Ask Belle: Steamer Questions

Aug 4, 2014

Hi Belle

I know you aren’t running a lifestyle blog, but do you have any knowledge on choosing a good clothing steamer? I don’t have any experience steaming clothes other than with an iron, but I think I would get a lot of use out of a steamer. 

Thank you!! Jenna

A steamer is a great purchase.  Owning a steamer will save you money on dry cleaning. Skipping a few trips to the dry cleaner will help your clothing last longer.

The first thing you need to decide is if you want a handheld steamer or an upright one.  If you’re looking for a professional-quality steaming, I recommend an upright steamer.  I owned this upright Conair steamer for awhile, and it is a good choice for under-$75.  For a steamer that replicates commercial quality, don’t miss the Rowenta master steamer for $150.

Prefer something hand held, the Jiffy Esteam is a great option.  It’s also small enough to fit into a medium-size suitcase on work trips.

For tips on using a steamer, try this tutorial video from About.com.

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  1. KC says:

    Does anyone have experienced with cleaning a steamer after you’ve used tap water instead of distilled water? I have one that I used until it clogged (it didn’t take that long to clog either), but haven’t been motivated enough to try to unclog it. On a related note, make sure you heed the advice to use distilled water.

    • Belle says:

      I’ll run hot water and CLR through mine from time to time, even though I use water from my Brita.

    • Sonia says:

      I used mine for four years with tap water and had no problems. Then it started clogging up and I ran a white vinegar solution through it like others have already mentioned and it was back to working fine.

  2. Rebecca says:

    Last year for my birthday, my brother bought me the Rowenta steamer referenced in this post. I almost sent it back. After all, who needs a giant professional steamer taking up space in the bedroom?

    As it turns out, I DO. I haven’t turned on my iron in 12 months. That steamer would be the first thing I’d save if my apartment were on fire. I highly recommend you check it out.

    KC–I clean mine with a white vinegar solution.

  3. Shana says:

    The My Little Steamer (https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/my-little-steamer-reg-go-mini-hand-steamer/1017180746) is the best! It uses tap water and is extremely powerful. I have this size that I use for travel and the slight larger size that I use at home. Have never had an issue with this product.

  4. Addie says:

    I have this steamer and I love it! It’s small enough to fit in my very crowded closet but I still don’t have to fill it up super often. It heats up very fast as well and works perfectly.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BQRD0I/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1407178859&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70

  5. Trace says:

    I love that little Jiffy steamer! I don’t steam clothes very often so that size is perfect for me. As for cleaning a steamer, mine cleaned up well with an overnight white vinegar soak. I was going to buy the Jiffy cleaning solution but I was happy enough with what plain old vinegar did.

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