Vertical steamers in daily clothing care: can they retire traditional irons?

Vertical steamers are becoming a familiar sight in everyday clothing care. They are light, fast to use, convenient and work well across a range of fabrics. The question is whether they are set to push traditional irons into retirement.

Vertical steamers in everyday clothing care

No ironing board, no elaborate set-up and almost no waiting around. Vertical steamers have become a handy way to smooth garments while they are still on hangers, especially when you need to leave the house quickly and want to restore a piece to a presentable look.

According to Beatriz Perez Martín-Peñasco, senior customer marketing manager at Philips Domestic Appliances for Spain and Portugal, they are "extremely effective across a wide variety of everyday fabrics", from more delicate options such as silk and synthetics to tougher materials such as cotton or denim.

Vertical steamers versus traditional irons

That promise needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. A vertical steamer can lift creases, freshen clothes and make day-to-day upkeep easier, but it "does not necessarily fully replace the traditional iron". When you are dealing with very crisp shirts, deep-set creases or a more structured finish, a conventional iron still has the edge.

Choosing and maintaining a vertical steamer

When buying one of these devices, the main things to weigh up are power, steam output, heat-up time and how long it can run. Beatriz stresses that "power and steam output are decisive for effectiveness", while rapid heating makes the appliance more useful in a busy routine. For frequent home use, it is worth prioritising larger water tanks, steady steam and multiple settings. For travel or occasional use, lightness, a compact shape and speed matter more.

Maintenance also affects how long the steamer lasts. Because "mineral build-up can affect steam output and efficiency", it is sensible to empty the tank after each use, avoid leaving water sitting in it and, whenever possible, use water with a low limescale content.

Quick, handy and straightforward to operate, a vertical steamer may not remove every single crease. Even so, it makes everyday garment care much easier.