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We tested the UK's best clothes steamers, here are our favourites
From portable, handheld devices for travel to powerful steamers that can power through creases in minutes, we’ve rounded up the best clothes steamers available in 2025, as recommended by Mumsnetters.
By Lucy Cotterill | Last updated Dec 2, 2025
Some say the best clothes steamers can replace your iron, and if the thought of ironing is enough to break you out in a cold sweat, you're not alone. In fact, YouGov found that ironing is the chore Brits hate the most. But there may be a better way.
Many Mumsnet users have recently ditched their steam iron or steam generator iron completely, switching to an efficient handheld clothes steamer to save them time, energy and valuable storage space.
Best clothes steamers, at a glance:
Best overall: Tefal Pure Pop Slim Handheld Clothes Steamer, £39
Best budget: Swan Portable Garment Steamer, £19
Best lightweight: Philips Steam and Go Plus Handheld Clothes Steamer, £52
Best vertical: Steamery Cirrus 2 Handheld Steamer, £65
Best 2-in-1: Russell Hobbs Steam Genie 2-in-1 Handheld Steamer with Iron, £60
Whether you’re dealing with delicate fabrics or simply refreshing the kids’ school shirts, a garment steamer can easily lift creases without the risk of burning or damaging the fabrics.
Feeling sceptical? To determine if clothes steamers genuinely live up to the hype, we drew on the wealth of knowledge and wisdom of our eight million Mumsnet users, gaining insight into the brands and models that truly impressed. We then scoured wider consumer views and gathered verdicts from industry experts, including collating advice from cleaning expert Mariya Gurkova at Fantastic Services and dress technologist Tim Balfour from Freemans. Where possible, we also carried out our own in-depth testing, independently assessing clothes steamers for their ease of use and ability to banish wrinkles and lift creases.
From clothes steamers with generous water tanks and quick heating times, to budget-friendly picks, here’s our roundup of the best clothes steamers you can buy today.
Best overall clothes steamer
Simple to set up and use
Lightweight and compact design
Heats up in 15 seconds
Can be used vertically and horizontally
Available in a range of bright colours
Convenient storage bag for travel
The tank is small
Key specs
Price on writing: £39 | Tank Capacity: 70ml | Transparent Water Tank: Yes | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Reversible velvet pad and lint pad, travel pouch | Power: 1300w | Dimensions: H31.8 x W14.1 x D5.7cm | Weight: 700g
What Mumsnet users say
Tested by Mumsnet writer Laura Cooke: Read our full Tefal Pure Pop Clothes Steamer review
Small, compact and simple to use, the affordable Tefal Pure Pop clothes steamer comes highly rated by Mumsnet users and reviewers, praised for its ability to leave a multitude of clothing and fabrics smooth and wrinkle-free. Perfect for holidays or everyday touch-ups at home, it helps wave goodbye to stubborn creases, without the need for an ironing board.
The steamer is incredibly easy to set up and operate, heating up in just 15 seconds. While the 70ml capacity is relatively small, the water tank couldn’t be easier to fill, providing enough for around four minutes continuous use.
We love how this handheld steamer features a smart, reversible pad, with a velvet side for delicate fabrics and a lint side for gathering up fluff and pet dander. Generating 20g of steam per minute, it can be used vertically to press clothes on a hanger or horizontally for more challenging areas, such as collars and shirt cuffs.
Read next: Best washing machine
Best budget clothes steamer
Easy to remove and refill the water tank
Impressive performance
Fast heat up (around 20 seconds)
Lockable trigger
Suitable for all fabric types
Relatively short cable
The brush bent out of shape after use during testing
Key specs
Price on writing: £19 | Tank Capacity: 300ml | Transparent Water Tank: Yes | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Detachable brush | Power: 1500w | Dimensions: H27.8 x W10.8 x L13.8cm | Weight: 1.07kg
Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O’Neill: Read our full Swan ProSteam Garment Steamer review
If you’re on a more limited budget, they don’t come much more affordable than the Swan ProSteam Garment Steamer. With a generous 300ml water tank that’s easy to remove and fill, it offers excellent value for money.
We love the removable brush attachment for cleaning fabrics, although it did bend slightly out of shape after we tested it on the sofa.
Thanks to the lockable trigger button, it’s easy to use over long periods, easing out creases on all fabric types – even the most crumpled of school uniforms. Whether you're removing wrinkles from linen trousers, curtains or sheets, just plug the steamer in, pick between low or high steam, and you'll be done in a jiffy.
Our tester Poppy’s main quibble? The flex is relatively short, meaning you do need to position yourself fairly close to the plug socket during use.
Best value clothes steamer
Heats up in under 30 seconds
Generous water tanks provide up to 20 minutes of use
Choice of eco and power mode
Lockable trigger
A range of accessories included
May need descaling regularly in hard water areas
Key specs
Price on writing: £27 | Tank Capacity: 300ml | Transparent Water Tank: Yes | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Anti-lint brush, thick and delicate fabrics attachment and ironing glove | Power: 1500w | Dimensions: H25 x W12 x L16 cm | Weight: 1kg
What Mumsnet users say
Retailing at under £30, the Lebenlang Handheld Clothes Steamer offers excellent value for money. Heating up in under 30 seconds, this powerful steamer comes with a choice of two power modes – ‘Eco’ for quick refreshing of shirts and t-shirts and ‘Power’ for more substantial tasks, including thick fabrics, curtains and upholstery.
With a large 300ml capacity, the transparent, leak-proof water tank is easy to remove and fill, providing enough water for up to 20 minutes of continuous use. While you may need to descale it regularly in areas with hard water, we appreciate the lockable trigger, which enables comfortable operation over longer periods.
Unlike the Swan steamer above, the long 2.5 metre cable on this steamer provides complete freedom to use horizontally and vertically without feeling restricted. It also comes with a range of attachments, including a brush attachment, lint brush and an ironing glove for the smoothest finish.
Read next: The best cordless irons
Best lightweight clothes steamer
Compact and lightweight
Heated plate for lifting more stubborn creases
Stylish design
Effective results across all fabric types
Heats up in under a minute
Costly for the capacity
Key specs
Price on writing: £52 | Tank Capacity: 70ml (also available in 100ml) | Transparent Water Tank: No | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Brush, glove and storage bag | Power: 1300w | Dimensions: H38 x W12.8 x L15cm | Weight: 950g
What Mumsnet users say
Tested by Mumsnet editor Poppy O’Neill: Read our in-depth Philips Steam&Go Plus review
By far the most luxurious and stylish design, the Philips Steam&Go Plus is praised by Mumsnet users and reviewers for its lightweight, ergonomic design that is easy to manoeuvre during both upright and horizontal steaming.
Just like the Tefal Pop, the water tank is relatively small, so you do need to refill it regularly if you’re hoping to de-crease a whole load of clothes fresh from your tumble dryer.
That said, this powerful 1300-watt steamer heats up and is ready to use in under a minute. It releases up to 24g of steam per second, providing impressive results across all fabric types. Thanks to the heated plate, it also makes light work of stubborn creases, smoothing thicker fabrics with ease.
While it’s a bit costly for its size, this trusted brand offers a two-year guarantee, providing welcome peace of mind and reassurance.
Read next: The best washing machines, according to Mumsnetters
Best vertical clothes steamer
Lightweight and stylish design
Small and compact for travel
Heats up in just 20 seconds
Long power cable (1.9 metres)
Mid-size water tank
Limescale resistant (although descaling still recommended in hard water areas)
More costly than some
No additional attachments
Should not be used on leather or suede
Key specs
Price on writing: £65 | Tank Capacity: 90ml | Transparent Water Tank: No | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Heat protection bag | Power: 1500w | Dimensions: H33 x W15 x L9.5 cm | Weight: 780g
What Mumsnet users say
Stylish and compact, with a heat resistant pouch for travel, the Steamery Cirrus 2 clothes steamer is an absolute thing of beauty. It doesn’t just look great however, it’s also incredibly efficient, heating up in 20 seconds and producing even, continuous steam capable of refreshing your clothes and lifting even the most stubborn of creases.
With a generous 1.9 metre cable that’s ideal for unrestricted vertical steaming, simply hang your garments and glide over your fabrics to watch wrinkles disappear in front of your eyes.
The Steamery oozes quality, with a mid-size water tank that claims to be limescale resistant. That said, if you live in a hard water area, you may feel more comfortable using distilled water to protect your appliance.
It’s worth noting there are no additional attachments with this steamer, and while some reviewers used the travel pouch as a smoothing mitten, they found it wasn’t particularly effective.
Read next: If you’re looking for additional laundry products to take care of your home, look at our guides to the best water softeners, the best mould removers, and the best washing machine cleaners.
Best steam cleaner with attachments
Includes scent infuser to add fragrance
Heating pressing plate for stubborn wrinkles
Removes 99.9% of bacteria in 60 seconds
Long three metre power cord
Range of attachments for delicate fabrics, upholstery and lint removal
Costly
Heavier and larger than some of our other top picks
Key specs
Price on writing: £65 | Tank Capacity: 200ml | Transparent Water Tank: Yes | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Delicate attachment with scent infuser, upholstery attachment and lint brush | Power: 1800w | Dimensions: H29 x W12 x L14.6cm | Weight: 1.31kg
Tested by Mumsnet reviewer Scarlet: Read our full Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma Garment Steamer review
Love the comfort of that fresh from the dryer scent? While it doesn’t come cheap, the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma Garment Steamer comes with several unique features that make it stand out from the rest. Removing 99.9% of bacteria in just 60 seconds (ideal for school uniforms and work shirts) it also comes with an optional scent infuser, adding subtle fragrance that can breathe new life into your clothes.
Our tester Scarlet found the Steam Genie Aroma easy to use, with a 45 second heat up time and a generous 200ml water tank providing around 6 minutes of continuous steam. There is only an on or off button however, where she felt a pause button or trigger may have been helpful. The heated pressing plate worked well on more stubborn wrinkles and creases, handy when tackling thicker fabrics like denim or weighty cotton.
The super long three metre cable ensures easy access to your hanging clothes or curtains, with a range of attachments for delicates, upholstery or removing lint and pet dander.
That said, it’s one of the heaviest clothes steamers we tested, making it slightly less convenient for travel or holidays.
Best 2-in-1 clothes steamer
Lockable trigger
Mid-size capacity
One Temperature Technology is suitable for all iron-safe fabrics
Smooth ceramic soleplate glides across fabrics
Includes delicate, upholstery, and fabric attachments and a heat-resistant bag for safe storage
Heavier than traditional steam cleaners
Some reviewers found it a little noisy during use
Key specs
Price on writing: £60 | Tank Capacity: 150ml | Transparent Water Tank: Yes | Hanging Equipment: No | Accessories: Delicate, upholstery and fabric attachments and heat-resistant bag | Power: 1700w | Dimensions: H10 x W18 x L40cm | Weight: 1.2kg
What Mumsnet users say
If you want the best of both worlds, the 2-in-1 Russell Hobbs Steam Genie can be used both as a mini iron and a portable handheld steamer. Quick and easy to use, it’s capable of refreshing your clothes, tackling crumples and eliminating stubborn creases in one portable, if not slightly more weighty appliance.
Heating up in 60 seconds, the 2-in-1 Steam Genie provides around powerful steam of around 20g per second, with the dual functionality considered more effective on weighty or thicker fabrics. Thanks to the One Temperature Technology, it ensures a safe and consistent temperature across all iron-safe fabrics with no risk of burns.
The downside? This design is bulkier than most handheld steamers and can feel quite heavy for longer periods of vertical use.
How to use a clothes steamer
While the exact instructions may vary from one brand to the next, using a clothes steamer generally involves the following steps:
Prepare your clothes: Check the labels and ensure the fabrics are iron safe. Delicate fabrics such as silk may require specific attachments.
Remove and fill the water tank: Taking care not to overfill. Most clothes steamers have a clearly marked ‘max’ line.
Plug in and heat up: This can take between 15 seconds and a minute, depending on the product)
Hang your clothes: Using a sturdy coat hanger to enable upright steaming (some offer horizontal steaming too)
Start steaming: Position the steamer around 3-5cm away from the fabric and work from top to bottom, gently pulling the fabric taut with your other hand.
Stubborn areas: For more significant creases, designs with a steamer plate can be gently pressed against the fabric to smooth them out.
Let your clothes dry: Steamers can leave your fabrics feeling slightly damp; leave the items hanging to air dry for a few minutes after use.
Unplug and empty the water tank: Never leave any water sitting in the tank, as this can lead to limescale and bacteria.
Wipe down and store: Once cooled, return the steamer to a carry case (if applicable).
We spoke to cleaning expert Mariya Gurkova from Fantastic Services and dress technologist Tim Balfour from Freemans, who shared their top tips to make the most of your clothes steamer:
“Put the wrinkled item in the dryer with a damp towel or a few ice cubes and run it on medium heat for about 15 minutes" says Mariya, "Steam will be generated inside the dryer by the moisture from the towel or ice cubes, which will help loosen the wrinkles and smooth out the fabric. When dried, fold immediately to avoid ironing."
"Take items out of the washing machine or dryer as soon as the cycle is finished and shake any creasing out," Tim recommends. "Doing this can reduce the amount of ironing or remove the need for ironing altogether.”
Are clothes steamers any good?
Clothes steamers are fast and efficient, with rapid heat up times that allow quick and easy refreshing without the need for your ironing board.
Unlike traditional irons, these small, lightweight and portable appliances are super convenient for travel and fuss-free quick de-creasing tasks, removing wrinkles and creases while also targeting bacteria, dust mites and odours.
Most clothes steamers are suitable for use on all iron-safe fabrics, with attachments that are safer on delicate fabrics than traditional ironing. Their vertical use makes them ideal for upholstery, curtains and sheets or weighty items where ironing is impractical.
On the downside, you don’t get that super crisp finish on collars and cuffs like you do with a traditional iron. The tank sizes do need refilling regularly and they can be less effective on thicker fabrics like denim or cord.
How to descale a clothes steamer
If you live in a hard water area, minerals in your water can lead to limescale buildup on your appliances. As such, it's essential to descale your clothes steamer to keep it running at its best.
To descale your clothes steamer:
Use either a shop bought descaling solution or natural solution made with equal parts white vinegar and distilled water.
Fill the tank halfway and turn the steamer on for a few minute to loosen any limescale deposits.
Allow to cool fully, before emptying the tank and rinsing thoroughly.
It’s recommended to repeat this process using distilled water to ensure no traces of solution are left behind.
What’s the best clothes steamer to buy?
Although the water tank is small, the Tefal Pure Pop is the best clothes steamer you can buy today. Mumsnet users, reviewers and our in-house testing all agree that its performance and practicality are deserving of our top pick - especially for occasional use or travel.
How we chose the best clothes steamers
Recommendations from real Mumsnet users
There is a lot of debate within the Mumsnet forums on how to combat creases, and while many Mumsnet users have banished ironing completely, many others have shared their hints and tips on both the best tools for the job.
First, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, to get their feedback on the clothes steamers that they rate, recommend and use in their own homes.
We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, hard to use or simply struggled to tackle those more stubborn wrinkles and creases.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted industry experts. We want to be confident that the products we recommend are fit for purpose, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace, including those recommended by cleaning and fasion experts and consumer champions such as Which.
Authentic consumer reviews
Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the potato mashers on the market, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, Argos, and John Lewis to gather a wider range of consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby, child and lifestyle product reviews and round-ups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.
Lucy has written several Mumsnet laundry guides including the best budget washing machine, best budget tumble dryers and best ironing boards.
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