Best Clothes Steamers in Canada

Shopping for home items, like clothes steamers, can be daunting. With hundreds of options to choose from, each with different features, prices, and brands, you might feel overwhelmed before you even start looking.

So, how should you choose the best steamer in Canada? Cue the dramatic entry. Enter us. We’re devoted to helping consumers like you find the best home products to ensure you don’t have to spend countless hours researching dozens of products to find the right one for your home.

To supply you with the best products in Canada, we kick off the initial search with a roundup that gathers information about the best, most highly-rated models in a particular category. Once we collect a group of products, we start weeding out the sub-par options through extensive research and careful deliberation.

Lastly, we compile a helpful list to review our top picks, why we chose them, and handy tips to help you select the best fit for your home. As we delve into the research for each product, we start with a few key factors in mind. For this comprehensive clothes steamers guide, we looked for the following factors:

• Settings: The best clothes steamers have a couple of settings to accommodate various fabric types or can accommodate those materials with a single setting. We looked for models that accommodate numerous fabrics, from delicate to stiff materials.
• Heat time: Wasting minutes waiting for a steamer to heat can be the difference between being on time and late, so we looked for a few models with rapid heat-up times to ensure you don’t need to dally waiting for the steamer to heat.
• Portability: Some Canadians are constantly on the go, travelling from place to place for business and pleasure. We tossed in a few highly-rated travel-friendly models to ensure you can take your steamer with you.
• Price: Like many products, steamers are available at various price points. We gathered models that span the price range to ensure there’s something for everyone.

Factors to Consider When Shopping For a Clothes Steamer in Canada

There are a few things you should keep in mind while shopping for a new clothes steamer in Canada. These factors can improve your experience, especially if you are new to clothes steaming. We looked at common factor like setting options, heat time, and reservoir capacity to create our list, but that isn’t all. These factors (and the options we are looking at below) help you select the best clothes steamer in Canada for your needs.

Settings

Like irons, many steamers have multiple settings. Each setting is tailored to different fabrics, ensuring you can safely steam various clothing items in your closet.

Some fabrics demand less amounts of steam and lower heat settings, as too much of either can damage them. On the flip side, other fabrics are tougher and require higher heat settings and more steam to get the job done.

While this might not be important with clothes made of the same fabric, such as cotton or wool, many Canadians have blended closets featuring various materials. So, to ensure you can safely steam every piece of clothing in your closet, look for a steamer with multiple settings.

Alternatively, look for a model designed to handle all sorts of fabrics. Some models are designed with a specific heat setting that can safely steam almost any fabric, so they work for nearly any application. However, we recommend confirming the garments you want to steam can be steamed and the material is compatible with the steamer you want to purchase.

Heating Time

Pay attention to the amount of time each steamer takes to heat. While a few extra minutes to heat won’t make or break you on a non-busy day, they can be the difference between arriving on time and late on chaotic days.

So, consider the time it takes for each steamer to heat. Some steamers take mere seconds to heat up and are ready to go within less than a minute. Others take a couple of minutes to wind up and start producing steam.

If you want something that’ll let you get going faster, consider a portable steamer, as these models tend to have the quickest heating times.

Accessories

Consider the attachments that come with the steamer. Some models have various attachments and accessories designed to complete different tasks, whereas others only have the basics. If you have delicate clothing that requires a gentle approach, ensure the steamer has a setting or attachment to accommodate it.

While you don’t need an excessive collection of steamer attachments and accessories to get the job done, they’re a handy resource when dealing with certain garments and fabrics. 

Keep in mind that larger, more popular brands will have accessories available to purchase separately. To avoid spending too much money on accessories after the fact, you should make sure to evaluate which attachments you’ll use most. Choose a steamer that comes with these attachments out of the box to avoid spending more time and money waiting for additional attachments to arrive.

Capacity

The capacity of your clothes steamer is another essential consideration. Each steamer has a water reservoir to hold water for steam production, and the sizes of these reservoirs vary based on your chosen option.

If you only steam one or two garments every now and again, a steamer with a smaller capacity, like a portable steamer, might be perfectly sufficient for your needs. However, if you frequently steam large numbers of garments, you may want to consider a model with a larger reservoir. This will save you time from not having to constantly refill the reservoir and wait for it to heat up again.

Since heating water from the reservoir may take an extended period of time (depending on how cold it is when you fill the reservoir), it’s less than ideal to purchase a smaller steamer when you need it for larger jobs. Capacity is just one of the factors to consider before buying a clothes steamer, but it can be one of the most important.

Portability 

A portable clothes steamer is an excellent resource if you travel frequently for business. Not all hotels have clothes steamers, and after hours in your luggage, your garments may need a refresh. If you have a portable steamer, you can give them a quick once-over and make them look as good as new.

Portable models are usually smaller than other options, featuring collapsible designs and small water reservoirs to ensure they fit in your luggage. If you want a steamer for on-the-go, consider a portable model. 

Before placing your portable clothes steamer into your luggage, consider the guidelines of the airline where you’ll be traveling. The airline might have rules against appliances like clothes steamers in your luggage. If they are allowed, make sure that you empty the water reservoir beforehand. Allowing a few days for the reservoir to completely dry out can save you a major headache when you open your suitcase up at your hotel.

Budget

Your budget is a pivotal factor when shopping for a steamer. Clothes steamers come at varying price points and can accommodate nearly any budget. However, setting a budget before you start shopping is a good idea.

By outlining the amount you’re willing to spend, you can eliminate options out of your price range and focus on models that match your budget and needs. There are always a few options at every price point that offer condensed or scaled-back features for those who need a more basic option. Consider how you plan on using your clothes steamer before you make a purchase, as it might be worth it to purchase a higher-end model to use more extensively later on.

Additional Features

Not all clothes steamers are created equally. Some of them feature more advanced features that make using them that much easier. For example, some clothes steamers have just a few different options for different common fabric types. To get the most out of your steamer, you should choose an option that has as many heat settings as possible. You may decide to purchase a different fabric later on, and choosing a more restrictive steamer can impact your ability to care for different garments.

Safety and power controls are a huge feature to consider when it comes to a clothes steamer, too. While the most basic and inexpensive models turn on when plugged in and switch off when unplugged, this might not work if you plan on steaming multiple garments or spreading the garments out properly between steaming sessions. If you plan on larger steaming sessions, an on/off button, stability features, and automatic off features are great things to look for. 

How will you store your clothes steamer when you aren’t using it? While it may not seem like the first thing you should think about, storage does impact how well you can use your steamer. For best results, look for options that include heatproof storage bags. If you plan on traveling with a handheld steamer, a travel bag and collapsible handle will make packing so much easier.

This is far from an extensive list of additional features for each type of clothes steamer. Whichever model you choose, make sure to consider how it will be used and how you plan on storing it, transporting it, and how it will work during use. All of these features are extremely important when you are purchasing a clothes steamer.