Of all the travel steamers we tested, the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer stood out the most and is the one to undeniably add to your suitcase. This colorful unit weighs just 1.5 pounds, and it breaks down into two pieces, making it extremely easy to stash in a bag of any size. We loved that its water reservoir is completely see-through, which allowed us to monitor exactly how much water was left. And it excelled in our testing, removing tough wrinkles with just a few passes, thanks to its powerful steam and stainless steel soleplate. This super-speedy garment steamer heated up in a blistering 15 seconds. It was also fast at removing creases, performing particularly well on polycotton, and all clothes were left dry. It struggled to remove deep-set wrinkles in cotton and viscose, but it was able to lighten the latter.

Other advanced features include multiple auto switch-off options; free fabric brush attachments; and a kettle-style 360 degrees swivel cord that helps you avoid getting tangled in the power cable. We also like the see-through tank design that reveals how much water is left. You can also buy upright garment steamers that look (and work) a bit like souped-up trousers presses. Hang your clothes on the steamer, and steam generated by a water tank in the unit’s base will straighten them out and freshen them up, potentially avoiding the need for pricey dry cleaning.Most steamers require you to hang your garment for steaming. If you’re traveling and you don’t have a clothing rod handy, you can hang the item from the bathroom shower rod or from the doorknob on your hotel room door. This travel steamer takes about a minute to heat up, and there's a large window that lets you see into the water tank to monitor how much is left. The top of the unit twists off when you need more water, and we had no issues filling the water tank from the faucet. The steamer is slightly bulkier than other models we tested, but it's still compact enough to fit in a carry-on or another suitcase. Has auto-shut off - It will turn off if you leave it standing still. On its soleplate, it will automatically switch off after 30 seconds . On its heel rest, it will automatically switch off after 8 minutes

When comparing different steamers, you'll want to look at their heat and steam times. The former indicates how long the unit takes to heat up and be ready for use, while the latter indicates how long the steamer runs when the tank is full. The longer the steam time, and the larger the water tank capacity, the more garments you can often de-wrinkle in one steaming session, without having to run to the sink to refill the tank.Likewise, on heavier fabrics like jeans and shirts, it continued to impress. In fact, we even used it on an old sofa and saw pleasing finishes. While it sometimes helped to use slower “strokes”, we consistently witnessed smooth results. Setup is straightforward and it’s easy to use: the steamer heats up in just 35 seconds and immediately sets to work with a surprisingly powerful jet of steam at its highest setting (there are three fabric modes to choose from). The steam plate’s ceramic coating can also easily withstand repeated use on buttons, zips and other features, which have a tendency to result in scratches. If you plan on using your clothes steamer for one-off occasions or touch-ups, a smaller tank will suffice, ideally with a transparent casing so you know when to refill it. This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. As she started her research into travel steamers, she spoke with experts Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care, and Melissa Maker of Clean My Space for insights on the benefits of steaming, what to look for in a travel steamer, as well as how to steam clothes properly. It’s worth considering your needs and the energy usage of your clothes steamer prior to purchasing. If you plan to use your steamer for a couple of items, then a light energy, handheld device will do just fine.

As you shop for the best clothes steamer, you’ll want to consider one of Beautural’s two steamers. Both are safe to use on all fabrics, including cotton, polyester, silk, nylon, velvet, wool and linen. The company also says that the steamers can be used to clean children’s toys, household bedding and even furniture. Simplemost Media Steamers are effective at sanitizing clothing due to the hot temperature of their steam, but they don’t necessarily clean your garments. The hot air kills bacteria, but it doesn’t get rid of dirt, grime, odors, or sweat that may be on your clothing. It proved powerful, but not too strong for delicate fabric, and our polycotton shirt emerged looking as crisp as if it had been ironed. It comes with a generous array of accessories too, including a folding hanger, and has wheels for easy transportation.Keep in mind that steam is moisture. Your garment will be wet after you’ve finished steaming it. Make sure you have allotted the proper amount of drying time before you attempt to wear the garment. To produce steam, travel steamers need to generate water temperatures of more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit. That means you need to use any clothes steamer with care, to avoid accidental burns and spills. For use with heavier fabrics, temperatures can reach as high as 395 degrees Fahrenheit on many standard clothes steamers, but the less powerful travel varieties don't often reach these temperatures. Beautural is a California-based company that specializes in supplying Americans with high-quality products that assist them in caring for their clothing. In fact, in just seven years, the company has been able to serve 5 million customers. You’ll find some of Beautural’s most popular products include a line of steamers, irons, lint removers and fabric shavers. While they may seem similar, steamers and irons serve different purposes in the laundry room. Steamers use hot steam to relax fibers within a fabric, while irons are used to press and smooth fabric and create creases. Further, steamers are typically used vertically on hanging garments, while irons require a horizontal surface, such as an ironing board. Bear Portable Handheld Clothes Steamer: We have not had a chance to formally test this steamer, but one of our editors, Mia Ingui, says she loves this steamer as a travel option because it's not too cumbersome in her luggage and it effectively removes wrinkles without requiring refills. Plus, it can double as a steam iron in a pinch! While she wishes this model had a power switch, it's still a solid steamer that's also well-designed.