Which travel steamer is best?
Put your best foot forward in a crisp, wrinkle-free outfit with your own travel steamer. Compact and convenient, travel steamers are essential accessories that smooth, refresh, and sanitize garments. They’re a popular alternative to full-size steamers, which tend to be expensive, bulky, and sometimes less reliable. Travel steamers have quicker heat times, which also makes them a time-saving option for busy individuals.
What to know before you buy a travel steamer
Portability
Travel steamers offer better portability than regular or travel irons. Their compact design makes them easy to fit inside most carry-ons and suitcases, particularly ones that break down into smaller pieces.
Burn-free treatment
Even at low temperatures, irons have direct contact with garments and can burn them. Travel steamers don’t require direct contact for effective use, making them a popular choice to unwrinkle even delicate materials.
Space saver
Travel steamers are a space-saving alternative to irons since they don’t require ironing boards. As they’re designed for travel, they’re compact and easy to store and tend to have a smaller footprint than many irons. It comes as no surprise that professionals keep travel steamers in their offices.
What to look for in a quality travel steamer
Size and weight
Above all, travel steamers should be the appropriate size and weight to fit comfortably inside your luggage. Most models weigh between one and three pounds. If you’re concerned about being charged for additional baggage weight, opt for a lightweight travel steamer.
Heating time
Travel steamers take between 20 seconds and several minutes to heat. Quick-heating models are especially popular for those with tight schedules. If you’re not so worried about time constraints, choosing a travel steamer with a longer heating time may be a less expensive option.
Water reservoir size
Water reservoirs range from three to 10 ounces. Smaller reservoirs are generally compact and lightweight, but you have to refill them to steam more than a couple of garments. Models with larger reservoirs handle several garments effortlessly, though they’re much heavier when filled to capacity.
Ease of use
Travel steamers are straightforward to use, though filling and removing the reservoir or tank can be challenging. Handles should have ergonomic grips for easy handling with ample space for fingers and knuckles. The travel steamer should also have clear button markings and a user-friendly instruction manual.
Safety
Some travel steamers are equipped with safety features, including automatic shut-off. This feature turns the steamer off once the reservoir is empty. Other safety features include leakproof seams to prevent burns and heatproof silicone grips for safe handling.
Dual voltage
If you’re traveling overseas, your best choice is a travel steamer with dual voltage. Unfortunately, it’s a relatively rare feature. Even if you come across a dual-voltage steamer, you may still need an outlet adapter.
How much you can expect to spend on a travel steamer
If you’re on a budget, some travel steamers cost less than $25, though they take longer to heat. Midrange steamers are cost-effective options with larger tanks and more reliable operation. Premium steamers are more powerful with the fastest heat times, so they cost $50 and up.
Travel steamer FAQ
How soon can I wear clothing after steaming pieces?
A. Give your garments ample time to cool (at least a couple of minutes) before wearing them. If you put them on while they’re still warm or moist, you can cause wrinkles to dry on your outfit as you wear them.
Why do almost all travel steamers have the same shape/design?
A. For the most part, the design is reliable and convenient, so it continues to be embraced by manufacturers. There are a few styles that deviate from the traditional upright design, though they’re not always reliable and come with a bit of a learning curve.
What are the best travel steamers to buy?
Top travel steamer
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer
What you need to know: This durable handheld steamer checks all the boxes — it’s durable, effective and it heats up quickly.
What you’ll love: It has five heat settings and can kill up to 99.9% of bacteria. It includes three attachments for use on delicate items.
What you should consider: You’ll need to use distilled water on this steamer to avoid mineral buildup.
Top travel steamer for the money
Beautural Portable Home and Travel Fabric Steamer
What you need to know: This ergonomic steamer has plenty of safety features and constant pump steam technology.
What you’ll love: It’s a popular choice for travelers because it heats quickly and has an automatic shut-off.
What you should consider: It’s on the larger side.
Worth checking out
What you need to know: The steamer heats in 30 seconds and produces a steady flow of steam.
What you’ll love: It’s lightweight and has auto-shutoff, so it’s safer to use. It’s strong enough to handle curtains and upholstery wrinkles. It also has three steam levels.
What you should consider: Some people thought it didn’t produce enough steam.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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