Clothes Steamer vs. Iron: Which Should You Choose?

Both the best clothes steamers and top-notch steam irons are powerhouses when it comes to removing wrinkles from clothing. But they work in different ways and can give you different results depending on the type of garments and fabrics you want to smooth.

We test both appliances in the Good Housekeeping Home Care & Cleaning Lab for how well they de-wrinkle a wide variety of fibers, fabrics and clothing items, how much steam they produce, how easy they are to use and more. Which is best for you depends on the type of clothing that makes up the majority of your wardrobe and how much time and effort you want to put into smoothing it. Below, we explore the pros and cons of each and include our top clothes steamer and iron picks to help you decide what’s best for you.

When to choose a clothes steamer

Lightweight, portable, easy to store and great for travel, a clothes steamer smooths fabrics right on the hanger. Many now have big water tanks and multiple settings for more power. Some steam continuously, while others do so when you press a trigger or button. They are a great option if you often need to smooth one item before heading out the door and mostly wear clothing with an unstructured, casual feel.

Steamer pros:

• Great for knits, hard-to-iron structured jackets, soft casual garments and embellishments like sequins and beads
• Can freshen and deodorize home furnishings, like draperies, without taking them down
• Saves time when you need to de-wrinkle in a hurry

Steamer cons:

• Water tanks can be small meaning more frequent refilling
• Some must be used vertically to prevent leaks
• Can struggle with creases, pleats and stubborn wrinkles

When to choose an iron

An iron is a wrinkle-removing champ thanks to its heavy weight, steam output and wide soleplate and temperature range. It’s best for those items where you want a sharp, crisp, fresh-from-the-dry-cleaner look and for batch pressing multiple garments in one session. It’s also better for sewers and quilters who many need to flatten their work as they go.

Iron pros:

• Offers a large water tank and spray and steam burst buttons for better pressing results
• Let’s you adjust the steam level and temperature to match the fabric
• Sets creases and gives dress shirts, pants, linens and more a smooth, pressed look

Iron cons:

• Requires a board or another flat surface to press on
• Navigating shoulders, collars, cuffs and other curves and tight areas can be challenging
• Needs time to cool down from a cotton or linen setting before ironing delicate and sheer fabrics to avoid damage

The Bottom Line: Steamer or Iron?

Having both a clothes steamer and a steam iron gives you the most options for achieving smooth, wrinkle-free clothes no matter what the fabric or style. If you need to make an either-or decision, clothes steamers are stellar for on-the-go de-wrinkling and giving garments a flowy, relaxed look and feel. An iron is your best bet if you prefer a flat, crisp, sharp vibe or frequently sew, quilt or do other crafts requiring strong steam, heat and pressure.

How we test clothes steamers and steam irons

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we dedicate hours to evaluating each steamer and iron we test. We measure the grams of steam they produce and at what rate they pump it out. We take temperatures in various spots on each iron’s soleplate at several heat settings and track the high and low temperature swings as it heats up and cools down. For both appliances, we check how hot the handles and bodies get, for safety.

We weigh the appliances to determine how heavy they are to lift and hold, assess how user-friendly the controls are, how easy the water tank is to fill and see into and how long they take to heat up.

Finally, we twist and ball up cotton, linen, wool, silk, nylon and other synthetic fabrics and garments and allow the creases to set overnight. The next day, we iron or steam the swatches and garments, rating the smoothness using standard visual guides borrowed from the textiles industry all while checking for any spitting, spotting or dripping.

What to consider when shopping for a clothes steamer

✔️ Water tank: If you expect to steam often or do several garments in one session, look for a large water tank for a longer steam time and a model that offers continuous steam over one that requires you to press a button to pump out the steam. The water tank should also be easy to remove, fill, replace and see through so you know when it needs refilling.

✔️ Design: If you will use the steamer occasionally or just for travel, consider a slim model that’s compact, lightweight and easy to pack and store. Many mid-size handheld models now have small heated plates that mimic an iron’s soleplate and give you the option to steam or press out wrinkles. Large professional steamers — the kind that magazine photo stylists use — have extra-large tanks for super long steam times, telescoping poles and hooks for holding garments. They can be wheeled to where you need them, but they do take up more storage space.

✔️ Water type: Most use regular tap water, but some brands recommend distilled, especially if your tap water is extremely hard. Check the product’s use and care guide on the brand website for details on the type of water it requires.

✔️ Features: Steamers that offer multiple settings work best on both delicate and heavy fabrics. Attachments may include lint removing pads, brushes to fluff fabrics and protectors to shield delicate fabrics from hot steam. Some have on-board clamps to help set creases and pleats.

What to consider when shopping for a steam iron

✔️ Size: An iron should be comfortable to lift and hold and not so heavy that it becomes a chore to use. Most fall within a range from about 2 pounds to almost 5 pounds. The heavier they are, the better they press out wrinkles, but a too-heavy iron makes ironing tiresome. To cover more ground quickly, choose an iron with a large soleplate and a large, see-through water tank.

✔️Power: Generally, we’ve found that the best-performing irons require 1,700 to 1,800 watts of power to produce strong and long bursts of steam. Cordless irons are an option many prefer but they cool off quickly and need to be put back on the corded base every time you replace the garment. Electronic controls in higher-end irons help ensure more precise fabric temperature settings and selections.

✔️ Soleplate: Ceramic and titanium soleplates are the most durable, provide the best glide and are easiest to clean. Stainless steel and non-stick work well when new, but can scratch and ultimately snag fabrics over time. And more holes in the soleplate don’t guarantee more steam from the iron.

✔️Safety: Most irons today automatically shut off in seconds or minutes when tipped. We prefer those that turn off quickly when landing in any direction, not just onto the soleplate. Some, designed for sewing and quilting, delay or don’t shut off at all to help make crafting easier.

✔️Features: Steam burst and spray features are helpful to dampen fabrics while ironing and for extra oomph removing stubborn wrinkles. Vertical steam works well for drapes, bed skirts and other home furnishings, although we’ve found a clothes steamer is actually more effective than an iron when used vertically. A steam station with a large, separate water tank, powerful steam and a sturdy base is good for quilting, sewing and handling large batches of rumpled garments. Nice extras include a button groove around the soleplate to iron around buttons and a retractable cord for easy storage.

Are there any fabrics that should not be steamed?

Most fabrics handle steaming well. Even sheer, delicate ones, like silk can take light steam. Some fabrics like velvet, corduroy and lace do better with steaming than with ironing, as steaming doesn’t flatten them like ironing can. The only fabrics where it’s best to avoid steam — from a clothes steamer or an iron — are vinyl, fabrics with a waxy finish or garments with thin plastic trim or embellishments that steaming could melt. Steam leather and suede very carefully, if at all.

Does steaming kill bacteria?

Yes! In fact, we recommend steaming to help freshen and deodorize hard-to-wash items like mattresses, throw pillows, athletic shoes and stuffed toys. Just be sure to pass the steamer over the fabric surface slowly for the time recommended by the manufacturer to sanitize fabrics. Steam also kills dust mites near the surface. After steaming, you must remember to vacuum the fabric surface to remove them.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Carolyn Forte has tested dozens of steam irons and clothes steamers in over 40 years of experience researching, testing and writing about appliances like the best dryers, top washing machines and best-performing vacuums. As the executive director of the Cleaning Lab, she oversees all testing done by our reviews analysts, including the most recent tests of steam irons and the currently underway category test of clothes steamers. Plus, she spent 19 of those 40 years in the GH Textiles Lab so she has extensive experience caring for all types of fabrics and fibers. And at home, she owns both a clothes steamer and steam iron for whatever the task requires and time permits.