Iron vs Steamer

Updated on September 26, 2010
J.R. asks from La Porte, TX
32 answers

I AM SICK OF IRONING!!!!!!

I hate getting the ironing board out and standing there for what seems like hours.

Has anyone ever used a steamer? I'm just wondering if they are worth the money and how well they work? Also which ones are better?

Any suggestions would be great!

HAPPY EASTER:)

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Featured Answers

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E.B.

answers from El Paso on

The steamer has been one of the biggest blessings in my life!!! They are worth every penny and much more! The time and effort you will save is incredible. I highly, very highly recommend for you to invest in one. (Word of caution: do not use tap water-- my first one quit working because of the ROCKS that formed in it. I now use only filtered water and it works wonders).

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S.T.

answers from San Antonio on

I am lazy. Unless it is really bad, I will throw the the garment into the dryer with a wet wash cloth. It works.

I also try to hang "ironing clothes" up right away to avoid the pain.

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A.G.

answers from Spartanburg on

I only buy knits for myself. if it needs ironing, i don't buy it.

Men's wearhouse sells a no-iron shirt. if my husband wants something ironed, he has to do it.

hang things up when they come out of the dryer, no ironing needed.

haven't used my iron in 3 years.

More Answers

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D.H.

answers from Houston on

Downy wrinkle release is a wonderful product. I use it all the time since my ironing board was turned into a printer and alarm clock holder. It does not do starch crisp but it does work. especially great for t-shirts. also you can do it with slighly damp clothes and just let them hang dry.

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M.W.

answers from Houston on

I hate ironing too. If the clothing is really really wrinkled, then I would suggest an iron. I have owned a steamer for years and I love it! I think I have a CON AIR, but I am told that most any steamer will do the job. It takes no time to make an item of clothing look like you did not sleep in it! I would go to a site like Amazon.com and do a search of steamers and see what the reviews are from users.

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D.M.

answers from Houston on

girl i hear that. i used to stand over that iron for hours at a time because i wanted all of us to look nice and fresh. i have never used a steamer, but i have started taking our clothes to the cleaners. it really is not that expensive (actually pretty cheap). when i have my husbands shirts done they are 99 cents a peice. i wouldn't iron someone elses clothes or my husbands for 99cents. lol. it really is worth the money for me to save that time and aggrivation.

have a blessed day and wonderful Easter:)

D. Mattern-Muck
The MOM Team
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time!
www.formyrugrats.com

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K.H.

answers from Houston on

You know I have gotten into using wrinkle spray and that solves both issues. YOu spray the item pull and tug a little, hang it up and let it dry. Works great!!

K. Haynes
The MOM Team
Moms Helping Others Work From Home
www.mykidsaremyeverything.com

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D.S.

answers from Houston on

Take them to the cleaners and let them do all your hard work for you. It is worth paying little to save lots of time.

Same thing for yard work. I pay little to save my husband 3-4 hours of hard work in the yard.

This will give you more family time.

Deborah

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R.C.

answers from San Antonio on

I hate ironing too!!! One thing that I do when my husband or myself is ready to wear something that is in need of ironing is I use a spray bottle of water to dampen the piece of clothing. Then I put it back in the dryer by itself for about ten minutes. That usually works like a charm on just about everything (as long as it is not a dry clean only item). You have to make sure that you get it out of the dryer as soon as the dryer stops and put it on a hanger until you are ready to wear it. In essence, I am using my dryer as a steamer, and I don't have to stand there and steam the item. I can be doing something else while the dryer does all the work. Hope this helps.

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A.C.

answers from Houston on

I have a SteamFast steam press SP660. My in-laws gave me/us one (a Singer brand, I think) for Christmas one year and I just loved it. It finally just stopped working one day, and my husband bought me another steam press. My iron/ironing board is still in storage, but I much prefer the press. He said he found it on the internet and mail-ordered it. My in-laws are great. They gave us our first microwave oven years ago for Christmas and another year a bread machine. My husband and I have been married 25 years!
Linda C.

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S.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I got myself this
commercial garment steamer as an alternative to an iron, and i know I made the perfect conclusion. It's compact (could fit in a shoebox), easy to control, and really steams! It functions very well to be so small and simply designed. I think for the money, you can not do much better. It would even be great for traveling - It says this inside the product brief description, but I had my issues. It genuinely would not occupy anymore room inside a suitcase when compared to a blow dryer. I'm thrilled with my purchase and i would definitely propose it.

http://www.commercialgarmentsteamertoday.com/

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K.J.

answers from Houston on

Hi J....I do not have time for either or, I don't make time. I'd rather be doing something fun when I do have time. Most of the time I choose to send to the cleaners. I do have a steamer and when I did use it I enjoyed it better than ironing. Ironing last a little longer on the clothes but steaming takes less time. I do not us my steamer anymore. I'm willing to sell it; if you are interested, please call me @ ###-###-####. Happy Easter, Ka`ren J.

A little about me: I'm 43,Loving husband of 6 years, 3 beautiful step-daughters (20, 13 & 13), our son 4 1/2 mo. and a spa business owner.

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J.W.

answers from San Antonio on

I love my steamer and I am pretty sure it is one of the cheaper ones. (it was a gift) My kids clothes get steamed every night and it only takes minutes. We are all better dressed! Also, it is a bit harder to seriously burn yourself.

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S.F.

answers from Austin on

I have a steamer. It is soooo much better than ironing. If you iron a wrinkle in, your stuck with it. Or at least I can't. With a steamer all is possible. I still use an iron if I want a stiff collar or crease. It's so quick and easy and worth the $80+

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T.G.

answers from San Angelo on

For a lot of things we just spray our clothes with water and throw them in the dryer for a few minutes. The light spray acts as a steamer in the dryer. Of course, this doesn't work for 100% cotton. ~ Tess

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K.N.

answers from San Antonio on

While I don't own a steamer, I've used one at my grandmother's house. It was SUPER NICE not to have to iron, I have to say! But, that's just one of those luxuries we don't have anywhere on our priority list right now.

But, have you ever tried Downy Wrinkle Releaser? It's a spray, and it really works! I don't know about office clothes (I'm a stay at home mom, and my husband wears scrubs to work), but you should give it a try! :o)

K.

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O.C.

answers from Houston on

i have only used a steamer while working in retail (palais royal) if you purchased a suit they (me) would steam it for you (i was in college)......I LOVED IT, they are pricy but work well.......and my mom use to be a maid and she would charge EXTRA to iron : ) : ) : )
good luck and God BLess......................................

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P.M.

answers from Austin on

It won't take the place of an iron but is useful for some things-I love it for t shirts that come out of the dryer still slightly wrinkled.

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S.A.

answers from Austin on

J., I bought my first stand up steamer about 6 years ago. It just broke last year and I quickly replaced it. I bought this one at Walmart for about $80. It is sooooo worth it. It takes no time to do and I love using it for the kids stuff, as they never quite fold their things as they should. I have also used mine to steam my face when my head was conjested. You just have to be careful with it.
S. (Dream Dinners)

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H.F.

answers from San Angelo on

I hate ironing too. there is an AWESOME product called DOWNY WRINKLE RELEASE you just spray it on the clothing, hang it up and brush the wrinkles out with your hands. Beats ironing any day!!! Try it, you will be amazed. It works best on cotton fabrics, but works on others too.

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G.C.

answers from Beaumont on

the steamer is great

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J.P.

answers from Houston on

A steamer will steam, but if you're wanting a crease, like in pants or jeans, the steamer won't do that.

In our house, my husband does the ironing for himself. I quit buying things that needed to be ironed! Of course that means I'm usually in a t-shirt and jeans or knit pants. I only iron if I absolutely have to.

I do avoid taking things to the dry cleaner because of the toxic chemicals they use.

Hope this helps.

JoyceP
www.prepareandsucceed.com

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M.V.

answers from Austin on

I LOVE my steamer!I hardly ever have to iron anymore. It's a Conair and I bought it at Walmart and it's well worth the money. M. V.

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M.M.

answers from Houston on

I hate ironing too! The best thing we ever got was a Home Touch Steamer (Home Depot has them). My husband does the steaming now!

Also, there are new driers out there that have steam performance. Check the internet for comments. They are a little pricey, but could be well worth the time. Have a Blessed Easter!

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L.W.

answers from Dallas on

I have never used a steamer. I do not like ironing much either. What I do is every Saturday or Sunday, I get a DVD and iron the weeks of clothes for my husband/myself. Too bad your son is too young to iron. Start making him iron his own clothes when he's around 8-9 years old.

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C.H.

answers from Houston on

I just bought a steamer about a month ago and I love it. It's by conair, I think it was about $30.00 at wal mart. The next step up one was out, it was a more professional one. I used to work in retail and we had to steam all our clothes as we put them out so I knew I would like it. This one has the hose on it similar to a vacuum, and the only complaint I might have is the hose is a little short. It works better if I sit it on a chair and I have a little more freedom to move with it. I do recommend one, but be careful with your son around it because the steam is very out and will burn you. I don't like ironing either, you take a risk on getting something off your iron onto your clothes, or too delicate and you can burn them. My husband is in a local band and has costume wear that is constantly needing to be steamed, cuts alittle of the smoke out too, another plus.
I have also used starch as quick fix on t-shirts or casual type clothing. I buy the concentrate then mix as directed into a spray bottle and do just as these new wrinkle release products say to do, spray it on lightly smooth out with your hands a bit and viola done. I've been doing it for many years, before the fancy ones came out..

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C.S.

answers from Austin on

Spend the money to get a nice convenient ironing board. The steamer didn't work for me.

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R.B.

answers from Houston on

Do you work outside the house? If so, tell your husband to do the ironing or hire a maid!

My mother taught me not to learn how to iron or your husband will expect you to do it, so when I saw the maid teaching my daughter how to iron one day, I asked her if she wanted to ruina family tradition because my grandmother didn't know how to iron, my mother never learned how to iron, and I didn't either! I told her to get an educationa nd set high ideals and be able earn her own money so she could pay a maid to do it like we did.

Kindest Rgards and independent as all heck at 55 - Barbara D mother of one daughter who is 24 and doesn't know how to iron although my 31 year old son does!

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J.L.

answers from Houston on

J.:
I agree - I hate ironing - the whole routine of taking the iron out, plugging it, waiting for heat up, taking out the ironing board - uggh - NIGHTMARE. So, I took the plunge and got a steamer at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It is the most expensive one ($199), but after the 20% coupon it was worth the money. The steamer heats up in 30 seconds - it is self standing so I leave it in my laundry room, plugged in; so all I have to do when I am ready is hit the start button. Yes, it does work as good but it doesn't give you that flat crease like an iron would.
A little about me: I am married with 3 girls ages 6 years, 2 years, and 6 months.
Good luck,
J. Lira

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L.R.

answers from Portland on

With all these people saying "I hate ironing", I just had to say that I don't hate it at all. I only iron what absolutely needs it (which is my husband's work shirts and the occasional baby dress or one of my church dresses), but I have found that by working quickly, I can iron one of my husband's work shirts in 4-5 minutes. I would LOVE to have a steamer, but since I sew, I know an iron is indispensable. Sorry I can't be more helpful. Hope you get a steamer you like.

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A.V.

answers from Austin on

My sister loves hers. I just got one through Avon.. haven't tried it yet... but will next week.

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M.S.

answers from Austin on

I hate ironing too. If I had a room that was set up w/the ironing board always in it it wouldn't be so bad. But b/c I have to set everything up ever time, I hate it. Instead my husband and I use a travel steamer. It is smaller than an iron and cheaper. It is not one of those tall ones that are taller than you. It plugs into the wall and it was like 30 dollars. I LOVE it. It does not make sharp creases but it takes all the wrinkles out of clothing. My husband and I use it whenever we have wrinkly clothes. We still iron but only on special occasions, like weddings.

M.

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