11 Best Clothes Steamers To Care For Your Wardrobe Like A Stylist

We are living for linen now that the sun has finally shown up, but the fabric is notorious for creasing. Enter this upright steamer; it removed all creases from the fabric and was impressive and quick on everything else, too. The wide head covers a large surface area (hello, maxi dresses!) and all our clothes were dry after steaming.

The steam is gentle enough for delicate detailing too, while also effective enough to make our shirts look like they’d been ironed. The large water tank means you can get through a lot of your wardrobe in one go, and its wheels make it portable.

It’s not clear when the steamer is ready though, as there’s no on light, and you can’t control the steam output. It also spat occasionally. That said, it’s a workhorse that makes caring for your clothes a doddle.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 2.2L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Accessories included: Trouser clasp, hand ironing mat, folding hanger, upholstery brush
Dimensions (H, W, D): 162 x 25 x 31cm

This handheld steamer might be mini but it’s a powerful multitasker; it has three settings and removes creases quickly on everything from linen to silk to viscose, leaving clothes dry and ready to throw on as you waltz out the door.

The head is a bit bulky when you’re trying to steam intricate areas (like armpits) and we had to constantly reapply the trigger lock throughout use, but it didn’t spit and heated up quickly, making it a versatile winner.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Accessories included: Door hook, fabric brush, crease attachment, steam bonnet and travel bag
Dimensions (H, W, D): 27.5 x 14.5 x 11.5cm

Give your garments a glow-up with this sleek handheld steamer that glides well over most fabrics, straightening out everything from silk slips to cotton shirt dresses. It’s ready to steam in less than 30 seconds and although the water tank looks small and opaque, it runs for a surprisingly long time.

The wide head works magic on larger surfaces but falls short on fiddly detailing. You can’t lock the trigger switch but it comes with a glove to keep your manicured mitts protected in use. Overall, it’s a nifty little number.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.07L
Transparent water tank: No
Hanging equipment: No
Accessories included: Fabric brush
Dimensions (H, W, D): 38 x 12.8 x 15cm

Whether you’re tight on space or just committed to that Marie Kondo lifestyle, this chic, streamlined steamer is tough to top. The generous 1.8 litre tank offers 60 minutes of continuous steaming to work through your weekly wardrobe in one session, though we found it easy to fill and quick to reheat if you need more time.

While it boasts the power to satisfy any self-proclaimed steaming pro, it’s reassuringly straightforward to use. Simply hang your creased garment on the integrated rotating hanger, select your chosen steam setting (900W and 1750W), and your fit will be front row ready in seconds. Seriously. It excelled with every fabric we threw its way, and we loved the fabric brush attachment for tackling delicates without risk of damage.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 1.8L
Transparent water tank: No
Hanging equipment: Yes
Included accessories: Heat protection glove, fabric brush, non-slip hanger
Dimensions (H, W, D): 172 x 32 x 33cm

The Laurastar Iggi won us over with its precision nozzle, which allows you to tackle intricate fabric details (think: suit collars and sequins) way quicker than we could have managed with a cumbersome iron. It was reassuringly reliable when it came to spitting, too; if you’re looking for a quick, handheld to touch up outfits before heading out, this is the steamer for you.

Despite there being no trigger lock (meaning you’ll have to keep the lever held down while steaming), it’s super lightweight, which made it comfortable to use and ideal for packing in your suitcase.

It performed particularly well on viscose and cotton, though heavier fabrics like linen may require a second steam. You do have to wait until the steamer has cooled down before refilling the tank, so it’s best suited for lighter household use and travel.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.08L
Transparent water tank: No
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Refill bottle, glove, bag
Dimensions (H, W, D): 25 x 11.7 x 11.7cm

This steamer has an accessory for every occasion and we are here for it. Statement collars can be cared for to perfection with the collar press and cuff attachment, while a delicate fabric guard will keep even the laciest of detailing safe.

It’s slow to heat up but once it’s 'awake', it removes creases quickly. We liked the steam boost for getting rid of particularly stubborn lines and the tapered tip works well in crevices. There was no spitting and our clothes were dry, but delicate fabrics did get blown away by the powerful steam. It’s not a compact design either, so if space is at a premium, scroll on to our next pick.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 3.8L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Accessories included: Flexible ironing board, heat protection gloves, upholstery brush, collar press and cuff attachment, delicate fabric guard, folding hanger with pegs
Dimensions (H, W, D): 185 x 32 x 44cm

If you’re looking for all the versatility of an upright garment steamer in a compact model, this is it. For the price tag, the range of included attachments is seriously impressive, with everything from scent infusers to upholstery brushes, and a genius lint remover for last-minute touch-ups.

Lightweight and portable with a 360° swivel cord and trigger lock, the Steam Genie is comfortable to use and easy to manoeuvre (trust us, it’s a blessing when you come to steam longer evening dresses and coats). It made quick work of creased viscose and silk leaving every garment 100% dry and free of watermarks, though our heavily creased linen and cotton pieces did require a little more care and attention. Serves us right for stuffing them in our weekend bag, we suppose.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Accessories included: Delicate attachment with scent infuser, upholstery attachment and lint brush
Dimensions (H, W, D): 29 x 12 x 14.6cm

There was no point spending all of lockdown perfecting a holiday capsule wardrobe, only for it to look creased now you can show it off. Make this handheld steamer your new travel buddy and look flawless everywhere from the beach to the bar; it had no trouble with any of our clothes, freshening them up quickly and thoroughly. Only our cotton shirt was damp after steaming.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.15L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Accessories included: Door hook, fabric brush, steam bonnet, travel bag
Dimensions (H, W, D): 24.5 x 12 x 10cm

Blown your budget on a new summer wardrobe? Fear not as this affordable clothes steamer more than delivers. It heats up in 29 seconds, has a three metre-long cord for ease of access and – crucially – quickly removes wrinkles from silk, viscose and cotton.

Our shirts looked like they’d been pressed but our silk, linen and cotton clothes felt a tad damp, as did our hands – it spat occasionally. For the price though, it’s a steal.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.23L
Transparent water tank: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Accessories included: Steam brush
Dimensions (H, W, D): 25.8 x 14.6 x 11cm

If you’re perennially late, then this outstandingly quick steamer at least won’t add to your list of excuses. It heats up in 15 seconds and didn’t leave any of our clothes damp, meaning you can steam and dash.

Overall, it did a good job of removing most creases, but a few deep set ones lingered, albeit less visibly. There’s no trigger lock and you can’t see into the tank to know how much water is left but it’s also a fab model if you’re tight on storage space, as the collapsible head folds down.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.12L
Transparent water tank: No
Hanging equipment: No
Accessories included: Fabric brush, travel bag
Dimensions (H, W, D): 22 x 10.5 x 12.7cm

For a steamer that looks (almost) as good as your freshly steamed clothes, treat yourself to this rose gold and black design. It works best on viscose and linen, leaving no creases after use, but it’s also pretty reliable on cotton and silk.

It heats up in an instant and has three steam settings to choose from. The large head can’t reach into tight spaces and it did spit a little in use. Our linen and silk were left slightly damp in places afterwards too, so make sure you have enough time to leave them to dry.

Overall though, it’s a trusty gadget that we’d reach for when freshening up our wardrobe.

Key specifications
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Transparent water tank: No
Hanging equipment: Yes
Accessories included: Fabric brush, door hook, steam bonnet
Dimensions (H, W, D): 30.3 x 12.7 x 13.2cm