Russell Hobbs 27220 Steam Genie Hand Held Steamer - Handheld Clothes Steamer for Garments, Curtains and Soft Furnishings, 1800 Watt

Product Information

Bear in mind that steam irons offer vertical steam too. So if it’s just for occasional use, you could use an iron that does both instead. If you want to steam lots though, clothing steamers feel much nicer than holding a heavy iron aloft. There’s also a flat part that clips on vertically and looks like a mini ironing board – giving you something firm to push against when steaming. We were disappointed that it couldn’t pop out horizontally and double as a mini ironing board for those times (like creases in folded hankies) when vertical steam doesn’t cut it. And there are no grips for trousers! Instead, you’re supposed to drape them over the top of the board. Mini by name, mini by nature, this is the best vertical garment steamer to buy if you’re short of space, thanks to its 20.5x14.5cm footprint. The entire base is designed to be tall and thin, but it doesn’t topple over. Due to its bulk the Breville EliteTEMP is not necessarily one to travel with – but for larger loads at home it could be perfect, with a large 240ml water tank and 16 minutes of run time before it needs refilling. It comes in an attractive glossy white and champagne gold finish and, despite taking up room lengthways, it’s actually quite thin which keeps the weight off. Its removable tank has a 150ml capacity and a tiny fill hole: it’s hit and miss under the tap, a bit like filling a water pistol. Then you turn it on and wait 45 seconds until it stops flashing to indicate that it’s ready for use. You have to hold down the trigger button to get steam, which takes a few seconds to get started. And the power cable is a bit on the short side at 2m.

Steamers work by heating up the water in the tank and channeling it to the head where the steam in released in a constant flow to get read of creases,” says Lightbown. She adds that while steamers are great for clothes, they’re also useful for other fabrics like curtains and bedding. Steamers can also be used to freshen up clothes which is especially useful for clothes than can only be dry cleaned. How do you use a steamer for clothes? If you’re someone who likes to get all of your ironing or steaming done in one go then an upright steamer with a larger water tank is definitely the best option,” says fashion stylist Emma Lightbown. “If you prefer to steam individual pieces before you wear them or are looking for something easy to travel with then I would recommend a handheld.” What should you look for in a clothes steamer? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Like similar handheld models, this clothes steamer takes up no more space than a shoebox, including accessories. It's Tefal's most compact clothes steamer, hence why we rate it the best travel clothes steamer. It comes in a carry bag and with two attachments – a steam cover for delicate fabrics, and a brush for heavier fabrics and upholstery. It also comes with a clever metal hook that loops over the top of a door, giving you somewhere to hang clothes for steaming.Unfortunately it has a slightly uncomfortable weight distribution – a large head which gets filled with water and a thin handle. It’s not too bad when holding upright to steam clothes, but as soon as you do anything horizontally or even at an angle, you feel the weight on your wrist. Lightbown recommends using an iron for denser fabrics like denim and heavyweight cottons, but steams everything else. She especially likes steaming delicate fabrics which can be damaged by an iron, like silk, chiffon, satin and faux leather.

That said, if money’s no object then this – once assembled – is the best of the lot. The steam head is shaped like an iron soleplate, which makes sense because the unusual design gives you the best of both worlds: you can steam garments hung vertically against its board, angle the board at 30° for comfort, or set it horizontally and use the Tefal like an iron. Even little touches are nice, like the Velcro tie that stops the 3m cord getting in a tangle when you store the steamer. Our only criticism is that the lights (indicating 20g/min eco mode or 25g/min turbo) are at the front with the trigger button, so can’t easily see them. Lightbown recommends finding a steamer with a water tank large enough for your average load to avoid refilling too often. She also says, “Look for steamers that are instant steam rather than those that leave you waiting around while they heat up the whole tank.” How do clothes steamers work? Scandi brand Steamery is on a mission to prove that clothes can last a lifetime if we look after them, with their range of beautifully aesthetic lint rollers, fabric shavers, laundry products and of course clothes steamers. The Cirrus 3 is the latest in the range and has an eye-watering price tag. But just look at it.They’re not just for occasional use: the best handheld clothes steamers can hold enough water to get through a few items of clothes before needing refilling, while freestanding clothes steamers can manage whole laundry loads. Cordless clothes steamers would seem to be the next step, but they’ve not yet hit the shelves in the UK.