8 Best Handheld Clothes Steamers 2024 UK; tried and tested
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THE best steam cleaners make one of the most boring house chores easier and dare we say, even enjoyable.
Now don't get us wrong; while there are some people out there who like ironing, for the most part, it can be tedious and a bit of a faff.
Clothes steamers, on the other hand, are relatively fuss-free: with no need to drag out the ironing board, all you have to do is hit the 'on' switch and away you go.
While steamers might not be suited to clothes that are overly wrinkled, they're ideal for most everyday items that just require a light iron and are perfect for travelling, especially if you're attending a wedding or event as you can chuck it in your bag.
As well as being quick and convenient, steaming helps to kill odour-causing bacteria and remove allergens that attract dust mites, making it more beneficial to your health and home.
If you've been considering a purchase or are thinking of upgrading your current one, we've put a handful to the test to help you find your new laundry hero.
Best clothes steamers at a glance:
- Best overall clothes steamer: Swan Pro Steam
- Best handheld clothes steamer: Tefal Pure Tex Handheld Garment Steamer
- Best budget clothes steamer: Tower Garment Steamer
- Best powerful clothes steamer: Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Steamer
- Best travel clothes steamer: Philips Handheld Steamer 3000 series
Swan Pro Steam
Swan Pro Steam, £34.99 £29.99
Pros: Reaches all areas of clothes, works vertically and horizontally, effective
Cons: None
Rating: 5/5
For the price, the Swan Pro Steam was a real winner.
The swivelling cable and curvy design mean it can easily reach every crease in your wardrobe without having to get all the clothes out.
It works both vertically and horizontally so you can use its flat plate like an iron or hold it upright to decrease and freshen up clothes.
There is also a fabric brush included, which is great for jackets and curtains.
The water tank is relatively small - only holding around 300ml - but it was easy to detach and refill.
I thought it was a fab price for a versatile steamer.
If this is your first time trying a steamer, this is the one to buy.
Ready to use in: Not stated, Tank capacity: 300ml, Running time/steam rate: 25 g/min
Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Handheld Clothes Steamer
Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Handheld Clothes Steamer, £34
Pros: Powerful steam, different attachments, works on a variety of materials, fast heat-up
Cons: Heavy to hold, small water tank, not many controls
Rating: 4.5/5
Russell Hobbs is a powerhouse when it comes to home appliances, so it’s not surprising that this steamer is one of the most popular ones available.
The heat-up is very fast, it’s ready to go in 45 seconds and with a 28g steam output, it’s powerful, so do keep this in mind when steaming more delicate fabrics.
It’s pretty easy to use with a button that can lock the steam trigger, but other than that there aren’t any other buttons, making it one of the more basic designs.
But I found that it was able to quickly iron out kinks and creases, making it an excellent choice if you’re getting ready for an event or wedding.
It also worked well when steaming thicker materials, and I was able to remove creases on a pair of linen trousers and denim shirts in one or two passes.
There are also three different attachments you can add to it, one for upholstery, one for delicates and a lint roller that can help remove fur hair.
I was surprised at how effective the upholstery attachment was at refreshing pillows and steaming out sofa creases.
At 1.29kg, it’s not the lightest steamer to hold and the water tank is smaller than other steamers, so if you’re planning on steaming a few items at once, you will need to keep filling it up.
Overall, it’s great value for money considering its affordable price, versatility and effective steam.
Review by Natalie Chui
Ready to use in: 45 seconds Tank capacity: 200ml, Running time/steam rate: 258g/min
READ MORE:
- Tefal handheld garment steamer review
- Philips Handheld Steamer 3000 Series review
- Best draught excludes
Tefal Pure Tex Handheld Garment Steamer
Tefal Pure Tex Handheld Garment Steamer, £79.99
Pros: De-creases and sanitises clothes, effective brush attachment
Cons: Pricey
Rating: 4.5/5
This four-in-one steamer can not only de-crease clothes, but it sanitises them – killing '99.9% of viruses, bacteria and germs.'
It can also be used to sanitize items such as soft toys.
I found this useful, as the washing machine tends to ruin them and the kids don't like giving them up for so long.
There's also a special brush attachment for removing dust and hairs which was great for curtains and sofas too.
This is expensive, but it has multiple functions which I found useful.
Plus it's not too cumbersome to store.
Ready to use in: 25 seconds, Tank capacity: 200ml, Running time/steam rate: 30 g/min
Philips Steam & Go
Philips Steam & Go, £75
Pros: Heats up quickly, powerful steam
Cons: Hard to get corners
Rating: 4/5
The Philips Steam & Go heated up in less than 30 seconds and its wide head made light work of creases on lots of fabrics.
It has powerful steam jets which get the job done efficiently without leaving your clothes damp.
It was quite cumbersome when trying to get to intricate areas and the trigger switch couldn't be locked, so you have to hold it down while steaming.
However, it can be used vertically and horizontally, which is useful for some areas.
It appeared to have quite a small water capacity but it lasted a while before needing a refill.
There aren't many accessories, but the protective glove was useful.
At £75, it's an investment – but lots of shoppers are happy with it, with an average score of 4.3 out of 5 on Argos reviews.
Ready to use in: 60 seconds, Tank capacity: 70ml, Running time/steam rate: 24g/min
Beldray Multi Steam Pro
Beldray Multi Steam Pro, £26.50
Pros: Easy to use, affordable
Cons: Can leave clothes too damp
Rating: 4/5
Compact, lightweight and ready to use in 30 seconds, this steamer is great for travelling as well as day-to-day use.
It has two settings and a brush attachment for finer fabrics.
It quickly and easily removed creases in all fabrics – but occasionally I had to do a second sweep.
The water tank is easy to fill and the trigger switch is simple to use.
Sometimes it did leave clothes a little damp.
This isn't unusual, but you'd need to steam a while before you want to get dressed so your crease-free outfit has time to dry.
For the price though, this is fab.
Ready to use in: 45 seconds, Tank capacity: 260ml, Running time: 15 minutes
Tower Housewares 1,000w Garment Steamer
Tower Housewares 1,000w Garment Steamer, £29.99 £22.99
Pros: Less drip, effective de-crease
Cons: Heavy
Rating: 4/5
The Tower Housewares 1,000w Garment Steamer was a little heavier than the others I tested, but it did a pretty good job of getting rid of creases in all fabrics.
One benefit was that it didn't drip as other models did.
It is meant to produce 15 minutes of continuous steam, but actually, I found more often than not I had to fill it sooner than that.
I was surprised it cost under £30 – after using it, I would have guessed it cost a lot more.
Because of that, I'd say it's great value for money.
Ready to use in: 35 seconds, Tank capacity: 200ml, Running time: Over 5 minutes
Philips Handheld Steamer 3000 series
Philips Handheld Steamer 3000 series, £49.99 £43.59
Pros: Travel size, compact, fast
Cons: More expensive, not as effective on thicker materials
Rating: 3.5/5
Philips' Handheld Steamer 3000 Series is the perfect choice if you want a steamer for travelling.
It folds up very small – similar to a travel hairdryer – and is very lightweight.
It's great when you're in a rush too, as there is no need to get out the hotel ironing board.
It wasn't as effective on heavier fabrics such as denim jeans but on the whole, it did a great job.
It's very easy to use, ready to go in just 30 seconds and makes light work of the ironing.
Plus, if you're concerned about using it on delicate fabrics like silk, Philips promises that the steam plate 'can be safely pressed against any clothing with no risk of burning' – great for peace of mind.
Ready to use in: 30 seconds, Tank capacity: 120ml, Running time/steam rate: 20 g/min
Hilife Clothes Steamer
Hilife Clothes Steamer, £25.99
Pros: Fast steam output, easy to use
Cons: Can only be used vertically, more time-consuming
Rating: 3/5
It's important to note that you can't use the Hilife Clothes Steamer horizontally, as all the water will spill out and you risk burning your hand.
Because of this, I definitely preferred steamers that worked both ways.
However, it's not bad if it's something you want just for travelling or overnight stays.
It takes no time at all to de-crease clothes and is very easy to use.
The 9-foot power cord is a useful feature for those awkwardly placed sockets, while the 240ml capacity provides up to 15 minutes of continuous steaming.
Overall, I found that other models were better value.
Ready to use in: 130 seconds, Tank capacity: 240ml, Running time: 14-16 minutes
Where to buy clothes steamers in the UK?
If you're shopping for a clothes steamer, you'll be pleased to know that they're readily available online from several retailers – as well as directly from the manufacturers themselves.
We've listed some places below that carry a good stock selection and have reliable delivery and customer service:
How much do clothes steamers cost?
Prices do vary for clothes steamers, depending on the brand, but overall you can pick up some really good value models without having to break the bank.
We'd say, you can expect to spend between £20 - £80 on a clothes steamer, with most falling around the £30 - £40 mark.
Out of the models we tested, the Tower Clothes Steamer was the cheapest at under £25, while the Tefal Pure Tex Handheld Garment Steamer was the priciest at £79.99 from John Lewis.
Our top pick, the Swan Pro Steam, came out somewhere in the middle at a very reasonable £29.99.
How to use a clothes steamer?
Once you turn the steamer on, you'll want to wait a bit until you can physically see the steam.
Then, stretch the garment out with your free hand and run the steamer down the clothes with your other one – it's that simple!
Our top tip is that you want to make sure that your steamer is touching your clothes to get all of the creases properly out. We recommend steaming horizontally to get the best results.
Which garment steamer is the best?
There are different garment steamers suited to different needs – the one that’s best for you will depend on your requirements.
Generally, handheld steamers are less powerful than upright designs, but if you need a garment steamer for travel, then you may choose a handheld version from a respected brand like Philips.
Do steamers work on clothes?
If you need to get the creases out of delicate fabrics or spruce up your workwear shirts while travelling, then steamers can be a very good solution.
They don’t touch the clothing like an iron does – but that doesn’t diminish their efficacy. Steamers can be used for all types of garments, from suits to wedding dresses – without damaging them.
Is it better to iron or steam clothes?
If you’ve got time and a lot of laundry to get through, then ironing is probably a better option when it comes to getting clothes completely crisp and wrinkle-free.
Steamers typically take up less room and are easier to use too, so they’re good for giving a garment a quick refresh. For travel purposes, a steamer can be indispensable.
How to clean clothes steamer tanks
Many people clean their clothes steamers by filling the reservoir with a white vinegar and water solution, then allowing it to steam until it's entirely gone.
They then proceed to do the same with plain water to allow it to be rinsed. However, not all steamers are the same so you can also follow the instructions given in their manual – usually by rinsing out the water tank and ensuring it's filled with clean water.
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