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I have never used a steamer as comfortable to hold or as easy to maneuver as this design.
The Spruce
However, I will note that this steamer may not be ideal for users with limited hand mobility.
Ive found its relatively easy to fill it in a shallow bathroom sink, too.
Best For:
Travelers who prefer to pack in a carry-on bag.
PHOTO: The Spruce
I love this steamers foldable design, which reminds me of a travel hair dryer.
This steamer can also be used horizontally.
For example, you could lay pants on an ironing board and steam them.
The Chi Steam Handheld Garment Steamer is shorter than other hair tools you may travel with.PHOTO: The Spruce
However, we will caution that the steam cloud from this model is quite powerful.
Anyone looking for a compact steamer that has a very powerful steam cloud.
The steam time was slightly shorter than 10 minutes when we tested this steamer.
The water tank was empty after 8.5 minutesenough time to de-wrinkle half of a heavily wrinkled silk shirt.
Despite this, we loved how this steamer performed on thicker cotton items.
This makes it easier to care for both delicate and heavy-duty fabrics.
The locking feature can be great for large items like curtains orwrinkled bedding.
Anyone who wants a more versatile steamer in their checked bag.
This 2-in-1 model is larger at 15.5 inches long, so its better for checked bags.
Its also a little top-heavy, but we like the weight when using the iron plate.
However, what makes it great for international travel is the dual-voltage design.
A switch on the bottom of the steamer allows you to choose between 120 or 240 volts.
Final Verdict
Our favorite travel steamer is theChi Steam Handheld Steamer.
Its smaller than most hair tools, with a slim design thats comfortable to hold while you steam.
If you want a steamer with a larger water tank capacity, we recommend theBeautural Foldable Handheld Steamer.
It has the same design as a travel hair dryer, folding in half for convenient packing.
We also keep track of how frequently we refill the steamers water tank while steaming these items.
Theres nothing worse than steaming a garment and finding large wet spots all over it.
We also assess the placement of the buttons or switches.
Our testing has included unique designs like the one pictured above, a 2-in-1 steamer-iron.
Our favorite travel steamers have compact shapes without external handles.
However its still rather compact in shape and comes with a travel bag.
Both have a more traditional steamer shape with a wider face plate.
I especially love the two different steam powers on the Electrolux.
The water tanks on our list range between 75 and 295 milliliters.
This allows the steamers to run for 5 to 18 minutes before needing to be refilled.
I also recommend paying attention to how easy it is to refill the water tank.
The other steamers on our list have removable water tanks, so they can be slightly easier to refill.
I like to use thesmall refill cupthat came with mysteam ironwhile using my travel steamer.
However, this isnt a must.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Just be sure to dry off the water tank before reinstalling it.
I considerthese accessories a nice-to-have, rather than an essential for a steamers performance.
If you have room in your bag, they can be great for extra-delicate or difficult fabrics.
We loved how easily the Beautural Foldable Handheld Steamer smoothed out linen pants.PHOTO: The Spruce
TheElectrolux Garment Steamercomes with two attachments: a lint remover and a fabric brush.
ThePolardo Travel Steameralso comes with a fabric brush attachment.
These are great for keeping any corded devices tidy while you travel.
Why Trust The Spruce?
As ahobby sewist, I despise wrinkles and love finding new ways to prevent or eliminate them.
I prioritized models that excelled at making quick work of wrinkles while being comfortable to use.
PHOTO: The Spruce
If you’re traveling, we love the Polardo Travel Steamer, which fits perfectly in your luggage.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce
The difference was dramatic after using the Electrolux Garment Steamer on these linen pants.PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: The Spruce
PHOTO: Amazon
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We enjoyed using steamers that made it easy to assess our garment while steaming it, so no wrinkles were left behind.The Spruce
