a steam feature and instead press material against the metal plate to smooth creases.
HOW DO YOU USE A GARMENT STEAMER?
Most garment steamers are designed to be quite intuitive to use, so all you have to do is fill the container with water and hit the on-button. You may want to hold your item of clothing taut as you steam out the wrinkles on the underside.
Keep in mind that you are handling hot steam which can cause serious burns if you’re not careful. It goes without saying, but you should never touch the steam with your bare hands and should always turn the machine off when it’s not in use.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING A GARMENT STEAMER?
More Coverage
Not only will using a garment steamer take you a fraction of the time it takes to properly iron a piece of clothing, but it’s kinder on your clothes too. Since there’s no heated metal touching the fabric, you won’t risk accidentally burning your clothing. The steam is also effective at de-wrinkling delicate fabrics like chiffon, silk and wool.
Steaming can also prolong the freshness of your clothes between washes by killing odour causing germs and bacteria. The only downside is you might find it difficult to get a precise pleat crease on your pants, though some steamers do come with a separate attachment for this very purpose.
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