With sales of handheld steamers booming, HANNAH BETTS asks... Is this the gadget that means you'll never need to iron again?

  • Last year, Steamery Stockholm impressively sold more than 120,000 appliances
  • The steamers are fast, eco friendly, and more fun than being chained to the iron
  • Now, Hannah Betts has revealed which handheld steamers are worth buying
  • She tested products from brands including Fridja, Currys, Steamery and Philips 

The last time I ironed, I was 18 and freshly arrived at university. 

'How hard can this be?' I thought, brandishing said implement with a sweeping gesture that began on a blouse and proceeded straight up the tender skin inside my left arm.

Horrified by my wounds, the boy downstairs offered to press things for me. And so began my Oxford romance, as my affair with the ironing board ended.

Since then, I have either ignored ironing (in my 20s) or paid someone to do it (after the age of 35, when one can't get away with bedraggled insouciance).

Then came the pandemic, and I could not have my cleaner come in to iron.

Hannah Betts (pictured armed with the Fridja f10) reveals which handheld steamers are worth buying and which are simply full of hot air

Hannah Betts (pictured armed with the Fridja f10) reveals which handheld steamers are worth buying and which are simply full of hot air

Fed up with looking like a bag lady, but determined not to engage in any domestic drudgery, I decided to invest in a natty, handheld steamer. 

And it turns out I'm not the only one to ditch the iron in favour of waving the creases out of my clothes.

Last year, Steamery Stockholm sold more than 120,000 appliances, an increase of 600 per cent since 2017.

My fashion editor friend Cleo raves about them: 'Steaming is effortless and not only wipes out wrinkles, but also kills bacteria, keeping clothes fresh — perfect for anything that's dry-clean only. They're also brilliant at preventing moths.'

Gun-like in design, these steamers are fast, ecologically friendly, and far more fun than being chained to the iron. Simply fill the water cartridge of the steamer, plug it in, then wait a few seconds for it to heat up, at which point a light tells you that you are good to go.

Most people steam clothes from the outside, but you can also steam inside like a pro — wear a protection glove for extra leverage — or use against an ironing board for a super-pressed look.

With the best devices, though, simply dangling the garment in mid-air and waving the steamer in its direction should work.

So, which are worth buying and which are full of hot air? Read on to find out.

Fridja f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer, now £59.99, fridja.com

Fridja f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer, now £59.99, fridja.com

POWERFULLY EFFICIENT

Fridja f10 Handheld Clothes Steamer, now £59.99, fridja.com

WHAT IS IT? The Fridja f10 is a well-thought-out piece of kit.

Freestanding, it can be locked into constant use and comes with a water-bottle adaptor (for lightness of travel), collar press, portable hanger and fabric guard.

For safety, it will cut out after eight minutes' continuous use so it doesn't become too hot, requiring 15 seconds before it can be re-started.

THE VERDICT: The Fridja f10 benefits from a big, easy-to-fill tank, and feels as if it will carry on working for ever.

Its fierceness can feel slightly scary, but it makes short work of my partner's shirt, even with my random technique. Sweep it in the vicinity of something and that thing loses its creases — even a battered trench coat. Plus it really feels as if it's steam-cleaning.

I seem to have dissolved part of the fabric guard (a mesh shield over the steamer to protect delicates) in a single use, but otherwise this is a cracker. 4/5

Logik Handheld Garment Steamer LGSB20, now £14.99, currys.co.uk

Logik Handheld Garment Steamer LGSB20, now £14.99, currys.co.uk

CHEAP AND CHEERFUL

Logik Handheld Garment Steamer LGSB20, now £14.99, currys.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? Its blue- and-white design makes it look a bit like something from the 1980s, but this Logik steamer is cheap as chips, conveniently freestanding, can be locked into on-mode and boasts a long-lasting water trough that is good for around eight items.

I'd still want to use it on an ironing board — defeating some of the ease — but it is powerful and consistent.

THE VERDICT: Switch on the Logik steamer, and one feels in safe hands.

Think: broad-brush successful rather than suitable for the absolute perfectionist.

It is pretty good with cotton shirts, provided you brush up against them with its bristle attachment, and even better against lighter fabrics such as silks — not least those that come out of the wardrobe crumpled.

Don't look now, but I'm almost enjoying myself. 3/5

Philips Steam&Go Plus, £65, philips.co.uk

Philips Steam&Go Plus, £65, philips.co.uk

PRETTY INEFFECTIVE

Philips Steam&Go Plus, £65, philips.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? While the black and rose gold Steam&Go looks good, the device manages to be both heavy and unwieldy, with a ridiculously tiny water capacity.

The water cartridge slots into place, then slots straight out of it during use, in a way that makes the implement feel cheap.

Even when it is working, it emits an ominous growl and harsh blasts of steam.

THE VERDICT: The miniscule water tank means the tool runs out of steam before completing one item.

To work best, it still requires an ironing board to operate against, which seems a bit of a shame.

Even after a time-consuming refill, it renders my partner's shirt Zoom-passable rather than office-ready.

For something that spits boiling water everywhere, the Steam&Go Plus is curiously ineffective. 

All in all, this gives steamers a bad name. 1/5

SteamOne EUDTC120B, £50, steam-one.com

SteamOne EUDTC120B, £50, steam-one.com

CREASE BUSTER

SteamOne EUDTC120B, £50, steam-one.com

WHAT IS IT? SteamOne creates steamers for professionals, for amateurs who imagine themselves professionals, and 'for anyone for whom ironing is an unbearable chore', which is surely all of us?

It is French-made, so using it requires hunting out a continental plug adapter.

However, I manage to save some time elsewhere because of its simple instructions and practical rubber suction hook for hanging garments.

THE VERDICT: Being French, it becomes hot at the touch of a button, is aggressive and is prone to spitting.

It's also fairly weighty, lacks a lock-on button and stays hot for quite a while.

Given that it can't stand safely upright, I ended up laying it on the wooden floor while anxiously waiting for it to cool.

It's undoubtedly impressive — no ironing board required, merely a wave of the gun — but I wonder whether the spitting would cause white flecks to appear on my outfits over time? 3.5/5

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus No 2, £110, steamery.co.uk

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus No 2, £110, steamery.co.uk

FASHIONISTA FAVOURITE

Steamery Stockholm Cirrus No 2, £110, steamery.co.uk

WHAT IS IT? The ultra-cool, ultra-coveted fashion favourite is brilliant: the iPhone of steamers. You can't lock it 'on' or stand it safely upright between steams like some of its rivals, but it is so light and easy to use that one doesn't miss these features.

Despite a small-seeming water tank, it easily supplies ten minutes' use. Within two seconds, I am in love, not least when it magically erases otherwise indelible bright blue ink stains from two new, white blouses.

THE VERDICT: This emits a reassuring hum and Nordic mist, while feeling so safe that I even waft it at the top I am wearing (not recommended) with no burns ensuing.

Yet there is nothing it cannot take in its stride, even my beloved's sturdy outdoor trousers. I'm having so much fun, I have to remind myself that it is a sunny bank holiday and I am indoors ironing.

Only, I'm not ironing, I'm Stockholm steaming and loving every minute of it — finally feeling like a fabulous fashionista. For once, one should believe the hype. 5/5