A clothes steamer is a great way to remove wrinkles from clothes. The steamer works by heating water to become steam. This steam is then directed at the garment using nozzles to relax the threads of the fabric and remove wrinkles. Although this tool is rarely used, a clothes steamer is an easy and simple way to tidy up a lot of clothes. After choosing the most suitable type of steamer and learning some tricks for steaming your clothes, you can easily remove wrinkles from your clothes.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Knowing the Steamer Usage Time
Step 1. Know the types of fabrics that can and cannot be steamed
The steamer can be used on almost any type of clothing because it is a subtle way to remove wrinkles. Vaporizable fabrics include cotton, silk, wool, and polyester. However, it's best not to vaporize a waxy jacket, suede, or any material that can melt, such as plastic.
- If you are in doubt whether or not a garment can be steamed, carefully test a small section of the garment before applying it to the entire garment.
- Check clothing care labels to confirm the clothing manufacturer's recommendations.
Step 2. Be careful when steaming fragile fabrics
Fabrics made of silk, chiffon, sheer, or velvet must be processed with care. Try to keep clothes a few inches apart, and don't steam one item for too long. To prevent damage to the decoration or screen printing, it's best to turn the clothes over before steaming.
Step 3. Use a steamer instead of an iron to remove wrinkles on various clothes
Irons and steamers are tools for removing wrinkles from clothes, and each has its own advantages. Irons are usually good on fairly strong fabrics (such as cotton and denim) and are ideal for creating neat folds of clothing. The steamer can be used on almost any garment as it is less likely to damage the fabric. The steamer is usually used while the clothes are hanging so you can't make crease lines on the clothes.
Steamers are easier to carry around than irons making them ideal for frequent travelers
Part 2 of 3: Steaming Clothes
Step 1. Prepare the steamer to be used
Pour cold water into the water tank in the clothes steamer. Make sure all parts of the steamer are securely fastened so that water does not leak and wet the entire device.
- Connect the power cord of the steamer to the power socket. Steamers usually heat up quickly (about 2-3 minutes). Let the steamer heat up until steam starts to appear. Make sure the steamer is fully hot for best results.
- Make sure the steam is well formed before using the steamer. You can check the steam level by pulling the trigger on the handle or pressing a button and see how much steam is released. This is the button that is pressed when you are about to steam clothes.
Step 2. Hang clothes that are cool to evaporate
Evaporation is easiest to do on hanging clothes. Stand-up steamers usually have a hanger connection. If you are using a hand steamer, hang your clothes on a hanger and place them on a shower rail, chair back, doorknob, or other object with a similar function.
Step 3. Steam the garment in an up-and-down motion
You don't need to press hard or push the clothes as the steam will remove the wrinkles on their own. As you move the steamer up and down, press the button to blow the steam out of the fabric.
- You can use a handheld pad as a surface for steaming clothes, even if you don't really need to. The tool helps you to evaporate stubborn and stiff wrinkles. If you are using a handheld pad, tuck the clothes in with one hand, and use the other hand to apply the steamer.
- If the clothes are very wrinkled, it's best to steam from inside or under the clothes. The weight of the fabric will help remove wrinkles quickly.
- When you steam clothes with embellishments, pleats, lace, etc., hold the steamer at a distance of 2.5-5 cm from the clothes. Thus, the shape of the garment can be maintained while removing wrinkles. If the garment is very wrinkled, you can turn the garment over so the steam can remove the wrinkles without damaging the embellishment.
Step 4. Let the clothes dry
Clothes that have just been steamed will feel damp, and may even leave small water spots. However, don't worry because this is normal and the clothes will dry out later. Let the clothes sit for 5-10 minutes after they have evaporated before putting them in or hanging them in the closet. This way, the clothes have enough time to dry.
Part 3 of 3: Choosing a Steamer
Step 1. Determine the main function of the steamer
Will the steamer be used more in the laundry room, or will it be carried around? Some steamers are easier to carry, and some are so big that they take up a lot of space. There are steamers that are held, and there are those that stand upright.
Step 2. Use an upright steamer
Stand-up steamers are also known as floor steamers because their base stands on the floor. This steamer is usually a water tank holder, a hose attached to the nozzle, and a pole with a clothes hanger at the top. Steamers are usually equipped with wheels so they are easy to move.
- If you plan to store your steamer in one location, we recommend choosing an upright steamer. This steamer is much larger, but easy to use because it has a lot of features (clothes hanger, nozzles, and so on). In addition, this steamer can actually be moved if you are able to lift a rather large device.
- This steamer is ideal if you are steaming several pieces of clothing. The water tank of this steamer is quite large and does not need to be refilled.
- Most stand-up steamers come with a variety of attachments, such as different types of brushes for different types of clothing.
- Upright steamers are usually the most expensive with prices ranging from IDR 700,000 to IDR 2,800,000.
Step 3. Use a hand steamer if the device will be carried around a lot
This steamer is smaller than a stand-up steamer, and it can be put in a suitcase or luggage easily. If you travel a lot, a hand steamer is ideal.
- The hand steamer combines the water tank and nozzle into one device. This steamer weighs only a few grams.
- Some hand steamers come with additional tools, such as various types of nozzles and lint rollers.
- Some steamers feature small square pads with small straps that slip through your hands (similar to oven mitts). These pads prevent burning hands when steaming clothes.
- The price of a hand steamer usually ranges from IDR 400,000-2,000,000
