Comparing Garment Steamers to Irons

While some prefer to let their dryers take care of the wrinkles in their clothes, others prefer a more hands-on approach. Here at Stitch It, we like to make our customers aware of the many ways available to keep their wardrobe and laundry looking its best, including comparing garment steamers to irons. Learn the difference between the two to determine which is best for you and your preferences.

The Iron

By pressing a heated surface against an ironing board, irons emit steam that works with the hot surface to press out wrinkles and creases. If you’ve spent a lot of time ironing, then you already know irons can be a bit frustrating to use on sleeves, even counterproductive sometimes. Dress shirts and slacks look great when pressed with an iron, and the same is true of heavier materials such as twill and Pima cotton.  Besides a quality iron, you also need a good ironing board to make the most of ironing.

When ironing an article of clothing for the first time, you’ll want to start off at the lowest heat setting possible so you don’t accidentally damage the garment. Besides checking the care tag on your clothes, you’ll also want to double check the iron to ensure you have it on the right temperature setting. To keep from having lime build up on your iron and accidentally damaging your clothes, only fill your iron with distilled water. Finally, all delicate materials should be protected with an iron guard before you iron them.

As for the downsides of ironing, you have to be careful that you don’t accidentally harm your clothes with the combination of heat and pressure. Materials can start to wear away after several ironing jobs, thinning them out and making them feel loose to the touch.

The Garment Steamer

When using a garment steamer, you don’t have to press the appliance to your clothes to get rid of wrinkles and creases. You keep your clothes on a hanger and release a jet of steam to smooth out the fabric. Materials like polyester, silk and satin often don’t do well with irons, making them better suited for steamers since there’s less chance of you accidentally burning your clothes. You might also prefer to use a steamer on t-shirts with graphics or lettering on them. Another reason you might be better suited for a garment steamer instead of an iron is that you don’t have the space required for an iron and ironing board.

Know that you can use steamers on more than just your favorite shirt. For instance, you can renew the look of your curtains, refresh your couch cushions and even disinfect some surfaces without the use of questionable cleaning solutions that may or may not be safe to use.

One glaring problem with steamers is that they can’t give your slacks or dress shirt the sharp crease you might desire to look and feel your best. You also have to make sure you don’t apply too much steam to items like jackets, mainly because you can accidentally ruin the seams.

Not quite sure if you’re better off using an iron or steamer? Visit us in store to make an informed decision