Garment Steamers

Full-size floor steamers are bulky, but best overall

Full-size garment steamers are two-part units that consist of a water tank that sits on the floor and connects via a hose to a rectangular nozzle. A metal clothes stand doubles as a resting place for the steam nozzle when not in use. As such, full-size garment steamers can take up a lot of space; in her test for The Wall Street Journal, Lauren Lipton writes, "With their vertical clothes-hanging poles, each took up almost as much floor- and airspace as a person." (She does mention that some poles can 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 says the temperature of the steam is "way more important than a selection of attachments."

The full-size Jiffy J-2000 (*Est. $150) garment steamer scores highly in reviews at Amazon.com, where about 170 owners give it an average of 4.5 stars (out of 5), making it the best-reviewed garment steamer on the site. One downside noted is that the hose tends to get hot, so care must be taken when using this steamer to avoid burns. About six 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.

In a rave review on LASplash.com, Amanda Cortez extols the Jiffy J-2000 as the best garment steamer, saying it is "kind of fun steaming the wrinkles out because it happens so fast." The Jiffy J-2000 is also recommended by writers at three fashion websites, where stylists recommend it for its steaming ability and ease of use. A reviewer on AssociatedContent.com who purchased the Jiffy J-2000 for personal use after seeing it in use at a clothing store says the Jiffy J-2000 has "more than paid for itself by eliminating costly dry cleaning trips."

The 1,300-watt Jiffy J-2000 clothes steamer heats up in about two minutes and holds 3/4 gallons of water for more than 90 minutes of steaming. It weighs 16.5 pounds and has casters to make moving it easy. A 5-foot hose connects to a 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-size steamers, the Jiffy J-2000 has an attached metal clothes bar. The Jiffy J-2000 has a limited one-year warranty.

If you need a heavy-duty garment steamer, the Jiffy Steamer J-4000 Pro-Line (*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, nearly 60 reviewers, including several clothing store owners, give the Jiffy J-4000 an average rating of 4 stars out of 5. Those who don't like it mainly complain that it can't replace an iron completely and that it is bulky, with one owner estimating that it's approximately three to four times the size of the Jiffy J-2000 -- too cumbersome for average home use, some say. We also found several recent complaints that the pole is too short. The J-4000 has a limited one-year warranty.

Budget garment steamers earn mixed reviews

We found several Steamfast models covered among our review sources, but most get mixed reviews. The Steamfast QuickSteam SF-465 Professional Garment Steamer (*Est. $150) is chosen as the best overall model in Lauren Lipton's review for The Wall Street Journal. The 1,500-watt SF-465 looks pretty much like the Jiffy model, with a water tank, hose and wand, although the water tank in this steamer holds 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," Lipton says. However, Lipton's positive results contrast with the experiences of some owners. Only a couple dozen owners review this garment steamer at Amazon.com and Walmart.com, and it earns a mediocre average score. Many users complain of dripping water and defective parts, and several recent reviews cite durability issues -- the auto shut-off feature and hose button stop working or the unit stops heating up within six to seven months of purchase. While the Jiffy steamer is more expensive, owner-written reviews indicate that its build quality is better.

The Rowenta IS-8100 (*Est. $140) also receives good reviews from stylists, but owner opinions are mixed. 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. About 50 owners have rated the Rowenta IS-8100 on Amazon.com, where it has a lower average score (3 stars out of 5) than the competing Jiffy J-2000 garment steamer. Like the Steamfast SF-465, the Rowenta IS-8100 has some durability issues according to owners, such as a tank cap that slips off, a hose that kinks and cracks, a malfunctioning pedal, and an easily broken pole and steam head. Many reviewers mention that the steam output becomes unreliable after a few uses, and several say significant residue buildup (one owner describes it as "white sand") can clog the unit.

We found somewhat better reviews for the Steamfast SF-407 (*Est. $55), which has more than 165 owners at Amazon.com contributing to an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 -- not bad for a cheap steamer. This floor model works fine for lighter fabrics like curtains and dresses, most owners say, but a few complain that it doesn't produce much steam and the garment pole is too short. Most owners say the hose does get hot. The unit heats up rapidly -- in about 45 seconds -- and produces about 30 minutes of continuous steam. It holds about 1.25 quarts of water, comes with a press pad and fabric brush and carries a two-year limited warranty. A few caveats: Quite a few owners say they purchased this steamer specifically to steam wrinkles out of cotton dress shirts, but they say the steamer isn't powerful enough to work well. Some also say it wasn't durable.

The Conair Compact Garment Steamer GS4 (*Est. $25) is another smaller steamer, but nearly 150 owner reviews on Amazon.com are mixed, with as many people giving it a 1- or 2-star rating as 5-star scores; overall, it has an average rating of 3.5 stars out of 5. The most common complaint is that the Conair Compact Garment Steamer leaks or spits water out of the hose, leaving water marks on clothing, but one owner says this problem is caused by holding the hose in a certain way, and a few others say it only happens when the water level gets low. 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.

The 1,200-watt Conair steamer heats up in six minutes and produces 28 minutes of steam; it 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.