10 Smart Ways to Use Your Clothes Steamer at Home

Jun 7, 2023

By Charlotte Ham

10 Slimme Manieren om je Kledingstomer in Huis te Gebruiken - STEAMRS

A garment steamer is much more than just a convenient alternative to your iron. Whether you're on the go, want to smooth difficult fabrics or even clean your bathroom— with these 10 tips, you'll truly get the most out of your garment steamer.

1. Use a handheld steamer for quick touch-ups

Don't need to steam 20 garments a day? Then this handheld garment steamer is ideal for you. Compact, lightweight and easy to take with you. Perfect for travel or quickly freshening up your outfit. Pull a wrinkled garment out of your wardrobe or suitcase? No problem - with this powerful handheld steamer, you can quickly remove all the wrinkles from the garment. Ready to use within 20 seconds, and with a water tank you can steam for around 10 minutes.

2. Choose a professional steamer for intensive use

Do you often have baskets full of laundry, or do you want to completely ditch your ironing board? Then the Professional garment steamer is the best choice for you. It has an extra-large reservoir and a more powerful steam output. With this steamer, you can steam multiple garments one after another and steam continuously for around 70 minutes. Perfect for long-term and intensive use. This steamer is ideal for home use, but also for use in shops.

3. Freshen up curtains without removing them

Steaming hanging curtains? Easy! Pull the curtain taut with one hand and smoothly glide the steamer over the fabric. Done without removing the rail.

4. Steam furniture and cushions like a pro

Fabric sofas, chairs, and decorative cushions look fresh again in no time. The steam softens the fibers and removes unpleasant odors.

5. Give your bed linen a hotel look

A few minutes of steaming gives your bed linen that luxurious, neatly made look. Handy when you’re having guests over, or simply for yourself!

6. Remove mold in the bathroom

Mold in difficult-to-reach places? High temperatures are mold’s enemy. Steam the area thoroughly and then wipe it with a cloth - goodbye, mold!

7. Tackle stains on clothing and throughout your interior

Aim the steamer at the stain (on clothing, a sofa, or carpet) and direct plenty of steam onto it for quite a while, then wipe it clean with a warm, damp cloth. The fibers swell, making stains easier to loosen. For stubborn stains, you can add stain remover.

8. Disinfect your child’s cuddly toys

Fresh cuddly toys without washing! Keep the steamer at a safe distance and let the steam do its work. Bacteria disappear without damaging the fabric

9. Use a steamer to quickly freshen up coats and suits

Hang up your blazer or winter coat and steam it vertically. You’ll remove wrinkles and built-up odors from things like smoke or food.

10. Disinfect your mattress or pillow

Suffering from allergies? Steam can kill dust mites and bacteria in your mattress or pillow. Note: do not get it too wet; use short bursts of steam.

Click here to shop STEAMRS' advanced clothes steamers. Enjoy lots of steaming fun!

Everything You Need to Know About Using a Hand Steamer

Not a Fan of Ironing, but Never Used a Garment Steamer Before? Then you’re in for a game changer. Discover 10 useful tips for using a STEAMRS garment steamer.

1. What Type of Water Should I Use in the Garment Steamer?

All STEAMRS garment steamers are built with DrySteam technology and feature a special interior coating that helps prevent limescale buildup.

You can safely use regular tap water in STEAMRS steamers. However, we recommend descaling the device every six months to maintain optimal performance.

If you want to further reduce the risk of limescale, you can use distilled water instead.

2. Should I Press the Garment Steamer Against the Fabric or Hold It Away?

To remove wrinkles, press the steam head directly against the fabric.

For extra pressure, you can use the STEAMRS steaming glove for added support.

If you're just refreshing the fabric or killing bacteria, hold the steam head a few centimeters away. This allows the extra steam to deeply penetrate the fibers without contact.

3. Steam Horizontally or Vertically?

Thanks to the special 360° system in STEAMRS garment steamers, you can steam both vertically and horizontally.

Hang your garment on a clothes hanger and attach it to a door frame, door handle, or even a shower rod to steam it while hanging.

For horizontal steaming, lay the garment flat on a surface like a table, bed, or countertop.

To protect the surface from moisture, place a towel underneath, as the steam may leave it slightly damp.

4. Steam the Garment from the Inside out

Place the steamer inside the garment with the steam head facing toward you. Steaming from the inside is a highly effective method, as the fabric glides smoothly over the steam head. It’s our personal favorite steaming technique!

5. What to Do When the Orange Light Turns On?

When the light on your steamer changes from green to orange, it simply means the device needs a moment to regenerate steam. It’s recommended to briefly pause steaming and release the steam button when the orange light is on. Pro tip: In practice, we’ve found that you can usually keep steaming even when the orange light is on — so no need to worry too much about it!

6. Never Steam with an Empty Water Tank

If you press the steam button and no steam comes out — but you still hear the device making a sound — the water tank is likely empty.

Unplug the steamer and refill the tank before continuing.

Steaming with an empty tank can seriously damage the device, so always make sure there’s enough water inside.

7. Never Steam a Garment While You're Wearing It (or While Someone Else Is Wearing It)

Steam reaches temperatures of around 105°C (221°F). Never steam an item while wearing it — the hot steam can burn your skin through the fabric. Always place the garment on a hanger or lay it flat on a surface before steaming to ensure safety.

8. Let the Fabric Dry After Steaming

When you're done steaming, the garment may feel slightly damp and you might notice a few water droplets on the fabric from the steam. How wet it gets depends on the type of fabric and how much moisture the fibers absorb.

It’s completely normal for the garment to feel a bit wet after steaming. Just let it air-dry for a minute or two before wearing or storing it.

9. Finished Steaming?

Unplug the steamer and let it cool down for a few minutes.

Place it on a hard surface with the steam head facing upward, or store it safely in the STEAMRS heat- and water-resistant travel bag.

10. Storing Your Garment Steamer

Once the steamer has cooled down, it’s safe to store. To help prevent limescale buildup, it's recommended to empty the water tank after each use.

Tip: You don’t have to empty the tank every time — you can leave the water in until your next steaming session.

However, if you know you won’t be using the steamer for a while, it’s best to empty the tank before storing it.