The Best Clothes Steam Cleaner and 11 Creative Ways To Use It

A compact clothes steam cleaner is handy for removing wrinkles and stale odors from fabric, but is that all? Just another single-purpose tool that sits on a shelf gathering dust? Don’t be so sure! I’ve discovered so many ways to use an ordinary clothes steam cleaner to tidy, sanitize, renew, and freshen things all around the house and garage! And if you’re in the market for a new one, don’t miss our top 3 best clothes steam cleaner recommendations at the end of this post.

The Basics of Steam Cleaning

Before we get started, let’s go over a few steam cleaning basics.

Always use distilled water in a clothes steam cleaner. The minerals in tap water can cause it to clog and leave behind traces of minerals.
Never use steam on silk or other delicate surfaces. Always test first in an inconspicuous place for color bleeding or spotting.
Do not use steam on freshly painted surfaces, vintage surfaces, waxed or polished wood, or musical instruments.*

*You’re laughing! Me, too. Musical instruments?! But seriously, once I discovered all the cool things a steam cleaner could do, I was ready to steam anything that would stand still, including the strings of my 1920 Steinway grand piano. No, I didn’t.

Jump to our top 3 clothes steamers →

With these essential guidelines, let’s explore how a basic clothes steam cleaner can revolutionize your cleaning routine. Get ready to discover how this versatile tool can refresh every corner of your living space, bringing a renewed sense of freshness and vitality.

1. Loosen Carpet Stains

A blast of steam can loosen a tough carpet stain that’s been challenging to remove. Hold the steamer a few inches away from the spot for at least 30 seconds, then blot it with a clean white cloth. Repeat until nothing more is transferred to the cloth. If you still see evidence of the spot, it should respond more effectively to a good stain remover like Spot Shot. Just make sure you follow the instructions on the label, which may require rinsing once the stain is gone.

2. Remove Labels and Stickers

A blast or two from your trusty clothes steamer can soften and melt the adhesive that keeps a stubborn label or sticker stuck so you can easily remove it. Be cautious if you’re dealing with an unpainted surface.

3. Defrost a Freezer

If your freezer does not self-defrost, you need to defrost it manually from time to time (and probably more often than you know, like at least once every three months) to keep it working well. This can be challenging if you have frozen items you’d rather not thaw in the process. Use your clothes steamer to melt the frost and ice quickly.

4. Free-Up Jammed Icemaker

Sometimes, my ice maker gets jammed. A huge ball of melded ice cubes seems hopelessly stuck, but a few blasts of steam get things moving again.

5. Sanitize Solid Surfaces

As long as your steam reaches 212°F, you can use it to sanitize and sterilize surfaces like appliance handles, countertops, sinks, faucets, and toilets. Steam can easily loosen the mineral build-up in cracks and crevices, allowing it to be wiped away without any harsh chemicals.

6. Remove Grease and Baked-On Gunk

Hot steam is an excellent way to break down grease and oil. The high temperature breaks down the grease and makes it easy to wipe away. While steam can make light work of removing grease and baked-on food from a stovetop, ovens, stove exhaust fans, pans, and ovens, it is especially effective on a glass cooktop that could be damaged by harsh scraping or abrasive cleansers. Work in small areas, blasting it first with the steam, then quickly wiping away the residue.

7. Clean a Couch

If your couch doesn’t have removable covers you can throw in the washer, then you may be able to use your steamer to clean it.

First, check your couch’s care tag to make sure that steaming is a suitable cleaning method. Next, test in an inconspicuous place to see how the fabric reacts to steam. Looks good? Begin by vacuuming the couch to remove any loose debris. Next, pre-treat and rinse away any stains. You’re ready to steam the couch by running your garment steamer over it. If a good amount of moisture is accumulated, use a hair dryer to dry it.

8. Clean Grout

Steam blasts away mildew and dirt that can be stubbornly lodged in the grout lines between tiles on floors, tub walls, and shower enclosures. Steam, then wipe. Repeat as necessary, working in small areas.

MORE: Natural Grout Cleaner

9. Clean Glass, Mirrors, Shower Doors

Hit that smudge, streak, or hard water mark with steam, then wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth to avoid making a new streak or leaving behind lint. Steam is so effective on glass that you probably won’t need to use any other products. Moisture, heat, and microfiber are the perfect combination.

MORE: The Magic of Microfiber Cloths Plus How to Use and Care for Them

10. Freshen Up Curtains

Are your curtains looking a little tired? Using your clothes steamer, you can revitalize and remove wrinkles and creases and sanitize curtains at the same time without taking them down. First, check the label. Avoid this method on curtains labeled dry-clean only.

Start by vacuuming or lint-rolling the curtains to remove hair, dust, or dry debris. Then, steam the curtains as you would clothing, repeating the process as necessary. Avoid using this method on curtains labeled as dry-clean only.

11. Detail a Car

Steam is excellent for removing dirt and grime from wheels, trim, cracks, and crevices on the outside of a car. It also works wonders inside the car. Steam clean the seats and floor mats, too. Sticky handles, armrests, and steering wheel? Hit them with steam! While you’re at it, clean the car windows and mirrors, too. (Remember, always test first in an inconspicuous place.)

MORE: How to Detail Car Interior Using These Homemade Cleaners

Our Top 3 Best Clothes Steam Cleaners

Below are EC’s top-rated clothes steamers. Whether you’re seeking portability, affordability, or superior performance, these clothes steam cleaners are sure to meet your needs.

Portable Handheld Garment Steamer
Conair CompleteSteam 1100W Handheld Travel Garment Steamer
Anthter 1500W Standing Garment Steamer

BEST OVERALL

BEST INEXPENSIVE HANDHELD

Conair Complete Steam Hand Held Fabric Steamer, 1100W, White/Blue

BEST FREESTANDING UPGRADE

Anthter Steamer for Clothes, 1500W Powerful Standing Garment Steamer with Roll Wheels, 2.4L Water Tank for 90 Mins Continuous Steaming, 35s Fast Heat-up (Silver)

Conair Complete Steam Hand Held Fabric Steamer, 1100W, White/Blue

Anthter Steamer for Clothes, 1500W Powerful Standing Garment Steamer with Roll Wheels, 2.4L Water Tank for 90 Mins Continuous Steaming, 35s Fast Heat-up (Silver)

Price not available

$26.99

Price not available

Buy on Amazon

BEST OVERALL

Price not available

Buy on Amazon

BEST INEXPENSIVE HANDHELD

Conair Complete Steam Hand Held Fabric Steamer, 1100W, White/Blue

$26.99

Buy on Amazon

BEST FREESTANDING UPGRADE

Anthter Steamer for Clothes, 1500W Powerful Standing Garment Steamer with Roll Wheels, 2.4L Water Tank for 90 Mins Continuous Steaming, 35s Fast Heat-up (Silver)

Price not available

Buy on Amazon

Best Overall

Portable Handheld Garment Steamer

This high-performance handheld clothes steamer weighs less than a pound and gives 8 minutes of continuous steam on a single refill. It is not too big or clumsy; it is easy to use and travels well. Of all the portable clothes steamers I have tested, this is the only one I have used that gives a hefty amount of steam and is also trouble-free.

Portable Handheld Garment Steamer

Best Inexpensive Handheld

Conair CompleteSteam 1100W Handheld Travel Garment Steamer

This compact, budget-friendly handheld steamer is a reasonable runner-up and absolutely acceptable for home usage. I find it too clumsy for travel. And it may leave minor damp spots on fabrics. However, its construction and efficiency easily make up for that.

Conair CompleteSteam 1100W Handheld Travel Garment Steamer

Best Freestanding Upgrade

Anthter 1500W Standing Garment Steamer

As an effortless wrinkle remover, this standing garment steamer is truly a game changer. It is incredibly easy to fill and heats up remarkably fast. The integrated hanger greatly simplifies the process. With its abundant steam output, steaming becomes quick and hassle-free. I highly recommend this steamer to anyone who needs this type of home appliance. Its user-friendly design, lightweight construction, and spacious water tank make it a breeze to use.

Anthter 1500W Standing Garment Steamer

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