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Original poster

Can I replace my iron with a hand held steamer?

26 replies

SoManyDandelions · 21/09/2025 09:56

I hate ironing! Especially DS1's school shirts - men's skinny fit ones which have pleats in the back - argh!

Are hand held steamers any good? Can they be used instead of an iron? Or are they only good for travelling?

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 21/09/2025 10:05

I don’t iron at all so my standards are quite low but I find my hand held steamer does the job. It’s better for getting creases out rather than the crisp/sharp edges that you get from ironing though so don’t know how it would work for school shirts - DS still has the non-iron ones that look ok with a bit of a shake

Skybluepinky · 21/09/2025 10:31

An iron is more versatile, but depends what you’ll be using it for.

Brightbluesomething · 21/09/2025 11:48

Steamers are great for almost everything. Thick fabrics need to be ironed and anything that needs sharp creases. I have one pair of work trousers that need the iron, everything else gets tumble dried and hung up or steamed on a coat hanger and they’re fine. I do this as I’m getting ready in the morning as they need 5 mins or so to dry then put them straight on.
I point blank refuse to spend 2 hours on a Sunday night ironing like I used to years ago. Half my clothes were then hung up and got creased in the wardrobe as it’s stupidly full.

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Hardhaton1 · 21/09/2025 11:50

I did and ive never used it

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 21/09/2025 11:52

I have one and use it more than the iron. I avoid ironing and use the tumble dryer to get rid of creases or pay the launderette to do proper ironing. Life is too short. I've even taken the steamer on holiday in Europe and it was very handy.

Fedupoftheshits · 21/09/2025 12:18

Can anyone recommend a good steamer?

TheChosenTwo · 21/09/2025 12:20

Also here for steamer recommendations - I don’t iron EVER but have bought so many clothes recently that need it so I now don’t wear them unless dh irons them. And he only ever irons if we are going out somewhere together and needs a shirt doing!

MissyB1 · 21/09/2025 12:21

I bought one and found it harder work than ironing! Its sitting in its box now until I give it away.

Iamthemoom · 21/09/2025 12:38

I have! I tried quite a few but in the end found the cheap ones that look like a kettle with a narrow flat spout work best! I haven’t ironed (except napkins) in years!

MardyAnn · 21/09/2025 13:20

MissyB1 · 21/09/2025 12:21

I bought one and found it harder work than ironing! Its sitting in its box now until I give it away.

Me too! It’s ok for doing one item or for something too awkward for the ironing board but I find it a pain for more than that.

HeartbrokenCatMum · 21/09/2025 13:21

Love mine

bombastix · 21/09/2025 13:24

I did. It’s not really better, just a different way. If the clothing is lightweight then fine. A quality cotton shirt and it takes longer than ironing.

BeMellowAquaSquid · 21/09/2025 13:59

I have a cracked phone screen and on looking at this I thought it said can I replace my son with a hand held steamer. The post grabbed me until I realised… sorry no advice here but this really tickled me 😂 need to get a new phone asap

FeatheryFlorence · 21/09/2025 14:13

Get your DS to iron his own school shirts.

daphni · 22/09/2025 07:50

100% changed our lives! I really recommend it, go for it absolutely! Not bc it does the work better or anything, just bc it's so so practical

CalmShaker · 22/09/2025 07:56

Following

Have to ask the obvious questions to those who are steaming in morning before wearing - are clothes not then damp?

do you use water in the steamer or a different nice smelling fluid?

BrassOlive · 22/09/2025 07:58

Fedupoftheshits · 21/09/2025 12:18

Can anyone recommend a good steamer?

To be honest even the cheap ones are good, I have a £15 ASDA one that I take away with me and really it's no different to the £58 one I keep at home.

rookiemere · 22/09/2025 08:00

I got a steamer and still mostly use an iron.
Steamer is good for things like dresses, or items like t shirts if you want to avoid the iron waffle mark, but I find it a bit of a faff and usually steam my fingers by mistake.

TeaAndStrumpets · 22/09/2025 08:10

We used a steamer for last minute de creasing of my DDs wedding dress after unpacking it. It was a lovely 1950s silk and I would have been terrified to iron it.

I wouldn't use a steamer on heavy cotton or linen, though, it would be far too laborious. Some things like a linen pillowcase need physically flattening to get the right finish.

Lifestooshort71 · 22/09/2025 08:18

I have both and never use the steamer. You have to have tension in the item so needs to hang it on a hook on the door and then pull it taut (unless I didn't get it!) and you can't get crisp edges on sleeves etc which, to me, is the point of ironing a cotton shirt. I used to pay my young daughter 50p a shirt to iron 10 school ones on a Sunday - a total game changer. Now, I rarely iron but DH is retired so rarely wears a shirt.

Brightbluesomething · 22/09/2025 17:30

Fedupoftheshits · 21/09/2025 12:18

Can anyone recommend a good steamer?

This is what I use:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1252084

You need to fill it up fairly regularly so after every 3-4 garments as it only lasts 10 mins but they’re all like that. You use normal tap water.

Maddy70 · 22/09/2025 17:55

Yes. My iron is definitely somewhere in the house... My steamer is to hand

Hidingbehindthechaos · 22/09/2025 18:03

I only use a steamer but I agree the cheap ones tend to be better. I have a travel one and then a bigger expensive one, only good thing with the bigger one is that it holds more water.

I use crease release spray on thicker stuff and then steam if need be. I use the clothes dryer things that you hang clothes on hangers on and steam them on there. I have been known to steam something I am wearing but obv I wouldn't recommend that 😂

Arlanymor · 22/09/2025 18:03

I'm tempted to invest in this which seems the best of both worlds: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6791076?clickSR=slp:term:cordless%20steamer:3:1473:1

I don't currently own an iron and go out of my way to avoid ironing, but I couldn't resist purchasing a gorgeous pair of linen dungarees in the Sea Salt sale...

Purplecatshopaholic · 22/09/2025 18:05

I ditched my iron for a steamer (well, I still have the iron I just don’t know where it is as it’s been that long), and never regretted it. I think it depends what you use an iron for though, I’m not sure how good a steamer would be for shirt collars and cuffs for example, but I don’t wear shirts, and if the bf wants a shirt he can iron it himself!