I don’t know about you ladies out there, but if there is one household chore I hate… and I mean HATE! … its ironing. I’d sooner mop the house and wash bathrooms than iron my clothes. I’d sooner dress in knits than cotton shirts and dresses. I’d sooner hire someone just to iron my clothes, if I had the means to. You get the general idea. I hate ironing.
A few years back however, I purchased a contraption that hasn’t made me love ironing clothes any more, but it has made me tolerate ironing just a little bit better. Enter the clothes steamer, or garment steamer, however you want to call it.
You might have seen this contraption in boutiques or the fashion departments in departmental stores. I used to notice it but I never quite thought about buying one for myself. It was only when I was chatting to a friend who used to own a boutique, that she pushed me into buying one – the best investment you can ever make, she told me. Know what? She was absolutely right!
Thanks to her connections, I purchased my clothes steamer from one of those little shops where boutique owners go to buy their supplies. So, mine is the industrial version, the one you will see being used in little boutiques – the not very attractive version. Since then, I’ve noticed in recent years, that some popular household brands like Phillips have come out with a more domestic version of the garment steamer that looks better.
Do excuse the mess. My laundry room is always a disaster 😛
The concept behind the clothes steamer is simple. The water in the holder is heated up and the steam generated is pushed up through the hose and out through the nozzles. It is this hot steam that “irons” the wrinkles out of your clothes.
Using it for the first time takes a bit of work because its not quite as easy as you might imagine it. To optimize the use of the steam, you have to iron from the inside of your clothes. So, you hang your dress on a hanger, then slide the nozzle under and inside, and watch the wrinkles fall out on the outside. Its almost magical, especially when you are working with delicate and light material.
Be warned however, that steam is very hot. Science class would have taught you that steam is generated only with boiling water and it is at the same temperature as boiling water, so using a clothes steamer is a very hot, sweat inducing affair, and one if you are not careful, can cause burns on your hands. I’ve blistered my hands countless times from being careless or overly optimistic.
I find that using a clothes steamer has cut down my ironing time, especially when I work with light material – chiffon, silk – or synthetic material – nylon, polyester. These materials are delicate to start with, and using a conventional iron can sometimes result in disaster. With the clothes steamer you don’t have to worry about burning, melting or scorching your clothes of delicate fabrics anymore. Just run the nozzle lightly under the fabrics and you’re done. Especially helpful for clothes with strange cuts or ruffles or lace too.
However, cotton shirts and clothes still need the press of a conventional iron. Using a steamer helps the wrinkles fall out, but it never looks as crisp or smooth as when you press it with an iron. So guess what? I’ve reduced the number of cotton shirts in my wardrobe – yes, I hate ironing that much 😛
Who needs a clothes/garment steamer?
- If you hate ironing
- If you can live with some wrinkles in your cotton shirts, you (and I) can use this on cotton shirts and clothes too.
- If you wear a lot of clothes made of delicate or synthetic material.
- If you want to get wrinkles out of your knitwear.
- If you don’t want to spend too much time on your ironing.
- If you like gadgets.
I can’t extol the virtues of a clothes steamer enough. It is truly a Godsend for ladies who hate ironing or who don’t want to spend so much time on your ironing or who have clothes of delicate material that you don’t know how to handle. I don’t have to worry about burning my clothes anymore, and I still don’t enjoy doing my ironing, but at least when I do it, I know I’m getting it done more quickly 🙂
Oh and it makes a great face steamer too – LOL! (Kidding! Face steaming is a side effect, don’t go holding it to your face or you will likely steam the skin off it 😛 )
Do you own a clothes steamer too? Do you love this as much as I do? Or are you now contemplating getting one? I promise you, you will not regret it one bit!
Paris B
I purchased my clothes steamer from a boutique supply shop for about RM350 about 2 years ago. There is no brand and is some random Made in China product. There are various brands available for domestic purchase now and I know Phillips has one but I don’t know the price.
Have the exact same one. Still hate ironing and steaming my clothes. There is no hope for myself hahaha XD
I basically use the steamer for clothes which can’t be ironed lol Don’t enjoy sweating part very much 😛
Urgh! I don’t hate ironing any less either! But at least I’m getting it done more quickly and getting a facial and sauna at the same time haha!
I’ve contemplated this for years because i detest ironing too. would it be better if you steam the cotton shirts while it is still sort of damp?
Actually, I sometimes steam the cotton shirts then quickly run an iron through them. That is, if I want them to look more crisp. Most of the time, I …Er… Don’t bother 😛
The Phillips one is about RM400, and it isn’t that great, as the stand they provide isn’t attached to the steamer, so if you don’t weigh it down properly, a small pull and tumble it goes! The tank is quite small too, so after say 3 or 4 dresses you’ll need to refill =/
Ouch! That’s expensive. I thought it was about RM200 😛 thanks for letting me know. I can get through quite a few clothes before having to refill thanks to the big water bottle provided in mine
I hate ironing too. So I hardly wear shirts anymore.
I shall get a steamer when I get my own place and move out from parents! 🙂
Ooh is that happening soon? 😉 I hardly wear shirts or even blouses anymore. A pity because a nice shirt can look smart and professional. Instead I’m in my comfy knits and dresses lol!
Sigh. Unfortunately, I have to wait a while more as the property prices are still crazy.
Boo to crazy property prices 🙁 they’re starting to shoot through the roof here too. It’s scary especially for those looking for their first home
this looks perfect for me! i seldom wear shirts because they always end up making me sweat like mad in this hot weather, once saw this at an electronics exhibition for about just S$60 or RM120! now i’m regretting not buying it after reading your post, heh.
Hehe I’m sure there will be another chance 🙂 I even use this on t shirts sometimes, of they are too crumpled. Makes you look neat in a tick!
I actually received a clothes steamer as a gift. It’s an Amway one, but I haven’t gotten into the hang of using it yet. Might take it out of the closet soon!
Lucky you! It takes a bit of practice to get it right (and not to burn yourself) but its very useful 🙂
I have one of this from Novita. I forgot how much I bought it for, though. It’s a life-saver! Like you said, it’s not as powerful as the old-school clothes iron but it’s great for emergencies and soft fabrics. But got to be careful not to use the steamer to often in an enclosed room with not much ventilation as it produces lots of moisture. I used to keep it in my room until I discovered a big (and I mean big) scary patch of mold growing on one of my walls.
Ooh good tip! I usually have my windows open because the room can get all steamy like a sauna otherwise. Or I do it in my living room where I can watch tv at the same time 😀
Haha, I can so relate to this ironing gripe 🙂 I had the same thought as you about knits and I love knits. I had a fabulous Braun iron which I bought from Singapore. A faulty adaptor then zapped it to death. I sent it back to Harvey Norman KL and they could not fix it since the spare part was no longer available. My heart was shattered because that iron was such a magical helper for my ironing chores! But thanks to the extended warranty, I was given credits to purchase another iron in the store. Guess what? They don’t sell Braun irons in Harvey Norman KL. Argh!!! In the end, I settled for a Tefal steam iron which costs about RM400. Still not as good as my Braun, but will settle for that than the conventional iron which destroys most of my clothings leaving shiny marks. On the contrary, I used to hate ironing but with a good steam iron, I am ok to do ironing because I like to see my clothes neat and tidy and wrinkle free.
i’m like you, jennifer. love my tefal steam iron to bits. used to dislike ironing until i converted to the steam iron. now i enjoy ironing (and the beautiful results i get), especially on those days when i need to relieve some stress 😉
Ahhhh sounds like I need a steam iron 😛
You are absolutely right about getting a good iron. When I made the transition from normal heavy iron to steam iron, I thought it was awesome. But I dropped my iron and it was never the same since 😛 I was also looking at the Tefal iron till I got the steamer. I do still need an iron for shirts. The old one just doesn’t cut it anymore boo! that said, who’s to say we can’t wear knits to work eh? 😉
I don’t hate ironing now as I iron every morning before going to work. One or two pieces the most. Done within 3-5 min. I shudder to think of the days in the past I will iron a whole pile of clothes to last me a week. That was one reason I can’t enjoy my Sundays. And don’t you hate it when after ironing and few days later when you bring out the clothes to wear and it’s not so wrinkly free still? Yes, I have lots of cotton clothes. Thus, ironing everyday is the solution ! 😉
You know what, Lisa, I actually did this for a spell. Then I got lazy because it meant I had to look for my outfit the night before and before I j we it, I was back to ironing a mound of clothes every other week LOL
I agree fully with u Paris B 🙂 I was really happy when i got my first Novita Garment Steamer several years ago! I used to dislike ironing but finds it much easier and faster using a steamer. I love playing my favorite music and singing alone to it while steaming my clothes and doing household chores has never been so relaxing hehe..
Haha I wouldnt out relaxing and ironing in the same sentence but I get ya totally! I usually do it with the tv on. A good time for me to catch up on tv too. I sometimes end up watching the weirdest programmes for want of something to watch lol!
Fear not, you’re not alone. I probably hate ironing just as much as you.
I’ve been contemplating about the steamer for almost a year now. But could never justify spending that much money on an “iron”.
Now you need one, Sze Ling 😉 I didn’t think I could or would spend that much on an iron either but it would appear it was either this or a good steam iron which would cost about the same. A good iron does make things easier but never more enjoyable 😛
Hi Paris
I hate ironing as much as you do if not more. I only take out my iron once or twice a year. When I buy clothes I will look for fabric that needs no ironing. Cotton shirts – what’s that? ha ha…I only have not more than 5 in my closet and I rarely wear them. I think I should get this gadget.
Lol!! Once or twice a year? Ok you win 🙂 Since I got the steamer I can afford to get clothes of delicate fabric. At least I know the creases will fall out easily, I won’t ruin them and they will look good 🙂
I hate ironing so much that I don’t even have one! LOL I’d rather bare the wrinkles and get NEW clothes… this is how bad it is. I need a clothing steamer! I need to check out the domesticated ones since I have no hookups to purchase industrial ones 😀 glad I’m not the only one who hates ironing!
Oh wow you must have a huge wardrobe 🙂 I got mine from a shop that sells supplies to boutiques. You might have something similar where you are, or there’s always online shopping 😉 from what I can tell, the difference lies in the capacity of the water tank, and the pole.
I really hate ironing cloth and guess what those nice blouse or pant always need extra ironing…so i send to dobby nearby my house like once a month which cost about rm1.2 per piece which i think is quite reasonable…rather than i spent hours ironing..
A few people have told me that too but Sadly I’m also a bit of a miser 😛 besides if I had to send everything to be ironed, it’d cost me a pretty penny 😉
I hate ironing too. I want to get a pressure iron. That’s the best.
A pressure iron? Thats the first time I’ve heard of it. I only know about steam irons 😀 but anything that will make this chore easier (not necessarily more enjoyable though) is welcome 😉
lol, making it easier… … Pressure iron is like really the only thing I want, but it is so costly, I still can’t convince myself to part with so much at one go.
Philips has 3 I think, ranging from $300+++ to $600. And then there is this LauraStar that is a straight $700. LauraStar has a special ironing board that if you buy, will cost $1500 or so, together with the iron.
I myself am pretty convinced LauraStar is way better than Philips because I have seen the demonstration, and that the $300+++ Philips one will make me feel cheated. LOL.
LauraStar sells only at selected megaCourts here.
Oh yeah, and I have resorted to buying low-crease material, less cotton, more silky feel.
And I’ve also decided to have more cheaper blogshop clothes, so that I only need to rotate my wardrobe after some 4 weeks or more. =PPP So I can slowly iron, and iron less… =P
This is so new to me! I’m going to take a look the next time I go past an electrical department or store. Anything to make ironing easier!
Thanks for the affirmation. I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a steamer for a while now. You’ve just convinced me. 🙂
Hehe you won’t regret it, I’m sure! 😉
Count me in the “hate ironing” group – actually it’s DETEST ironing but I used to love my linens and cottons and that very crisp look and labored at it.
Hence most of my clothes now are non-iron material. In fact i don’t even know where my iron is anymore haha.
As few (extremely few) that need ironing are seldom worn and like Cindy Tong I just send it to the laundry shop.
A cautionary tale to Lisa – I used to iron what I want to wear for the day in the morning too. One morning I woke up and there was no electricity and I had to go to office in my least wrinkly outfit. Gotta have at least 1 extra ironed outfit for emergencies dearie.
I wonder if domestic steamers work as well as industrial ones? Any one who has tried both types?
I used to be very hard working. I’d starch my shirts and press them to crisp smoothness. Now, I just make sure there are no obvious wrinkles 😛 I don’t know the difference but you can get a similar steamer to mine (uglier than the Philips type but with a bigger water tank) at any shop selling stuff for boutique owners. If you know the area around Kenanga Wholesale Centre, there are a couple of such shops there.
When I have enough space in the house I need one of these! I’m not a big fan of ironingt, but luckily I don’t have that much to iron anyways mwahaha
Ooh lucky you! That’s one of the fun things about having cool weather. Most heavy materials don’t need ironing unlike light ones 😛
I don’t hate ironing at all, in fact I quite like it! I find it quite therapeutic and I derive great satisfaction from seeing crinkly crumply clothes flatten out into smooth straight pieces in my hands! 🙂
But I did get a Novita garment steamer some time last year cos I thought it would save me some time in my ironing. Yes, it’s particularly good for soft material such as chiffon and silk — makes ironing these clothes such a breeze! — but I always have a problem ironing the bottom “rim” of some tops (e.g. T-shirts), cos if I’m holding on to the bottom, the steamer head can’t touch the bottom cos my hand is there, and if I let go of my hand, then the top is just “floating” and there is nothing to provide some “tension” for the steamer head to iron against. So not sure how to overcome this problem…
Aww Polly wanna do mine? Hehe To tackle the problem of the bottom and sides when steaming, I use the head to create the tension. I hold one end of the side of eg t shirt, and use the head to run it sort of taut on the bottom, vertically. If that makes sense? For light materials, I float them on top of the steamer head and they usually iron themselves out quite quickly.
oh yes, I so want one 🙂 I hate ironing to the core and that’s one of the main reasons amny of my clothes lie ununsed!!! and, many of the times, I am not really happy with the services where one can get their clothes ironed. I shall deifnitely check them out.
I know! I had some part time cleaners in once and asked them to do some ironing, which they also do. But it was as if the shirts weren’t ironed at all 😛 I haven’t tried sending them out to a laundry but I’d be upset if I did and they were damaged or not well done.