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Raise your hand if you hate wrinkles in your clothes! We do, too. And they pop up all the time—clothes get wrinkled when you travel, when they get squished in a too-small closet, when you forget them in the dryer… there’s no escape!
These are the times when clothes steamers save the day. For the most part, they are small handheld machines that can travel with you or store easily in your already-full linen closet. They are super easy to use and do a great job of de-wrinkling your outfit of the day. There are even ones that can steam for hours if you’ve got a whole closet full of clothes to make picture-ready.
If you’re now convinced that you need a clothes steamer, we don’t blame you. We support that. While you shop, don’t forget to pay attention to all of the features that will affect your steaming endeavours. Things like water capacity, heat-up time, size and weight, and continuous steam time are all important.
This comprehensive guide will investigate the best clothes steamers in Canada in 2024 and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products.
Top Pick: Conair GS38NXC Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer
Upgrade Pick: Anthter 1500W Full Size Garment Steamer
4-in-1 Pick: Homever USAGS001 Handheld Clothes Steamer
Budget Pick: Hilife Handheld Clothes Steamer
Also Great: Rowenta X-Cel Handheld Steamer
The Conair GS38NXC Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer is, simply put, a remarkable machine. The ExtremeSteam technology heats your steam faster and produces more at a time than other steamers, so you can spend as little time as possible managing your clothing. It’s powerful enough to remove wrinkles in no time.
A built-in creaser helps you crisp your edges like a pro, and the five steam settings make sure you always have the right power for your fabric—say goodbye to working on the same wrinkle for 5+ minutes or over-steaming your delicate clothes. Our favourite feature by far is the 3-in-1 attachment. It’s got everything you need for a hassle-free (and even enjoyable!) steaming session.
We really hate this part, but we do have to bring a couple of low points to your attention. Although designed to stand up by itself, it doesn’t have the best understanding of balance—it might tip over on you occasionally. It’s also fairly bulky, so you may need to take breaks to rest your hand if you’re steaming a big pile of clothes all at once. We’ve never known a little awkwardness to be a dealbreaker, though.
Reviewers have nothing but good things to say about the Conair GS38NXC Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer. Aside from its complicated relationship with balance, people love every single feature. The attachments make it easy to get a perfect look from every fabric, and the steam is incredibly effective for removing wrinkles quickly.
Dimensions: 5.75” x 13.75” x 8.8”
Weight: 2.2 lbs
Heat-Up Time: 40 seconds
Capacity: 215 ml
Power (Watts): 1875
Continuous Steam Time: 15 minutes
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Very powerful—quickly removes wrinkles
Has a built-in creaser and five steam settings
Has a 3-in-1 attachment: silicone band pulls fabric tight for better steaming, bristle brush improves steam penetration, and fabric spacer protects delicate fabric
ExtremeSteam technology creates hotter steam, faster, with a larger output
Cons:
Can be awkward to hold for long periods
Falls over fairly easily
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Conair GS38NXC Turbo ExtremeSteam Handheld Fabric Steamer is a one-of-a-kind, best-of-the-best type of steamer. It’s incredibly effective, easy to use, and versatile enough for almost every type of fabric.
In all honesty, we don’t even know where to start with the Anthter 1500W Full Size Garment Steamer. It’s that impressive. A 2.5 litre water tank is large enough to run the steamer for an hour and a half. You can tackle your entire closet just for fun. Also, the electronic pump system prevents those pesky spurts and drips of water that can ruin your clothes.
Since the steam can travel as far as 6.5 feet, you’ll be able to adjust the intensity for different fabrics. Stand far away from delicate fabrics, and stand closer for more difficult items like curtains. With eight steam holes, you’ll be able to get through your items quickly and evenly. If you’re safety-conscious, you’ll love the dual auto shutoff system—whether you’re low on water or the steam gets too hot, the steamer will shut off and reset. You’re safe 100% of the time with this one.
We do need to let you in on the two minor things that might deter you from choosing this steamer. Because of its size, it isn’t very travel-friendly. Something to keep in mind if you travel for work a lot. The only other thing is the price—it’s more expensive than most handheld models, so if you don’t need the massive steaming potential, it may not be worth it.
Reviewers are impressed with the quality of the Anthter 1500W Full Size Garment Steamer. It takes wrinkles out of clothes quickly, and it’s really easy to figure out. Some people would like the power cord to be longer, but this isn’t a common complaint. Most reviewers love it because it’s lightweight, durable, and safe.
Weight: 10.25 lbs
Heat-Up Time: 35 seconds
Capacity: 2.5 L
Power (Watts): 1500
Continuous Steam Time: 90 minutes
Warranty: 3 years
Pros:
Electronic pump system prevents water spurts and drips
Auto shutoff system kicks in when steam gets too hot or water tank gets too low
Eight steam holes for even steaming of all garment types
Steam can travel up to 6.5 feet to adjust for different fabric types
Cons:
Not very travel-friendly
More expensive than handheld steamers
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 4/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall, the Anthter 1500W Full Size Garment Steamer is a nearly flawless option. Of course, it won’t be a good fit if you need a steamer to travel with, but otherwise, it will forever change your idea of what’s possible with a steamer.
We are excited to tell you about the Homever USAGS001 Handheld Clothes Steamer. It’s got a lot going for it, and a lot to offer you. It can be used as a vertical or horizontal steamer, and also as a steam-generating iron or dry iron. No matter how you prefer to improve the look of your clothing, this little thing is up to the task.
With intelligent technology, it’ll never allow you to burn your clothing by accident. If you like to multitask, this feature will end up saving your clothing! Feel free to stay busy and get distracted, because your steamer has you covered. The ceramic soleplate glides smoothly on all fabric types, and you can feel free to steam at any angle without worrying about drips or water spots.
If you’re wondering what the catch is, we’ll tell you. Because of the ironing part of this 4-in-1 tool, you should only be using distilled water with it. Of course, this adds an expense to your steaming adventures. Also, it isn’t able to stand up on its own, so you’ll need to keep the included stand handy to make sure you don’t accidentally iron something that isn’t supposed to be ironed.
Reviewers are really enjoying their Homever USAGS001 Handheld Clothes Steamers. It’s the perfect size for ironing smaller areas on clothes that normal irons can’t usually reach, and it works well as a steamer too. No one has had any issues with leaking, and the tank is large enough to de-wrinkle a few items at a time.
Dimensions: 5” x 6.2” x 2.7”
Weight: 1.9 lbs
Heat-Up Time: 40 seconds
Capacity: 100 ml
Power (Watts): 1300
Continuous Steam Time: 6 minutes
Pros:
Functions as a steamer and iron (dry or steam-generating)
Can be used at any angle
Ceramic soleplate glides smoothly on all fabric types
Intelligent technology prevents burning
Cons:
Should be used with distilled water only
Can only be placed on the included stand when cooling down
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Homever USAGS001 Handheld Clothes Steamer is small but mighty. It’s drip-proof and burn-proof for the safety of you and your clothing (necessary, right?) and it’s more than capable of tackling all of your steaming and ironing projects.
We are big fans of the Hilife Handheld Clothes Steamer. At this price point, you really can’t find a better option. The water tank is large enough to run the steamer for 15 minutes straight—if you need more steam than that, you might want to consider a professional full-size unit instead. That’s a lot of steaming! This option only needs 30 seconds to heat up, too, which is great for its size.
Our favourite thing about it is the power cord. It’s over nine feet long! You won’t need to set it down and risk a spill every time you need to switch items. The handle on this one is pretty comfortable too, which we love. Since it’s compatible with most fabric types (and effective, which is more important), you can use it for most of your steaming projects without worry.
Like every budget-friendly product, the lower quality of this steamer shows up in a couple of ways. The water tank is not removable, so unless you have a high pain tolerance, you’ll need to wear oven mitts while you refill the tank during a steaming session. Also, you MUST keep this steamer vertical at all times—if you tilt it more than 45 degrees, you’ll end up with boiling water all over the place.
Reviewers are pleased with the Hilife Handheld Clothes Steamer. The long power cord helps them move around and swap out garments without putting the steamer down, and the tank is a perfect size for steaming a few days of clothes at a time. It heats up pretty quickly, and there haven’t been any complaints about the steam output.
Dimensions: 6.8” x 7” x 5.5”
Weight: 1.7 lbs
Heat-Up Time: 30 seconds
Capacity: 240 ml
Power (Watts): 700
Continuous Steam Time: 15 minutes
Pros:
9.2 foot power cord makes it easy to work in any environment
Safe for most fabric types
Very effective
Handle is comfortable
Cons:
Cannot be tilted more than 45 degrees
Water tank is not removable
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4.5/5
Overall, the Hilife Handheld Clothes Steamer is one of our top recommendations in the clothes steamer world. You’ve got to be very careful about its position at all times, but it’s super easy to use and does a great job of making your clothes look as good as (or better than) new.
The Rowenta X-Cel Handheld Steamer is a very solid choice for everyday steaming tasks. Whether you want to touch up your work clothes before a meeting, straighten out your curtains, disinfect kids' toys, or anything else, this steamer will have your back. It’s the best choice for busy bees—it heats up in only 15 seconds and cools down mighty fast so you can put it away as soon as you’re done steaming.
This cute handheld steamer can be used vertically (for clothes) or horizontally (for furniture and toys). It’s safe on all fabric types (yay!) and comes with a removable water tank for hassle-free refills. Our favourite thing? You’ll also get a fabric brush to help make those stubborn fabrics cooperate—we’re looking at you, curtains.
There are, unfortunately, a handful of low points to bring up as well. The water capacity is quite small, so you shouldn’t plan on steaming a whole rack of clothes unless you’re prepared to refill the tank a lot. Like many other steamers, this one will drip water from the steam holes a bit, so your clothes may need some extra time to hang and dry. Also, some people find it’s just a tad too big to pack easily in a carry-on.
Reviewers are happy with the Rowenta X-Cel Handheld Steamer. They have found it to be effective on all fabric types, and the fast heat-up time has been really helpful for last-minute touch-ups before meetings and events. Many people have experienced dripping from the steam holes, and they warn others that the tank is quite small.
Dimensions: 7.2” x 4.2” x 11.8”
Weight: 1.8 lbs
Heat-Up Time: 15 seconds
Capacity: 70 ml
Power (Watts): 1150
Warranty: 1 year
Pros:
Can be used horizontally to disinfect household items
Water tank is removable for easy refilling
Comes with a fabric brush for thicker fabrics like curtains
Very maneuverable and easy on the hand
Cons:
Fairly small capacity—better for touch-ups and single items
Drips water from steam holes
A bit too bulky for travel with a carry-on only
Performance: 5/5
Usability: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Quality: 4/5
All in all, we think the Rowenta X-Cel Handheld Steamer is a perfect addition to anyone’s garment care routine. The small water tank does limit its usefulness a bit, but if you aren’t a whole-closet steamer, you likely won’t run into any problems with it at all.
A clothes steamer can range in price anywhere from $40 to over $200. Most handheld units will be under $100, and they are more than capable of managing the needs of the average individual. More expensive steamers generally have a larger capacity and remove wrinkles faster.
The water capacity of a steamer is directly related to how long it can run. They may be as small as 70 ml or larger than 2 L. If you have a lot of clothes to steam regularly, larger is better. If you only need to de-wrinkle a few items or occasional household items like curtains, a capacity of 200-300 ml should be plenty.
Many people choose to bring clothes steamers with them on their vacations or work trips, and portability is an important thing to consider if that is your intention. Most portable steamers will fit in a carry-on bag and will have a water tank of around 100 ml in size.
Heat-up times typically fall between 15 and 40 seconds. Waiting less than a minute for a steamer to warm up is a great deal all around, but if you’ve got a busy lifestyle or you’re prone to running behind, a shorter heat-up time can save you precious seconds.
The continuous steam time is the amount of time a steamer can produce steam before it runs out of water. A longer steam time will let you steam more items before needing to refill the tank. Most people will get away with a steam time of 15 minutes or less, but if you’re in a more demanding setting, you’ll want to look for a steamer with 30+ minutes of continuous runtime.
The power of a steamer, measured in watts, will affect how quickly it can remove wrinkles from different fabric types. Generally, more power is better, but if you are working with delicate fabrics or don’t want to spend a ton of money, a lower-power model will be just fine. You should look for at least 700 watts, though.
Disclaimer: The prices displayed are accurate at the time of publication. We’ll do our best to keep them as up-to-date as possible, but you may see slight changes. The products in this list are ranked by independent third parties. Rankings are based on both reviews and independent testing.