Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma Garment Steamer review: can this clothes steamer banish creases as efficiently as an iron?

Price on writing: £65 | Buy now from Argos

How we tested

Our tester Scarlet tested out the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma Garment Steamer in her home over the course of a month. Taking detailed notes on ease of use, effectiveness and quality, she used the steamer on a variety of fabrics, tested out all the features.

What Mumsnet users say

"I bought the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma 28040 last month. Primarily because it has a reasonably long cord so I can steam the bedding while it's on the bed, and I have to say I really like it. I haven't tried the "aroma" part yet but as well as doing the duvet cover I've used it for shirts and a couple of dresses. It's very quick." CarrieMoonbeams

Our verdict

For sprucing up your outfit and smoothing out creases, the Steam Genie Aroma is brilliant. It heats up quickly, makes light work of crumpled fabric and even loosens clothes that are stiff from the tumble dryer.

Scarlet loved the feeling of wearing a freshly steamed outfit, as it made her feel smart as well as cosy on her way out the door in the morning. While she didn't think it could replace her steam iron as it doesn't press clothes, only eliminates creases, she thinks its a valuable thing to have in your wardrobe for freshening up your clothes.

What's more, the steamer kills 99% of bacteria, so its useful for refreshing those fabrics around the home even the best washing machine can't help you with. Curtains and upholstery can be steamed with their own brush attachment, giving your furniture a light clean and disinfect without damaging the fabric.

The scent infuser is a nice addition to a clothes steamer, giving fabric a pleasant fragrance to add to the freshness the steam provides. Scarlet didn't find herself using it very much though, preferring to use plain water.

The Steam Genie Aroma has a relatively small water tank, at 200ml it can steam for 6 minutes before it needs refilling. Scarlet found this a little limiting, as it meant she needed to refill the steamer every time she wanted to use it on her outfit for the day. However, for jobs like cleaning curtains or ironing bedsheets while they're on the bed (a game-changing Mumsnetter hack), 6 minutes of steam is more than enough.

Read next: The best washer dryers, tried and tested

How easy is the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma to set up and start using?

The garment steamer is very straightforward and intuitive to set up - there's an instruction booklet included but Scarlet didn't feel the need to use it. To get started, simply top the water tank up with tap water, slide it into place and insert the scent infuser if you're using it.

The controls are very simple - just on and off, which makes it easy to use, but Scarlet would have liked a pause button for switching to a new item of clothing or adjusting the outfit you're steaming, so as not to waste the water.

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What's the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma like to use day-to-day?

As part of your morning routine when you want to feel extra smart and put together, the Steam Genie is nice to have. While Scarlet won't be binning her ironing board any time soon, she loved the speed of the garment steamer, and the way it cleans, softens and smartens up your clothes.

With a 45-second heat up time, there is a small amount of waiting involved in using the Steam Genie. Scarlet was undecided as to whether it's much less faff to use the garment steamer rather than grabbing an iron and ironing board. This will depend on your home layout and ironing standards - if your ironing board lives in or near your bedroom, it might not make sense to invest in a clothes steamer. However, if it's all the way downstairs, having a steamer to hand can be a lifesaver.

Scarlet liked the softening effect the steamer has on clothes - especially if they're a bit crispy from a hot wash. The steamer's heated ceramic pressing plate is coated with a wrinkle-releasing, fabric conditioning additive and it makes a big difference to the fabrics it's used on.

Read next: The best dehumidifiers for drying clothes

Does the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma offer good value for money?

At £65, the Steam Genie is one of the most expensive of the clothes steamers we've tested. The addition of a scent infuser is unique to this model, so if you're looking for something that will refresh, smooth and soften your clothing as well as adding a fragrance, it's worth the extra money.

However, with highly-rated models such as the Swan ProSteam Portable Garment Steamer available for around £30 and with a marginally larger water tank, if you're looking for a steamer to act as a back-up for when you don't want to get the iron out, you can get the job done for half the price.

All in all, the Steam Genie is a premium option for refreshing your clothes and helping you look and smell your best as you head out in the morning.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing baby and child products for 3 years, with a particular focus on baby essentials, toys and books for toddlers and outdoor play equipment. From potties to paddling pools and bunk beds to bedtime stories, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the best products out there.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

After earning a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Leeds and a PGCert in Fashion and Lifestyle Journalism from University of the Arts London, she worked in fashion for most of her 20s. When her children were young, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Chichester and re-trained as an author and freelance writer.

About Mumsnet reviews

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