Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam review: can this clothes steamer replace your iron?

RRP: £70 | Buy now from Amazon

How I tested

I tested the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam at home for a month, using it on linen trousers, an adult linen shirt and cotton school shirts. I steamed clothes hanging from a hook over a door and assessed how easy it was to fill, how quickly it heated up, how straightforward the controls were and how easy it was to empty and store after use.

I also compared the vacuum system with a standard handheld steamer to see whether it made a noticeable difference. I looked at how close the finish came to ironing, whether clothes were dry enough to wear straight afterwards and whether the size, weight, controls and noise became irritating during everyday use.

The only maintenance I carried out was emptying the water tank after each session. I live in a hard water area, so I'd expect to descale it from time to time, but it wasn't needed during my month of testing.

Related: Best clothes steamers

My verdict

The Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam seems like an unusual idea until you try it. A clothes steamer with a built-in vacuum isn't an obvious combination, but the suction is what makes the difference.

After a month of using it on linen trousers, an adult linen shirt and cotton school shirts, I found myself reaching for it instead of setting up the ironing board. The finish was close to what I'd get with an iron and noticeably better than a standard handheld steamer. The vacuum holds the fabric taut against the heated plate, so it's much easier to smooth out creases than trying to steam a loose shirt while keeping it steady with your other hand.

It isn't perfect. The controls take a little time to get used to, it's noisy enough that I wouldn't use it while anyone was asleep, and it starts to feel heavy during longer sessions. It's also more expensive than many standard steamers and costs about the same as a decent iron.

If you want school shirts, linen trousers and everyday clothes to look smart without getting the ironing board out, this does the job well. I'd still use an iron for anything that needed a crisp, formal finish, but for most of my laundry this is the one I'd reach for.

Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam: what's in the box?

The Steam Genie VacuSteam comes with the handheld steamer, a removable water tank, a cleaning brush and an instruction manual. The steamer itself has a heated ceramic press plate along with three steam and suction settings.

In the box you'll find:

• Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam

• removable 200ml water tank

• cleaning brush

• instruction manual

Related: Best steam generator iron

What's the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam like to set up?

This isn't a compact travel steamer. It's fairly large, and the controls aren't especially intuitive when you first pick it up.

The water tank slides out easily and clicks securely back into place. It holds more water than I expected too. One fill was enough for two pairs of linen trousers, one adult linen shirt and four school shirts before I needed to top it up.

The opening is quite narrow, though. I found it easiest to fill it slowly straight from the tap. A filter jug would be much more likely to spill.

Russell Hobbs says the steamer heats up in 35 seconds, and that matched my experience. The power button flashes while it's heating, which is also where the controls start to get a little confusing.

The power button switches the steamer on, but you have to press and hold it to turn it off. Because the light continues to flash while it's running, it isn't always obvious that you've actually switched it off.

There's also an 'off' position on the sliding control, but that only turns off the vacuum. The steamer itself stays on.

Once you've used it a couple of times, the controls make sense, but they could be clearer.

Read next: Best steam irons

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

I tested the Steam Genie VacuSteam on clothes hanging from a hook over a door, which is how I normally use a handheld steamer.

I still had to hold the fabric with one hand, but the vacuum kept it taut while I steamed. That made it much easier to smooth out creases than with a standard handheld steamer, where the fabric tends to move around as you work.

The trigger switches on both the steam and the vacuum. Press it once to start and again to stop, so there's no need to keep holding it down. That's a welcome feature because this is heavier than a typical handheld steamer.

I've also tested the Tefal AeroSteam, which is also a vacuum powered cltohes steamer. The Russell Hobbs is lighter but bigger, and I could still feel the weight after steaming several garments.

The sliding control for the vacuum settings could be better. It sits where your hand naturally rests, but it's too stiff to adjust comfortably while you're using the steamer. I usually had to support it with my other hand before changing the setting, which isn't ideal with hot steam coming from the front. Most of the time, I found it easier to pick a setting before I started and leave it there.

The other drawback is the noise. It sounds much like a vacuum cleaner and is just as loud. I wouldn't use it early in the morning if anyone was asleep, and you won't be having a conversation over it while it's running.

How well does the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam perform on linen trousers?

Linen creases easily, so it's a good fabric to test a clothes steamer on.

The Steam Genie VacuSteam left my linen trousers looking close to ironed. The vacuum pulled the fabric firmly against the heated plate, so it stayed in place instead of moving around while I steamed.

I still had to guide the fabric with my free hand, but it was quicker and easier to work with than a conventional handheld steamer.

The finish wasn't crisp enough for occasions where you want sharp creases, but it was more than good enough for everyday wear.

The trousers were also dry enough to wear straight afterwards. Throughout testing, I didn't see any dripping, spitting, water marks or damp patches.

How well does the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam perform on cotton school shirts?

School shirts were where the Steam Genie VacuSteam impressed me most.

The finish was much closer to what I'd get with an iron than I'd expect from a handheld steamer, and noticeably smoother than the results I've had from standard models.

The vacuum keeps the fabric under tension, which makes it much easier to remove creases instead of shifting them around the shirt.

I'd still use an iron if I wanted the sharpest possible finish.

For everyday school uniforms, though, this was quick to use and left the shirts looking smart enough for my children to wear to school.

Is the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie VacuSteam good value for money?

At around £70, the Steam Genie VacuSteam is one of the more expensive handheld steamers. You can buy a very good steam iron for similar money, while capable standard handheld steamers such as the Tefal Pure Pop cost much less.

You're paying extra for the vacuum system, and after using it for a month I think it makes a real difference. The suction keeps the fabric under tension, making it easier to smooth linen, cotton and other everyday fabrics.

The value comes down to how you usually tackle the laundry. If you already iron everything, there's less reason to spend the extra money.

If you usually avoid ironing, steam school shirts regularly or wear a lot of linen during the summer, the vacuum system makes enough of a difference to justify the higher price.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials like steam irons, vacuum cleaners and heated throws.

From a highly recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.