Can I replace my iron with a steamer?

Some people love ironing and find it relaxing, but in many households, ironing is unpopular and seen as a tedious, time-consuming chore. Interestingly, many young adults and first-time renters often don’t even own an iron or ironing board anymore. Clothes are hung straight in the closet after washing and drying, bypassing the ironing basket altogether. The use of garment steamers has skyrocketed in popularity. But is a garment steamer really a full replacement for an iron?

A steamer is a device that removes wrinkles from clothing with — you guessed it — steam. Unlike an iron, you don’t need to apply pressure, so no ironing board is required. Using less pressure, force, and heat on fabric significantly extends the lifespan of your textiles. You can remove wrinkles from your clothes without damaging the fabric using a quality garment steamer.

However, a steamer is often not a complete replacement for an iron. For example, handheld steamers don’t remove deep, stubborn wrinkles effectively because the continuous steam output is generally too low, and irons apply much more pressure to the fabric. So, consider in advance what you’ll use the steamer for. Linen wrinkles are harder to remove than cotton or satin, for example.

A garment steamer is ideal for quickly de-wrinkling thin fabrics, delicate materials, and clothing with tricky textures like pleated skirts. It’s also great for refreshing and touching up various garments, including wool sweaters and coats. Besides clothing, steamers work well on bedding, curtains, and even tablecloths.

Want to effortlessly and quickly remove wrinkles and refresh your clothes without an ironing board? Then a compact handheld steamer is perfect for you! A garment steamer is a handy addition — especially for travel, to quickly smooth out or refresh your clothes — but it’s not a full replacement for an iron. Don’t buy a steamer to handle full ironing baskets; use it only for quick touch-ups.

A quality garment steamer heats up within 20 seconds and is ready to use. With a full water tank, you can steam about 2 to 3 garments on average.