Home Cleaning Laundry How to Steam Clothes for a Wrinkle-Free Finish Steamers can be a much quicker and more efficient alternative to traditional irons. By Morgan Noll Morgan Noll Morgan Noll is a digital home editor for Real Simple covering home, real estate, and holidays. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on June 28, 2024 In This Article View All In This Article Considerations Before You Get Started How to Steam Clothes Close Photo: Ekaterina Fedulyeva/Getty Images Steam is an incredible thing. It can help open your pores, reduce inflammation, clean your windows, and, one of our favorite uses: de-wrinkle your clothes. Garment steamers release steam that relax the fibers of your clothing and cause creases to fall away like magic. This method can be a much quicker alternative to ironing, since you don't have to work with an ironing board and constantly reposition your clothing. Steamers can also be much more gentle on delicate fabrics (like silk and wool) since they don't use direct heat contact. (The efficiency plus the fabric safety is largely why you'll see so many fashion stylists opt for steamers over irons.) If you're new to steaming your clothes and want to make the switch, good news: It's a super easy skill to pick up. However, there are some tips and tricks you should know. Keep reading to learn how to steam clothes the right way, so that you can streamline your getting ready routine. The Best Clothes Steamers You Can Buy Online Considerations Before You Get Started While there are some benefits to using a steamer over an iron, it's worth nothing that steamers won't always be the right choice for everyone. Since steamers don't use direct contact, they won't be able to provide as sharp or crisp of a finish as irons can. For many people, this won't be a deal breaker. However, if you like to have your dress shirts looking extra crisp, or if you want to reinforce a crease or a pleat, you'll need to use an iron. Steamers can also sometimes have a harder time getting wrinkles out of thicker, heavier fabrics, so irons may sometimes be the better choice then, too. Steamer vs. Iron: Which One Works Best for Wrinkle-Free Clothes? Steamers, however, really excel in their ease of use—and you don't have to worry nearly as much about accidentally burning and ruining your favorite clothes. What You'll Need Materials Garment steamer Clothes hanger Garment rack (optional Instructions How to Steam Clothes Prep the Steamer Whether you have a standing steamer or a handheld version, the first step will typically be to fill the steamer tank with water to the amount indicated on the machine. Then, plug in and turn on the steamer to allow it to heat up. Refer to your specific steamer's guidelines to determine how long to pre-heat your steamer before using it. Hang Your Clothing Put the clothing you want to steam on hangers and hang them in a spot that's convenient for steaming. If you have one, a garment rack can be very useful to hang your clothes for steaming. However, if you don't have a rack, you can try using a laundry drying rack, your shower rod, or a hook on the wall. However you hang your clothing, just be sure it's far enough away from surfaces that could be damaged by an excess of moisture caused by the steam. If needed, you can also hold up your clothing by hand as you steam. Just be careful not to burn your hand from the hot vapor. Steam the Garments Hold onto the bottom of the garment gently to keep the fabric taut. Starting at the bottom of the garment, hover the steamer about 1-2 inches away from the fabric and move it upwards. Go back over areas as needed to release wrinkles. Allow Garment to Dry and Cool Sometimes, after steaming, your garments will be a bit damp and still warm. Be sure to allow the garments to cool and dry completely before wearing them or putting them away.