I must confess, I’m not a fan of ironing. It often feels like a futile task when new creases appear on the garment within 10 minutes of wearing it.
I try to keep ironing to a minimum, but there are some clothes that simply demand pressing. That was until now….
When I received a Philips 3000 Series Handheld Steamer for review, I was sceptical about its ability to compete with the precision of an iron. However, not only did it eliminate the creases in my clothes in seconds, but it was also enjoyable to use – although I acknowledge this could be due to the novelty factor.
The Philips 3000 Series Handheld Steamer, currently retailing at £39.99 at John Lewis, pledges to refresh and deodorise, kill bacteria and smooth out wrinkles in clothing in mere seconds. It boasts over a thousand positive reviews on Amazon, where it is priced at £34.99.
My first experience with it was when I was preparing for a dinner outing one evening and noticed several creases in my dress. The device was incredibly easy to operate; after filling the water compartment and plugging it in, it was ready for action, reports the Mirror.
The steamer effortlessly tackled the creases, gliding over the dress and smoothing the fabric. I was taken aback by how the dress didn’t feel damp at all, and it was prepared and ready to wear in less than five minutes – without even having to get the ironing board out.
Obviously, the steam is hot and the steamer head stays cool, so while care is needed, handling it by the handle should pose no issue. However, it’s recommended not to use fragranced water in the steamer, which is suitable for irons, as it might damage the product, although I would love to see that feature in future models.
The only issue noted is that post-switch off, the remaining water cools slowly, causing what has been humorously termed as “burps”.
It proved excellent for preparing my son’s school shirts for the week; they were laid flat and quickly smoothed with the steamer, with creases vanishing in under a minute. This eliminated the hassle of setting up and dismantling an unwieldy ironing board, which traditionally takes up extra time.
It was simply plug in and go, significantly cutting down on the usual chore duration.
Furthermore, it was incredibly useful when my sister-in-law required a steamer for her daughters bridesmaid dress. Tucked into its storage pouch, it slotted neatly into a suitcase and was ideal for the garment’s delicate fabrictask unmanageable with an iron.
The compact and adorable design is perfect for travel, eliminating the need for ironing boards. If you’re after crisp creases in your shirts and trousers, an iron is still essential.
However, for a quick refresh of clothes that have been sitting in the wardrobe or smoothing out tricky-to-iron materials, this steamer is a game-changer.
I’ve discovered it can even steam curtains and bedsheets – so if you need me, I’ll be sprucing up my drapes.
John Lewis stocks the Philips 3000 Series Handheld Steamer for £39.99, but they also offer the Philips 1000 Series steamer for a slightly cheaper £31.99. Alternatively, Argos sells the Russell Hobbs Steam Genie for just £28.