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Best clothes steamers for easily removing creases in 2025
Clothes steamers (also known as garment steamers) can be a quick fix for removing stubborn creases when you haven't got time to iron. We put them to the test to find the best ones to leave your garments crease-free.
We've tested handheld clothes steamers, costing from £25 to £150, from popular brands including Argos, Philips, Tefal and more.
To uncover the best portable clothes steamer, we tested each one on different fabrics, gave them a set number of chances to remove creases, and judged how easy they were to use.
After testing more than a dozen travel clothes steamers, we found five models that impressed enough to be named Best Buys and three were given our Great Value badge.
How our tests finds you the best
We've tested 19 clothes steamers
We assess clothes steamers from the big brands and across a range of prices to ensure you get the best value and performance.
Crease removal
We’ve attempted to straighten more than 100 creased garments, so whether you’re tackling cotton, linen or silk, we know the models that work.
Durability
Dropping clothes steamers is a decent way of letting off some steam - but it’s useful for finding the best drop-proof models, too.
We also test
every model for its intuitiveness and if they’re accessible for those with limited dexterity.
The clothes steamers we tested
The biggest brands and the most popular 10 clothes steamers are listed below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the clothes steamers test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our recommendations below.
| Clothes steamer | Price | Score | Crease removal | Ease of use | Durability* | Water tank capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time. Already a member? Log in | 93% | 260ml | ||||
| 92% | 320ml | |||||
| 92% | 200ml | |||||
| 89% | 70ml | |||||
| 87% | 100ml | |||||
| 86% | 200ml | |||||
| 86% | 100ml | |||||
| 78% | 250ml | |||||
| 75% | 240ml | |||||
| 72% | 150ml |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations
Unlock tableDigital first month £5, then £8.99 per month, cancel at any time.
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: June 2025, May 2024, May 2022. Page last checked: July 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*Durability consists of dropping the clothes steamer five times and assessing the damage.
A selection of the 19 clothes steamers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best clothes steamers from our tests.
Join Which? now to get instant access to our full reviews and Best Buy recommendations.
Braun GS7077 Clothes Steamer
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 250ml
Heat-up time 35 seconds
Steam rate 35g/min
Accessories Brush attachment, door hook
Need to know 30 x 5 x 20cm (HxWxD), 1.2kg, 3 metre cable, continuous steam lock
Breville VIN432 EliteTEMP Handheld Garment Steamer
Most recently tested May 2024
Tank capacity 240ml
Heat-up time 35 seconds
Steam rate 30g/min
Accessories Fabric brush, 2-in-1 silicone band, measuring jug
Need to know 26 x 13 x 15cm (HxWxD), 1.1kg, 3 metre cable, low mode (delicate fabrics), normal mode (cotton and polyester with moderate wrinkles), turbo (thicker and heavily wrinkled fabrics), continuous steam button
Fridja F10 Raf Handheld Travel Clothes Steamer
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 260ml
Heat-up time 45 seconds
Steam rate 25g/min
Accessories Collar press, folding hanger, fabric guard, water bottle adaptor
Need to know 22 x 12 x 15cm (HxWxD), 900g, 2 metre cable, continuous steam button, eco mode, automatic shut-off
Philips 5000 Series Garment Steamer
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 320ml
Heat-up time 35 seconds
Steam rate 24g/min
Accessories Glove, carrying pouch
Need to know 32 x 10 x 8 (HxWxD), 850g, 2 metre cable, eco mode
Philips Steam & Go Plus Handheld Garment Steamer
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 70ml
Heat-up time 45 seconds
Steam rate 24g/min
Accessories Brush attachment, protective glove
Need to know 13 x 38 x 15cm (HxWxD), 950g, 2.5 metre cable, continuous steam button
Easily tackle your laundry with our pick of the best washing machines, best tumble dryers and best heated clothes airers
Philips STH3000/26 3000 Series Handheld Steamer
Most recently tested May 2024
Tank capacity 100ml
Heat-up time 30 seconds
Steam rate up to 20g/min
Need to know 22 x 9 x 17cm (HxWxD), 700g, 2 metre cable, foldable arm
Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma 28040 Garment Steamer
Most recently tested May 2024
Tank capacity 200ml
Heat-up time 45 seconds
Steam rate 32g/min
Accessories Lint attachment, delicate fabric attachment, upholstery attachment, scent infuser attachment
Need to know 27 x 13 x 14cm (HxWxD), 1.2kg, 3 metre cable, continuous steam button,
Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Essential 25591 Garment Steamer
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 200ml
Advertised heat-up time 45 seconds
Advertised steam rate 20g/min
Accessories Lint attachment
Need to know 25 x 13 x 14cm (HxWxD), 1.1kg, 1.9 metre cable, continuous steam button
Tefal AeroSteam DT9810 Handheld Clothes Steamer
Available from Tefal (£140) and Amazon (£140)
Most recently tested June 2025
Tank capacity 100ml
Heat-up time 30 seconds
Steam rate 20g/min
Accessories N/A
Need to know 32 x 14 x 16cm (HxWxD), 1.55kg, 2.6 metre cable, three modes: steam only, steam and soft suction, steam and turbo suction
Tefal DT7130G0 Access Steam Easy Handheld Garment Steamer
Most recently tested May 2024
Tank capacity 150ml
Heat-up time 15 seconds
Steam rate up to 25g/min
Accessories Door hook, microfibre brush attachment, microfibre pads x3
Need to know 26 x 11 x 13cm (HxWxD), 1kg, 2.6 metre cable, continuous steam button
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More clothes steamers from our tests
Here’s how the rest of the clothes steamers from our tests measured up, listed in alphabetical order.
| Clothes steamers | Price | Score | Crease removal | Ease of use | Durability* | Tank capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breville VIN430 CompactSteam Handheld Garment Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014497 | |||||
| Beldray BEL01608 Fold Away Garment Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014488 | |||||
| Drew & Cole Verti Steam Pro Hand Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_12876879 | |||||
| Philips 7000 series Garment Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50021509 | |||||
| Steamery 3233 Cirrus 2 Handheld Garment Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014486 | |||||
| Steamery CIX0101UK Cirrus X Handheld Garment Steamer | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014499 | |||||
| Steamworks Handheld Garment Steamer | Argos (£26) (Only available in store) |
Date tested: June 2025, May 2024, May 2022. Page last checked: July 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.
*Durability consists of dropping a clothes steamer five times and assessing the damage.
How we test clothes steamers
To find the best clothes steamers, we buy the most popular handheld steamers and put them through the following tests.
We regularly revisit the clothes steamers on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them we do.
Crease removal
We use each garment steamer to remove creases from silk, linen and cotton pillowcases, as well as from polycotton T-shirts. In our time testing clothes steamers, we've dealt with over 100 creases.
The best clothes steamers effectively remove creases from all of the materials, while the worst leave them damp and still wrinkled.
We have also found no correlation between the steam rate being higher and better performance. In fact, a few of our best performers produced around 10g/min less than some models below them.
Ease of use
We assess how easy each clothes steamer is to set up, how comfortable it is to hold and how clear the instructions are. The best won't need the instructions, but if they do, they are clear with comprehensive illustrations. The worst, though, can be heavy, have difficult-to-remove compartments or baffling instructions.
We also test each steamer with Cambridge simulation gloves. These highlight any issues that people with restricted hand movement might have while using the clothes steamers. If you have limited hand mobility, we recommend you look for a steamer with a continuous steam button so you don't have to hold down a button while you steam.
Build quality
At the start of our tests, we check for any manufacturing faults or flaws. For the most part we haven't noticed any major issues.
Durability
Once all other tests are complete, we drop each clothes steamer from 90cm on to a linoleum-covered floor five times.
The best are still useable although a bit scraped and scuffed. The worst shatter and are unusable.
Heat-up time and steam rate
To test the actual heat-up time of each clothes steamer against the claimed figure, we turn on each garment steamer three times and record how long it takes to get hot enough to use.
We also test the claimed steam rate (the amount of steam created by the clothes steamers per minute) by filling each steamer's tank to its maximum capacity and running it until it's empty.
Our tests have shown that the advertised heat-up times and steam rates are accurate. However, the most effective crease removers don't always have the highest steam rates, so it pays to read our reviews.
Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers, and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Clothes steamer vs iron?
Messi versus Ronaldo. Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader. And now, clothes steamer versus iron.
The best clothes steamers we tested were effective at removing creases, but they’re really best for quick touch-ups on specific garments when you don’t have time for a full ironing session.
If you're someone who folds or hangs clothes right after drying, so they don't end up badly crumpled, a garment steamer might be all you need. They’re also a helpful option if you find traditional irons and ironing boards too heavy or awkward to use.
Got a larger load of laundry to deal with? Check out our reviews of the best steam irons
Types of clothes steamers
There are two main types of garment steamer to choose from - handheld and upright.
Handheld
These are smaller, lighter and more portable than upright models (weighing between 1kg and 2kg, whereas uprights can weigh more than 7kg). Therefore, this is the type you need if you want one to take on holiday. They have a small water tank you attach to the steamer.
Upright
These are larger. bulkier and more powerful than handheld models. They have a large water tank in the base, which means they can steam for longer. They also often come with a built-in hanger.
How to use a clothes steamer for best results
After hours of steaming clothes, we learned tips to get the best results from your garment steamer.
- Most handheld garment steamers come with a trigger lock. Use it to stop finger fatigue while steaming.
- Fill the tank with filtered water to avoid limescale if you live in an area with hard water. If you use tap water, don't forget to frequently descale your steamer so it continues to work effectively. Check the instruction manual for when and how to descale your clothes steamer. Some brands, such as Fridja, also sell their own descaling crystals to do this.
- Hang your garment somewhere it can hang freely. If you hang it against a wall or a wardrobe door, that surface will end up covered in condensation once you start steaming.
- Pull your item of clothing downwards from the bottom as you’re steaming it to give yourself a taut, flat surface to work the steamer against. But take care not to steam your fingers.
- You can also place your items on an ironing board for an even, level surface to steam on. This can make steaming napkins or tablecloths easier. See our pick of the best ironing boards
Do you touch clothes with a steamer?
Leave a bit of space between your clothes steamer and the garment that you're steaming.
We found that if you place the steamer too close to the fabric, this can leave water droplets on it, as there isn't enough room for the steam to escape.
Can you travel with a clothes steamer?
The most portable garment steamers make useful travel companions to spruce up clothing that has been creased in a suitcase. Some models we've tested include foldable arms to make them more compact. Extra accessories that are suited to travelling, such as mini clothes hangers or the ability to use a bottle of water instead of the tank, mean you can travel more lightly.
If you pack your handheld clothes steamer in your hand luggage, remember to empty the water tank before going through airport security. Like most electrical items, it might also need to be removed from your bag when it's being scanned.
Join Which? to find out which travel clothes steamers we recommend.
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