Clothes steamer vs iron: which is best for clothes?

There’s nothing quite like a crisp, crinkle-free outfit, still warm from your best steam iron skills. But with today's busy lives, many parents are all but ditching the job altogether. While it’s true that hanging your laundry up straight from the washing machine or tumble dryer usually leaves it looking presentable enough, there are certain fabrics - not to mention certain occasions - that require more serious decrumpling. 

If you’re wondering which is best, a clothes steamer or an iron, it’s probably because you’re looking to cut down on the time and energy you spend at your ironing board. You’re certainly not alone - it’s a dilemma many Mumsnet users find themselves in, wondering if working your way through that ironing pile every week is really worth it. 

In this article we’ll help you work out whether a garment steamer or a steam iron is best for you, based on what you’ll be ironing and how often.

Contenders, ready: clothes steamer vs. iron, let’s get into it.

When is a clothes steamer better?

If you're itching to get rid of your iron and ironing board altogether, you'll be heartened to hear that plenty of Mumsnet users get by with just a clothes steamer for emergencies and special occasions.

They're light, compact and great for travel, with water tanks big enough to steam a few items of clothing at a time. What's more, they work brilliantly on more delicate fabrics that you might worry about with an iron, including sequinned and embellished clothing, silk and manmade fabrics.

However, while clothes steamers are excellent for occasional use, if you're still going to be faced with an ironing pile each week they might not be the best option. They don't take up as much space as an ironing board, but you do need to hang your clothing on a coat hanger in order to use the steamer, as they work best vertically. Likewise, if you're tackling pleats, trouser creases or large items like bedding, a clothes steamer isn't going to be as much help as an iron.

Related: The best dehumidifiers for drying clothes

What Mumsnet users say

"I have a travel steamer which I take on holiday. I love it. You just hang the shirt, steam gently over it and the creases fall out. Great for delicate fabric dresses etc too. I never ever iron clothes but steam fairly regularly." CarryOnNurse20

"Normally no ironing needed at all, but I bought a Tefal Pop travel steamer this year as I fell in love with a linen dress which I would not normally consider for work and that is amazing. The creases just drop out, and can be used on delicates." CMOTDibbler on the Tefal Pure Pop Handheld Clothes Steamer

When is an iron better?

If you have high standards when it comes to your clothing, an iron is definitely superior to a clothes steamer in terms of results. It's also probably worth the space a steam iron and ironing board take up if you can't really get away with, or don't want to, iron fewer items of clothing on a regular basis.

Irons can be heavy, leaky, and ironing boards take up a lot of room. It's a much-despised chore and with advances in the appliances we use and the fabrics we wear, it seems to be becoming less and less necessary. Many of the best washer dryers, washing machines and tumble dryers even have easy-iron functions to tackle creases before their cycle is even finished.

While lots of Mumsnetters say they've binned their irons and will never look back, the move from an iron to a clothes steamer does involve a serious think about how much time and energy you want to, or need to, invest in ironing clothing.

You might find you don't actually care about less-than-sharp pleats or slightly rumpled bedding. But if freshly pressed fabric brings you joy, makes you feel more confident or you genuinely enjoy the process of ironing, then it's probably worth keeping your steam iron.

If you're sticking with an iron but still want to spend less time and energy on the chore, Mumsnet users recommend steam generator irons very, very highly. They're a bit like the turbo-powered love child of a clothes steamer and an iron, in that they're as gentle on fabrics and fast as a garment steamer, but effective on larger items and precision manoeuvring like a steam iron.

Related: The best travel irons to pop in your suitcase

What Mumsnet users say

"I iron... but it hardly takes much time, I don't get the hate for ironing that most Mumsnetters seem to have... chores like cooking from scratch and vacuuming are much more tedious IMO... and I would never, ever garden or mow a lawn, or have a pet. All of which must be so much more time consuming than a few minutes ironing (& I don't iron for anyone else)." Ragwort

"I iron everything including socks and knickers." Fandabedodgy

"2 hours ago, AO delivered me a brand new steam generator iron. I decided to try it out on my lunch break and ended up finishing the entire load in less than 30 minutes! I am finally happy. Thanks Mumsnet!! I didn’t even have to turn anything over. It was a miracle. I can’t stop thinking about it." PeeAche

Clothes steamer vs iron: our verdict

As you can see, when it comes to clothes steamers and irons, there's no clear winner and it all comes down to personal preference and circumstances. The consensus on the Mumsnet Talk forums can be summed up thusly: if you're OK with lowering your standards, ditch the iron and get a clothes steamer; if you're not, try a steam generator iron and you'll never go back.

To help you pick the perfect crinkle-busting device for you, check out our guides to the best steam irons, the best clothes steamers and the best steam generator irons - based on authentic recommendations from the Mumsnet forums then tried and tested by our team of editors.

Read next: The best budget washing machines under £500

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing the products Mumsnetters swear by for 3 years, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.