Garment Steamers

Full-size floor steamers are bulky, but best overall

Full-size garment steamers are two-part units that consist of a steam-making tank that sits on the floor and connects via a hose to a rectangular nozzle. A metal pipe serves as a stand on which to hang clothing, as well as a resting place for the steam nozzle. Home steamers can take up a lot of space; in her test for The Wall Street Journal, Lauren Lipton notes that, "With their vertical clothes-hanging poles, each took up almost as much floor- and airspace as a person." (She does mention that the poles can sometimes be folded for storage.)

The simplest garment steamers lack an on/off button and will produce steam until they are unplugged (or run out of water). Some units have a trigger that allows you to control steam output. Garment steamers can come with extra attachments for the nozzle, such as brushes for specific fabrics and upholstery. The value of these extras is debatable; in her test for Slate.com, Laura Moser states that the temperature of the steam is "way more important than a selection of attachments."

The best-reviewed full-size garment steamer is the Jiffy J-2000 (*Est. $150). The Jiffy J-2000 scores highly on Amazon.com, where about 140 owners give it an average of 4.5 stars (out of five), making it the best-reviewed garment steamer on the site. For some reviewers, it eliminates ironing completely. Five owners have also provided thorough and enthusiastic reviews of the Jiffy J-2000 on Washing-Machine-Wizard.com, two of whom use the steamer for professional purposes. One downside noted is that the hose tends to get hot, so care must be taken when using this steamer to avoid burns.

In a rave review on LASplash.com, Amanda Cortez extols the Jiffy J-2000 as the best garment steamer, noting it is "kind of fun steaming the wrinkles out because it happens so fast." The Jiffy J-2000 is recommended by writers at four fashion websites, where stylists recommend it for its steaming ability and ease of use.

The full-size 1,300-watt Jiffy J-2000 clothes steamer heats up in about two minutes and holds 1 gallon of water for more than 90 minutes of steaming. It weighs 18 pounds and has casters. A 5-foot hose connects to the 6-inch steam head. A plastic steam head is standard for this unit, but a model with a metal head is an optional accessory. As with other full-sized steamers, garments can be hung on the attached metal bar. The Jiffy J-2000 has a limited one-year warranty.

For a little less money, the SteamFast QuickSteam SF-465 Professional Garment Steamer (*Est. $130) is chosen as the best overall model in Lauren Lipton's review for The Wall Street Journal. The 1,500-watt SF-456 looks pretty much like the Jiffy model, with a water tank, hose and wand, although the water tank in this steamer is 1.5 gallons (50 percent larger than the Jiffy J-2000). The tank rolls on casters, but it also has a carrying strap, which can make transporting the unit more convenient. The SteamFast QuickSteam comes with a lint remover, a fabric brush and a replaceable water filter.

In her review for The Wall Street Journal, Lipton praises "the good head of steam and large water tank that can provide steam for two hours." This model comes with a small foam press-pad that can be used as a vertical ironing board, which "helped remove more wrinkles," according to Lipton. However, the positive results of the expert testers contrast with the experiences of some owners. At Amazon.com, many reviewers complain of dripping water and defective parts, which is the reason we did not include the SteamFast SF-465 in the ConsumerSearch Best Reviewed section. While the Jiffy steamer is more expensive, owners indicate that build quality is better.

The Rowenta IS-8100 (*Est. $130) also receives good reviews from stylists. It works pretty much like other full-size garment steamers. The standout feature is a foot pedal that controls the steam flow -- a convenience other models lack. A lint brush and attachments for fabric and upholstery are included. However, we found some mixed reviews at Amazon.com, where about 50 reviewers give the Rowenta IS-8100 a lower average score than the competing Jiffy or SteamFast models. Although some reviewers couldn't be happier, several have problems with various components, such as a tank cap that slips off or an easily broken pole and steam head. Many reviewers mention that the steam output becomes sporadic after a few uses, and several have found significant residue buildup which seems to clog the unit.

If you need a heavier duty garment steamer, the Jiffy Steamer J-4000 Pro-Line Series Garment Steamer (*Est. $200) is highly rated. Compared to the J-2000 model, the J-4000 is a bit more powerful (1,500 watts), and it weighs 26 pounds, so it's more stable. The steamer head is plastic, though a metal head is an optional accessory. The J-4000 can steam continuously for about 90 minutes, but it needs about 15 minutes to warm up. The big difference between this model and the cheaper J-2000 is that it includes adjustable steam settings for different fabrics. At Amazon.com, about four dozen reviewers, including several clothing store owners, give the Jiffy J-4000 good ratings. Those who didn't like it mainly complain that it can't replace an iron completely and that it is bulky for home use. The J-4000 has a limited one-year warranty.

If you'd rather not have a full-size unit taking up space in your home, the Conair Compact Garment Steamer GS4 (*Est. $30) is a lot smaller. The 60 owner reviews on Walmart.com for this steamer are good, but the 130 reviews at Amazon.com are more mixed, with as many people giving it a one- or two-star rating as five-star scores. The most common complaint is that the Conair Compact Garment Steamer leaks or spits water out of the hose, leaving water marks on clothing. Altogether, we read similar reports for this steamer as we did for full-size steamers in the $100 range. This steamer might be a decent choice if you mainly need to steam cotton drapes or sturdy fabrics that won't be as affected by water marks; it's probably not the best choice for steaming delicate silk.

Note that the Conair Compact Garment Steamer is sold under two different model numbers: GS4 and GS5RWR. According to the manufacturer, there's no difference other than the color of the units.

The 1,200-watt Conair steamer produces 20 minutes of steam and features a 5-foot hose and handle. The unit weighs only 5 pounds and has an automatic shut-off feature that turns the steamer off when the handle is replaced. This model has a limited one-year warranty.