I don’t think I’ll ever reach for my iron again.
I would rather wear something wrinkled than haul my iron and ironing board out of my closet. That’s how much I hate ironing. The tedious and sometimes dangerous process just isn’t my favourite chore, so given the option between a steamer and an iron, I’m going with the steamer 100% of the time. The only problem is that some steamers take up just as much room as an iron, and you can’t really bring them with you if you’re travelling.
Last month, I was a bridesmaid in a wedding a few hours away from home, and I knew I wanted to bring a steamer with me to get rid of wrinkles and creases in my dress. My old portable steamer had gone missing, so a few days before we had to leave for the wedding, I added the Conair ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer to my Amazon Canada cart in hopes it would be powerful enough to make my outfit wedding-ready, and I was surprised at the results.
Spoiler alert: it’s great.
My experience using the Conair ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer
When I arrived at my destination, my dress for the rehearsal had gotten a little creased in my luggage, so I excitedly took out my new steamer, filled the water tank (which took seconds), plugged it in, and let it rest on its built-in stand while it heated up. Within a minute, there was steam coming from the top, and I knew it was time to get started.
I was impressed that I could adjust the level of steam, and that there was even a button for a boost of steam for those creases that are a little harder to get out. It was comfortable to hold (albeit a bit on the heavier side), but I didn’t burn myself, and the cord never made me feel like I couldn’t move and twist the steamer how I wanted to. I found that the slotted ceramic plate at the top assisted in removing wrinkles and creases, making it look smooth after the first pass.
On the morning of the wedding, I also steamed (and pressed a seam) in a pair of pants for one of the groomsmen, and got rid of some wrinkles on my dress that had formed during the trip. It was so fast and easy to use, it barely took any time out of my morning. As an experiment, I let it go to see how long the steam would last. The steam output was consistently strong until the tank was empty and lasted me about 15 minutes. Since then, I’ve used it on a few dresses, a pair of curtains, and even my duvet cover after a wash at home.
The one downside is the size. The Conair steamer is larger and heavier than my original steamer. I think it would be difficult to pack luggage for a flight, especially if you only travel with a carry-on, but it worked fine for me on a road trip.
Compared to my older model and others I have tried in the past, it’s a major upgrade. My first steamer took a while to heat up, and when it was finally ready to use, the steam wasn’t very strong, so I had to go over the same spots multiple times. I also found it dribbled water on my clothes, not ideal when you’re working with delicate fabrics like satins and chiffons. I didn’t experience any of these problems with the Conair ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer.
What other reviewers are saying about the Conair ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer
With an average rating of 4.2 stars, reviewers are just as impressed with the Conair ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer as I am. They prefer to use it over their irons, praise the 3-in-1 attachment for its versatile use, and say the steam performance is consistent from beginning to end.
Like me, some reviewers would prefer it to be smaller and more lightweight. They say their arms start to feel tired after a few minutes of use, but that the results and speed make up for the extra bulk.
