Garment steamers appeared relatively recently, but have already managed to compete with familiar irons. Using the steamer, you can iron clothes, disinfect toys and fabrics, remove old pollution, clean various surfaces and eliminate unpleasant odors. Importantly, this treatment is harmless and environmentally friendly. So, how to choose a garment steamer.
How to choose the best garment steamer?
First of all, you need to answer yourself the following questions:
- Do you need a steamer for professional processing of clothes or is a device suitable for domestic use at home?
- What amount are you going to spend to purchase this device?
- How often do you plan to use it?
- what is more important for you: ergonomics or functionality?
Next, proceed to the selection of a specific model of the steamer, focusing on its main technical parameters.
Garment steamer selection criteria
In terms of power, all models of garment steamers can be divided into 2 main groups:
- power from 1800 watts - this universal steamer is able to cope with 98% of all fabrics, so it is suitable for frequent professional use;
- power less than 1800 watts - using this device you can steam most fabrics, but it is not suitable for processing winter jackets, down jackets, very tight jeans, blankets, etc.
As for the volume of the water tank, this parameter is not critical for the steamer, although it is still worth considering. A large capacity increases the mass and dimensions of the device, and also allows you to do much longer without “refueling”. Devices with a small tank are very compact, but think carefully before purchasing such a steamer: during the cleaning process you will have to constantly add water. So decide what is more important for you - compactness or autonomy.
The smallest dimensions are distinguished by road (manual) steamers. Due to its compact size, this unit is not difficult to put in a bag.
The next criterion for choosing a garment steamer is the dimensions of this device. It is convenient to store the device assembled so that at any moment you can simply turn on the steamer in the network and process this or that thing. If you want to store it in a narrow hallway, behind a door or in a tight closet, you should buy a model with a narrow case (the height of the case does not matter).
For many models of steamers, special nozzles are provided that allow you to adjust the configuration, strength and direction of the steam jet. Just pour pure water into the tank, then close the lid, turn on the device and wait a bit. Many models work from the mains, others from batteries, which is very convenient under certain conditions.
The compact mini steamer is indispensable on the road.
The device for steaming clothes can be single-mode or multi-mode. The latter differs from the former in the ability to adjust the level of steam saturation. A multi-mode garment steamer will be more appropriate in a professional studio, but for home use a single-mode device with a certain value of the level of steam saturation is quite enough.
