Harness the power of steam for a wrinkle-free wardrobe

We love a steam iron for pressing dress shirts and suits, but sometimes it’s just too much work for everyday use. If you want to avoid all the hassle but still want wrinkle-free clothes, turn to a clothes steamer.

Compared to ironing, steaming removes wrinkles with much less effort. A clothes steamer produces hot steam that seeps into fabric to relax it. Steam releases wrinkles by loosening the bonds between the fabric’s long-chain polymer molecules.

If you’re expecting steamed clothes to look as flat and crisp as ironed clothes, you may end up disappointed. Still, not every item of clothing needs to be perfectly smooth. If you're willing to forego that perfect "fresh from the cleaners" look, here's how to steam your clothes.

What you need:

• A garment steamer
• Cold water
• Wrinkled clothes
• Hangers

Time needed: Five minutes for each item of clothing

Difficulty: Easy

We've tested garment steamers and love the PurSteam Standing High-Pressure Garment Steamer because it gets wrinkles out of any fabric and is incredibly easy to operate.

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How to steam your clothes

1. Hang the wrinkly item on a hanger

You don't want to be wearing the clothes you're steaming. Steam is very hot and will burn your skin if you’re not careful. Be safe and always hang your clothes from a hanger before you start steaming.

2. Get the steamer set up

Fill your steamer with cold water and plug it in. Let the device “cook” until it begins to emits steam or signals that it’s ready.

3. Apply steam to clothes

Pull the steamer across the fabric letting the steam hit the fabric. Move across the front and back of the clothing item. If necessary, put the steamer inside the item and steam from the inside out.

4. Let your clothing dry completely before wearing

You'll find your freshly steamed clothing item is a little damp. Let it dry completely to prevent wrinkles from developing—plus no one wants to walk around in wet clothes.