Russell Hobbs 27220 Steam Genie Hand Held Steamer - Handheld Clothes Steamer for Garments, Curtains and Soft Furnishings, 1800 Watt

Product Information

It’s simple to use, even without instructions as it only has two buttons. There’s a small chamber in the bottom of the handle which can be pulled out, filled and re-inserted. Then you simply turn it on, leave it to heat for 30 seconds, then press the steamer button. The handle is ergonomic with an indent on the inside of the handle to grip and the head is flat, with an ironing plate. The Cirrus 3 has a bit of weight to it, but only to the extent it feels good quality rather than heavy. Due to its bulk the Breville EliteTEMP is not necessarily one to travel with – but for larger loads at home it could be perfect, with a large 240ml water tank and 16 minutes of run time before it needs refilling. It comes in an attractive glossy white and champagne gold finish and, despite taking up room lengthways, it’s actually quite thin which keeps the weight off. Using a steamer is really simple, fill the tank with water, wait for the steam to start flowing, hang your garment and then move the steamer across the fabric to get rid of the creases. You don’t need to press the steamer against the fabric. For delicate fabrics it’s best to hold it a few inches away. Steam them inside out to avoid damaging any of the details,” says Lightbown. There’s also a flat part that clips on vertically and looks like a mini ironing board – giving you something firm to push against when steaming. We were disappointed that it couldn’t pop out horizontally and double as a mini ironing board for those times (like creases in folded hankies) when vertical steam doesn’t cut it. And there are no grips for trousers! Instead, you’re supposed to drape them over the top of the board. The best clothes steamers are shortcuts to ironing, straightening out creases within minutes while generally using less electricity. Whereas ironing boards can take up space in a small home, steamer irons just require somewhere to hang your garment and a nearby plug.

It also comes with a clever bottle adaptor, so you can travel lighter on holiday or to fashion shoots. Remove the Fridja’s fab 260ml water tank and use the adaptor to use it with most water bottles. The power cable is a bit on the short side at 2m but, that aside, it’s hard to fault. The design is clean and modern, with a big, bright power light. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Lightbown recommends finding a steamer with a water tank large enough for your average load to avoid refilling too often. She also says, “Look for steamers that are instant steam rather than those that leave you waiting around while they heat up the whole tank.” How do clothes steamers work? If you have the space for a vertical garment steamer and don’t mind Tefal’s price tag, it won’t disappoint. If you’re someone who likes to get all of your ironing or steaming done in one go then an upright steamer with a larger water tank is definitely the best option,” says fashion stylist Emma Lightbown. “If you prefer to steam individual pieces before you wear them or are looking for something easy to travel with then I would recommend a handheld.” What should you look for in a clothes steamer? Clothes steamers are multi-functional pieces of kit, too. They can be used for cleaning curtains and upholstery, killing the majority of bacteria and removing stale odours. They let you de-crease duvets without removing them from the bed and, if you have a work shirt that needs a little freshen-up, steaming it is far better for the environment than throwing it into the washing machine and tumble dryer. (Talking of which, heated airers are a newfound godsend for the energy-aware.) You only have to look at the Philips to see it’s a bit different. Other vertical steamers look like cylinder vacuum cleaners, with a telescopic pole on top and wheels on the bottom. This has no wheels and looks like it’s a clothes horse, designed to live in your bedroom or walk-in wardrobe. It does not belong in the cupboard under the stairs, not least because at its shortest it’s still 145cm tall.

Cadrim is a small company that started out making beauty products and their steamer was recommended to me by a beautician friend. She said it changed her life after years battling with spitting, underpowered handheld steamers that leave watermarks on your clothes. Retail expert Carmen Lopez adds, “It is best to steam your items from top to bottom, holding the steamer a few inches away from the fabric in each area of your garment until you see the wrinkles disappear. Gently shake the fabric out from time to time to help relax the fibres.” That said, if money’s no object then this – once assembled – is the best of the lot. The steam head is shaped like an iron soleplate, which makes sense because the unusual design gives you the best of both worlds: you can steam garments hung vertically against its board, angle the board at 30° for comfort, or set it horizontally and use the Tefal like an iron.

How we tested

Scandi brand Steamery is on a mission to prove that clothes can last a lifetime if we look after them, with their range of beautifully aesthetic lint rollers, fabric shavers, laundry products and of course clothes steamers. The Cirrus 3 is the latest in the range and has an eye-watering price tag. But just look at it. Bear in mind that steam irons offer vertical steam too. So if it’s just for occasional use, you could use an iron that does both instead. If you want to steam lots though, clothing steamers feel much nicer than holding a heavy iron aloft. The two main types of clothes steamers are handheld and upright. Which one you choose depends on your lifestyle. Handheld steamers are more convenient but with smaller water tanks, while upright steamers are better for larger loads and are generally more effective. Even little touches are nice, like the Velcro tie that stops the 3m cord getting in a tangle when you store the steamer. Our only criticism is that the lights (indicating 20g/min eco mode or 25g/min turbo) are at the front with the trigger button, so can’t easily see them.

We're all more than aware by now that wearing your clothes once and throwing them into the wash is bad for the environment – and for your clothes! If you want to wear your clothes a couple of times without feeling like – and it looking like – your dress, shirt or trousers have been worn the day before and scrunched into a drawer, then you can rely on a clothes steamer. You can also use a clothes steamer for cleaning curtains and upholstery, as well as de-creasing bedding – because everyone knows that ironing a bedsheet is possibly one of the most tedious tasks there is. The pole comes in 5 parts, so you can remove one for a lower height if you prefer, but it’s not telescopic so you can’t adjust it to be short for storage. Accessories include a lightweight mitt, to protect your other hand as you steam, and a plate with holes in, to place behind collars and other areas that you want to press firmly. They’re not just for occasional use: the best handheld clothes steamers can hold enough water to get through a few items of clothes before needing refilling, while freestanding clothes steamers can manage whole laundry loads. Cordless clothes steamers would seem to be the next step, but they’ve not yet hit the shelves in the UK. Definitely the best for handheld power, you could blitz a pile of garments with the Fridja where other handhelds are designed more for just refreshing one or two items. Handheld clothes steamers come with few accessories if any. Expect a soft cover for more delicate fabrics and a brush for tougher fabrics and upholstery. Vertical steamers often come with an attachment that helps you put creases in trousers, which work pretty well. Some steamers also come with a heatproof mitt to protect your free hand.Lots of steamers have a brush head, but this one also has a lint remover head - useful when steaming wool, velvet, gaberdine and other materials that tend to attract fluff and hair.