Steam Iron Vs Garment Steamer

Are you going to attend an important interview?

Or is it a date night?

Or perhaps you have a family get-together in the coming days.

Whatever it is, you need to present yourself appropriately. The first impression is always the last, and your apparel plays an important role over there.

It doesn’t mean you need to wear something new always. But, you have to wear neat and clean clothes which are properly ironed.

What type of iron should you buy?

There are dry iron, steam iron, garment steamers, etc. You can go for any of these appliances.

But, which one is right for you?

When there are so many options, you will get confused. Once you go through a comparative study between the steam iron and garment steamer, you will get to know which one you need.

Steam iron is an appliance that produces steam to make your appliances wrinkle-free. To use a steam iron, you need to use an iron board. Garment steamer also produces moist steam to make your clothes free from creases, but you don’t need to use any iron board for that.

On the other hand, a steam iron is a portable and compact appliance, while a garment steamer comes with a garment rod and a small water tank. So, it is not that portable like the steam iron.

Comparing garment steamer vs steam iron can help you know their differences. But, before we compare them, we need to know why and how they are different from each other.

Steam Iron- What Does It Do?

Ironing is quite an exhausting task, and you need to put much effort into the task. Besides, certain stubborn wrinkles in difficult areas like collars, cuffs, etc., give you enough trouble. Buying the best steam iron in India is always preferable to lessen your stress, and you can easily iron any of your clothes.

In a steam iron, the machine comes with a special coil which gets heated up when electricity passes through. Thus, the heated coil transfers the heat to the iron soleplate.

When the appliance gets completely hot, water from the water tank starts dripping on the soleplate and produces steam. Then, the steam is projected outwards and softens the fabric. You get the perfect finish easily after ironing your clothes with the steam iron.

When to choose a Steam Iron?

If you find it difficult to use a dry iron and send clothes to the laundry house is not a great idea for you, you can buy a steam iron. As steam is produced, it can clear up any stubborn wrinkles and creases. Getting properly ironed and crisp dresses is just a matter of time.

A steam iron can give your garments a professional look. Besides, the product is also durable and time-efficient. So, you can get ready whenever you want with your favorite dress. Also, a steam iron is compatible with any fabric. If you want to iron your denim jacket or a chiffon saree, you can buy a steam iron.

How Can a Garment Steamer Help You?

If you are tired of dealing with wrinkles and creases, you can always go for a garment steamer. The best garment steamer in India can produce enough steam to remove wrinkles from your clothes. And it also takes less effort and time.

A garment steamer comes with a water tank that you need to fill with water. When you need to use it, fill the tank with water, plug it in and let the water gets heated. Hang your cloth on a garment hanger or rod and run the steamer downwards.

It would help if you pressed the button to release steam. The steam releases the wrinkles and creases, and you get a properly ironed dress in a few minutes. Your garments will be a bit wet after using the garment steamer. Hang it on the rod still; it is completely dry.

When to use a Garment Steamer?

Garment steamers have many uses. There are certain dresses like your wedding dress, stone-embellished sarees, and salwars, highly expensive denim jackets, etc., where you can’t use a steam iron. The sharp edges of iron may damage the fibers and designs.

In such cases, buying a garment steamer is the perfect option. You don’t need to touch the dress with your iron, and it can be properly ironed with this appliance. There is a water tank that produces steam when heated up, and you just need to move the appliance all over the apparel.

So far, you get to know about the basic difference between a steam iron and a garment steamer. Here are some of the essential features that will give you more reasons to choose the actual product for you-

They Work in Different ways

As the name suggests, a steam iron works with the steam produced by hot water from the water tank. You need to fill the water tank and plug in the appliance. There is a special coil inside the device. When it gets hot, the heat is transferred to the iron soleplate.

Now, the soleplate heats the water, and it starts dripping on it and produces steam. When you iron your apparel, the steam is released, and it removes wrinkles from those. For deep ironing, the steam iron comes with a feature of steam mist where the steam iron itself sprays water to the cloth to moisten it.

A garment steamer can iron not only your expensive garments but also the carpets, curtains, upholstery, etc. This is not possible with a steam iron. So, you can buy a garment steamer as it is a multi-functional device.

The working principle of a garment steamer is quite easy. Once you understand that, using the appliance will be easier than an iron. As it doesn’t require any ironing board, the device is much more portable than a steam iron. Also, it is a perfect choice for those who have limited surface space.

Garment steamers work by heating water. You need to fill the water tank, plug in the appliance and wait for 2 to 3 minutes for the water to be heated up. Once the water is hot, it produces steam, channeled towards the wrinkled fabric to remove the creases.

Different Applications and Usability

Steam iron is a perfect appliance for ironing your clothes. You can use the appliance on any fabric to get it wrinkle-free. Also, you can iron your denim jackets, corded pants, and woolens with the steam generated from a steam iron.

A garment steamer is a multi-functional device. Therefore, its usage is not only limited to ironing your clothes, but you can also go for several works. Here are some of the applications of garment steamer you can go for-

Use it to freshen up and cleaning your cars
You can have your windows and mirrors cleaned up
Keep your sofas and drapes dust-free
Removing carpet stains and sanitizing surfaces are easy

Effectiveness of Steaming

Using a steam iron on your wrinkled clothes is very effective. Often many of you use the iron without the steaming function, but that is not perfect for removing the stubborn creases from jackets, pants, or any such thick fabric. Steam iron is effective in producing powerful steam that can properly iron any thick fabric and garment.

A garment steamer produces enough steam to work on different types of garments and your car seat, upholstery, carpets, curtains, towels, etc. This appliance can produce stronger steam than a steam iron to work on embellished dresses, expensive materials, etc. Not only that, but the steam is also effective in sanitizing the surface without using any harsh chemicals.

Steam irons are preferred for daily use in small or medium-sized families. But, if you have a big family or you need to iron long clothes or garments, a garment steamer can be chosen.

Operational Safety of steam iron and garment steamer

Using a steam iron is safe. But, as steam iron is an electrical device, you have to maintain certain safety measures to use it. Here are some safety precautions you need to maintain while using the appliance-

Always follow the user manual to know the safety features while using.
It would be best if you used the ironing board for better ironing.
Position the power cord safely so that kids or pets never toppled over.
Never leave the appliance unattended.
If your iron is leaking, don’t use it.

A garment steamer is also an electrical device. So, you have to be very careful of using it; else it can burn your clothes. Follow these safety tips while using a garment steamer-

Never keep your garment steamer unattended.
Don’t keep the plug on when not in use.
Be careful about placing the cords, especially if you have kids and pets at home.
Be careful about the quantity of speed to use on a garment, as, for silk garments, you need light steam.

Cleaning and Maintenance

If you maintain your steam iron well, the appliance will serve you for a long time. Here are some maintenance tips that will help you to handle the device-

You can use distilled water for producing steam.
Always rinse out the water tank with clean water and wipe off the entire iron with cords with a damp cloth.
If there is any stubborn residue, clean it with a solution of baking soda and water.
Always air dry your appliance after cleaning it.

Read this comprehensive guide to clean a steam iron to know details about this process.

Keep your garment steamer neat and clean for better usage. You can follow these tips to make your job easy-

Always drain the remaining water in the water reservoir of the garment steamer.
Use a damp cloth with mild detergent to clean the metal plate. Once done, use another damp cloth to wipe it off. Never forget to dry it with a dry cloth.
To remove water residue, fill the water tank with vinegar and water solution. Run the appliance till the solution gets half. Cooldown the steamer and remove the water.

Most Steam irons are cheaper than garment steamers

There are different price ranges for a steam iron. You will find a good quality product within the range of Rs. 1000 to Rs. 4000.

A garment steamer is more expensive than a steam iron. If you want to buy a branded product, you can get it within the range of Rs. 1500 to Rs. 6,000.

Garment steamers are easier to Use than steam irons

Using steam iron is easy, but you need to put a bit of effort into running on your garments. You need to lay your garments flat on the ironing board and pull the iron throughout the clothes for proper ironing. It is time-consuming and takes much of your effort.

With a garment steamer, you don’t need to put that much effort into using a steam iron. You just need to hang the clothes and move the appliance downwards throughout the fabric. It saves much of your time and effort. But, your finger may get aching by pressing the steam button to produce continuous steam.

Power Requirement

A steam iron can consume around 800 to 2000 Watts of power.

On the other hand, a good quality garment steamer consumes around 1000 to 2000 Watts of power a day.

Steam Iron And Garment Steamer Comparison

Appliance	Steam Iron	Garment Steamer
Functioning	Steam is generated from steam holes on the soleplate with the application of electricity-generated heat on the water tank.	Most garment steamers have a separate water tank connected to a hose to the steam head
Application	You can use it on almost any type of clothes.	Uses steam to iron garments, long clothes, sanitize the surface, clean car seats, windows, mirrors, and so on.
Safety	Very safe to use	Safe to use
Maintenance	Use baking soda and water paste to clean the soleplate	Use vinegar and water solution to clean the water tank
Cost	Rs. 1000 to Rs. 4000	Rs. 1500 to Rs. 6000
Ease of Use	A bit tiring and requires effort	Very easy to use
Power Requirement	800 to 2000 Watts	1000 to 2000 Watts

So, here you get to know the differences between a steam iron and a garment steamer. Both the devices are used for ironing your clothes, but certain differences will influence your purchasing decision. The comparison of steam iron vs garment steamer can help you choose a suitable steaming appliance.

Steam iron is for clothes, while a garment steamer is for clothes, curtains, carpets, car seats, sofa, pillows, etc.; a garment steamer can sanitize the surface, and the materials are not possible with a steam iron. As a steam iron comes with an ironing board, it is not portable like a garment steamer.

So, while making the purchase, you make sure your requirements and buy accordingly. Wear neat, clean, and properly ironed dresses on any occasion.

Related Posts:

Steam Iron vs Garment Steamer- Which Is Better for Your Clothes?

Steam Iron- What Does It Do?

How Can a Garment Steamer Help You?