Most frequently asked questions about garment steamers

FAQ - Frequently asked questions about garment steamers

1. What is a clothes steamer and how does it work?

A clothes steamer is a device that uses hot steam to remove wrinkles and freshen clothes. The steam penetrates the fabric, causing fibers to relax and wrinkles to disappear. It also helps remove odors and kill bacteria.

2. Can you steam all types of fabric?

Most fabrics are suitable for a clothes steamer, but there are a few exceptions:

✅ Suitable: cotton, wool, satin, silk, synthetic fabrics, linen, flannel, tencel, bamboo

❌ Not suitable: leather, suede and velour

3. Can a clothes steamer remove odors and bacteria?

Yes! The hot steam kills 99% of all bacteria and breaks down odor-causing molecules. This is especially useful for clothes that are not dirty but could use a refresh.

4. How do you use a clothes steamer correctly?

1. Hang your garment vertically on a clothes hanger, or lay it down horizontally on a bed, sofa, closet, etc. with a towel below to be sure the surface does not get wet if not intended.

2. Fill the water reservoir with tap or distilled water and turn on the steamer.

3. Hold the steamer against the fabric (there does not need to be any space between the steam head and the steamer) and slowly move it across the fabric. Tip: also steam the garment from the inside, with the steam head facing yourself.

4. Use your free hand to pull the fabric tight while steaming.

5. Do not touch the steam head with your hands, it is hot!

6. Let the clothing dry for a while before putting it on.

5. Can I also use my clothes steamer for curtains, bedding or furniture?

Yes! A clothes steamer is ideal for de-cluttering and refreshing curtains, sofas and bedding without washing them. The steam removes dust, bacteria and light odors. Safe to use on all fabrics.

6. How often should you descale a garment steamer?

Depending on the water you use:

💧 Tap water: descale every 2-4 months.
💧 Distilled water: descale once every six months.

Use vinegar or a special descaling solution to prevent limescale. Read here how to descale your garment steamer.

7. In which countries can you use the STEAMRS clothes steamer?

The STEAMRS clothes steamer operates on 220-250V / 60-70Hz, making it readily usable in most European, Asian, African and South American countries, including:

-Europe: The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway and more.

- -Other countries: United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, India, South Africa, Argentina and Brazil.

⚠️ In countries with 110-127V (such as the US, Canada, Mexico and Japan), you need a voltage converter. A world plug alone is not sufficient.

8. Which clothes steamer should I buy?

It depends on your steaming needs:

-Home use of 1 to 2 garments at a time: For quick touch-ups and for steaming one or two garments, a handheld steamer is perfect!

-Home use of multiple garments in a row: For steaming multiple garments at a time, or to get rid of baskets of "ironing", a Vertical Steamer with larger water reservoir is recommended. Choose the MIDI steamer as a mid-model, and the Professional Clothes Steamer if you want the most professional results and steaming experience.

-For travel: A compact, handy steamer.

- For in stores: for intensive daily use, we recommend the Professional Clothes Dryer.

Is a clothes steamer better than an iron?

What is the difference between a clothes steamer and an iron?

Ease of use

Efficiency and speed

Protection of Textiles

Fire hazard and use on Delicate Materials

Travel friendliness

Eliminate odors and bacteria

Storage and Space Saving

Why STEAMRS garment steamers are the best

Quality

Sustainability

Our steamers are designed to last and are energy efficient, contributing to a sustainable lifestyle and less waste. Sustainability is at the heart of our development process. Both our products and our luxury garment steamers are developed and packaged with the environment in mind. This ensures longevity not only for the products themselves, but also for the garments on which our STEAMRS products are used.

Usability

Luxury Design | Steaming in Style

About clothing steaming

Hand/travel clothes steamer

A handheld steamer is a compact and portable device that allows you to easily detangle and refresh about 1-2 garments, wherever and whenever you want. Ideal for small touch-ups and last-minute clothing care, a hand steamer is a handy companion on the go. It takes up little space and can be used quickly to remove wrinkles from your clothes, keeping you looking groomed even when you're in a hurry. Check out our hand steamers here and discover the convenience of effortlessly wrinkle-free clothes!

Vertical/standing clothes steamer

A vertical clothes steamer is a freestanding appliance that allows you to effortlessly treat entire baskets of clothes by de-cluttering and freshening them. Ideal for longer sessions, these steamers can be used for more than an hour at a time. With the higher power and larger water tank of these units, you can quickly and efficiently treat many garments in a row. The lightweight steam hose makes it comfortable and easy to steam your clothes without any effort. Check out our vertical clothes steamers here.

How do I use my clothes steamer?

Just very briefly: You fill the water reservoir with tap or distilled water and allow the unit to heat up. Then you press the steam button on the handheld steamer (you don't have to do this with the vertical steamers) and place the steam head against the garment. With your free hand, pull the garment tight. Iron over the fabric with the steam head and the hot steam will remove all wrinkles and unpleasant odors!

Misconceptions about clothing steaming

Clothes steamers replace irons for 100%
While clothes steamers are great for removing creases and freshening up clothes, they cannot create tight folds in formal garments like an iron can. Steaming is a perfect alternative for quick touch-ups and for those who hate ironing.
Steaming removes all stains
Clothes steamers are effective at refreshing clothes, but they are not designed to remove deep stains. Stubborn stains often need additional treatment.
Steaming replaces washing
Although steaming can remove odors and light stains, it does not replace the deeper cleaning that clothes need after multiple wears. Use a steamer to remove light odors.
Dry cleaning is the same as dry cleaning
Dry cleaners offer deeper cleaning and remove stubborn stains using chemicals. A clothes steamer is designed to de-clutter and freshen clothes, not to remove stubborn, deep stains.

Other questions about steamers

Are there garment steamers without a cord?

We are sorry, but the short answer is unfortunately no. We tried extensively to design a cordless steamer, but unfortunately this proved not to be feasible. All STEAMRS garment steamers come with a power cord and thus must be plugged into a wall outlet. This is necessary because garment steamers are designed to heat up quickly, and the wattage required for this would make a battery pack impractically heavy.

Is perfume allowed in the water reservoir of my steamer?

Why does a layer of water remain in the Professional Clothes Dryer?

A layer of water remains under the water reservoir of upright steamers (our Professional Steamer and the MIDI Steamer). This does not mean that your steamer or the reservoir is leaking, this water is simply reabsorbed and used the next time the steamer is turned on. This layer of water remains so that the steamer can never boil dry. This also helps to keep the steamer clean and reduce limescale. We specifically designed this this way and can do absolutely no harm! This way you can enjoy your appliance much longer.

My steamer steams less strongly than I am used to, how is this possible?

Make sure the clothes steamer is properly descaled regularly. Click here for garment steamer descaling instructions.
Do you have a vertical steamer? Then make sure the steam hose has as few bends or kinks as possible. This will allow the steam to find its way without any problems. Do you have a handheld steamer? Then hold it upright for a good while during use, so that the water can be pumped through the device.