Did anyone have an ironing-obsessed parent growing up? Insert hand-raised emoji here. I can’t even count the number of back-and-forths I had with my mom over what I considered passably wrinkled clothing. My aversion to ironing ran deep into my 20s until a friend of mine steamed a button-down shirt for me, and I have never turned back. The ease of a clothes steamer is like no other, and it’s no wonder stylists, editors, content creators, creative directors, and retail associates can’t live without them.
With that in mind, I set out to find the highest-rated clothes steamers online in a variety of options such as handheld, standing, travel-ready, and, yes, some that even come with ironing capabilities. I also reached out to some of my favorite fashion creatives including stylists Dione Davis, Allison Bornstein, Bryant Christopher Simmons, and Erin Noël, as well as creative directors Angela Fink and Hillary Comstock, to get their top picks. Would you believe almost all of them raved about the exact same clothes steamer brand?
Scroll on to shop the best clothes steamers of the moment plus fashion creatives’ picks. They are guaranteed to change your look and your life.
NYC-based associate editor Sierra Mayhew says, “If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, I have to suggest the steamer that I recently ordered on Amazon. It heats up in seconds and has really saved me in a pinch on multiple occasions.”
With over 68,000 reviews, this option has a 4.4 out of 5 stars. One reviewer shared, “It takes no time at all and is super easy to use.”
This clothes steamer got rave reviews from just about every fashion-industry person I reached out to. Content creator and creative director Angela Fink says that this “travel steamer is life-changing!” Stylist Erin Noël also gives this her stamp of approval.
At under $50, this option is slightly more affordable and heats up in less than 30 seconds.
Stylist Allison Bornstein shared this exact pick with me, stating, “I love the Jiffy steamer!! It’s perfection.”
This option is slightly less expensive with a plastic steam head, and it is an Amazon’s Choice pick. L.A.-based creative director Hillary Comstock swears by this steamer brand as well—she shared that “Jiffy is the industry-approved go-to on set. Good for keeping at home, especially if you have a walk-in closet.”
NYC-based stylist Dione Davis recommends this compact pick. “For my everyday life, I don’t need anything else taking up space, so I go for a handheld. I swear they aren’t paying me to say this, but I love the Rowenta Accesssteam Pocket Steamer because it’s so fast, and my clothes are ready at a moment’s notice.”
Senior editor Allyson Payer raves about the Chi steamer, saying, “I’ve tried so many steamers, but none even comes close to this one. It never spits water or leaks, and it’s so sleek and packable. (I never travel without a steamer.) It’s pricier than the super-cheap steamers but 100% worth it.”
This handheld pick is super sleek-looking. One reviewer boasted, “It works wonderfully, it’s easy to use and it helps a lot and fast with wrinkles! My wife says it’s the best we have ever had.”
Stylist Dione Davis says that when it comes to steamers, she will “always be 100% for the Rowenta Pro Style.” Davis has been using it since she was an assistant in her 20s. This also comes in a white version.
With over 4600 ratings, this is one of the most popular on Amazon. One boutique owner left a stellar review, sharing that this steamer helps “to steam out the wrinkles in over 100 garments per shipment.”
Bryant Christopher Simmons is a stylist at the New York boutique Kirna Zabête. He swears by the Nori, which allows you to both iron and steam your garments. His review? The Nori is “sleek and easy to travel—perfect for all fabrics! Just the perfect size for an NYC apartment, especially with our jammed closets.” Who What Wear editors on both coasts agree. “I love the Nori Press, as it’s basically my dream steamer and iron come to life—it’s compact, easy to travel, and it’s essentially like a straightener for your clothes. It gets every wrinkle out with ease. It has ironing and steaming options all packed into one chic device,” says assistant editor Yusra Siddiqui. Editor in Chief Kat Collings adds, “I don’t know how I was getting by with just a steamer before. Nori is that life-changing! There are some wrinkles that are too ingrained for a steamer to get out, but I’m not about to haul out an iron and ironing board. Nori solves all that and will also never spurt out water, which was always a habitual problem with my steamer.”
This chic steamer was one of stylist Erin Noël’s top picks for the “aesthetic and the function.” It’s a handheld and a hybrid between a steamer and an iron thanks to the ironing plate on the end.
This duo allows for steaming clothes upright and provides a board to iron and steam horizontally or at an angle. It also comes in a white version.
