How to Use a Handheld Steamer (Step by Step)

Learning how to use a handheld steamer takes about five minutes: fill it with distilled or filtered water, pick the right setting for your fabric, let it heat up, hang the garment and move the steam slowly down the fabric while you pull it gently taut. That is the whole method. The details below, such as whether the steamer should touch your clothes and how to get a collar properly flat, are what make the difference between "a bit better" and a finish that looks pressed.

What you need before you start

• A handheld steamer with a filled tank.
• Distilled or filtered water. It keeps mineral residue out of the steam and out of the steamer itself.
• A hanger and somewhere to hang it, such as a door frame, a shower rail or a wardrobe door. A sturdy hanger that matches the garment's shoulders helps it hang straight.
• A heat-safe spot to rest the steamer between garments. The SteamerPro comes with a heat-resistant mat for this.
• The care label. It has the final say. If a garment says not to steam or iron, follow it, and if you are unsure about a fabric, test a few seconds of steam on an inside seam first.

How to use a handheld steamer, step by step

1. Fill the tank

Unplug the steamer, open the tank and fill it with distilled or filtered water, without going past the full line. The SteamerPro has an 80 ml tank that gives about 20 minutes of steam per fill and refills in seconds, which is usually enough for several shirts or a couple of dresses in one go.

2. Choose your fabric setting

Plug in and turn the steamer on. On the RosyIron SteamerPro, you press the button to move through the 7 fabric settings, and the LED display shows which one you are on: Silk, Nylon, Chemical fiber, Blend, Cotton, Linen and Dry hot. As a starting point:

• Silk for silk, cashmere and fine knits (the gentlest setting).
• Blend for wool and mixed-fiber pieces.
• Cotton for shirts and tees.
• Linen for linen, denim and heavier fabrics, ideally laid flat.

Not sure what something is made of? If the label says cool iron, choose Silk. Otherwise, Blend is a sensible middle ground.

3. Let it heat up

Give the steamer time to reach temperature before the first pass. The SteamerPro is ready in about 15 seconds. Because its water is heated inside the body before it reaches the vents, the steam comes out fine and dry, which helps avoid drips and water spots. If you have ever had a steamer sputter on your clothes, our guide on why a steamer spits water explains the usual causes.

4. Hang the garment

Put the garment on a hanger and hang it at a comfortable height, with space around it so you can reach the front and back. Do up the top button on shirts so the front hangs straight. Point the steamer away from your face and hands at all times; steam is hot enough to burn.

5. Steam with slow vertical strokes

This is the part that matters most:

• Work from top to bottom in slow, vertical strokes, following the grain of the fabric.
• Pull the fabric gently taut with your free hand by holding the hem or the side seam, never directly in front of the steam. Tension gives the steam something to work against, and creases drop out much faster.
• Keep moving. Holding the steam in one spot for too long can leave the fabric damp. Several light passes beat one long blast.
• Do the inside too on heavier fabrics. Steaming from the inside of a lined jacket or a thick cotton dress can help the steam reach deeper creases.

Is a steamer supposed to touch the clothes?

It depends on the steamer. With a plain nozzle steamer, you usually hover close to the fabric, about a finger's width away, or touch it only very lightly. The steam does the work, and pressing a small nozzle into the fabric does not add much.

A 2-in-1 like the SteamerPro is different, because it has a large ceramic glide plate rather than just a small nozzle. On sturdy fabrics such as cotton and linen, you can lightly glide the plate over the fabric while it hangs. For a sharper finish, the PivotPress head turns 90 degrees so you can lay the garment on a table and press it flat, like a small iron, with no ironing board needed.

The exception is wool, cashmere, velvet and other fabrics with a soft surface or pile. For these, steam from just above the fabric rather than pressing down, then let the garment hang for a minute to settle. Pressing can flatten the texture or leave a shine.

How to press collars, cuffs and plackets flat

Steam alone softens these areas but rarely makes them crisp, because they are stiffer and need a little pressure. With a 2-in-1:

1. Turn the head flat and lay the collar out on a clean, heat-safe table, underside up.
2. Glide the ceramic plate from the points toward the center to avoid pushing creases into the tips.
3. Flip it and repeat on the top side, then do the cuffs and the button placket the same way, pressing around the buttons rather than over them.

For the full sequence on a work shirt, see how to steam a dress shirt.

When the water runs low

On the SteamerPro, when the tank runs low the "Lack of water" light comes on and the steam pauses until you refill. Unplug it, top up with distilled or filtered water, and carry on.

After use: care and safety

• Unplug it when you finish or step away. The SteamerPro does not switch itself off, so it stays on until you unplug it.
• Rest it on its mat, never directly on a bed, carpet or a garment.
• Empty the tank once you are done rather than leaving water sitting in it.
• Let it cool on the mat before you put it away.
• Wipe the ceramic plate with a soft damp cloth once it is completely cold.
• Let the clothes dry for a few minutes on the hanger before wearing or folding them, so the smooth finish sets.

Quick FAQ

How do I use a mini steamer?

The same way as a full-size handheld: fill with distilled or filtered water, let it heat, hang the garment and use slow vertical strokes while pulling the fabric taut. Smaller tanks simply need refilling more often.

Can I use a handheld steamer on a garment I am wearing?

No. Steam can burn skin, so always take the garment off and hang it before steaming.

How do you use a steamer iron or handheld ironing machine?

Use it upright as a steamer for hanging clothes, then turn the head flat to press collars, cuffs and folded items on a table. Choose the fabric setting first and keep the plate moving in both positions.

Do I need an ironing board?

Not with a 2-in-1. You steam on the hanger, and for collars or flat pressing you turn the head flat and use any heat-safe table.

Once you have the rhythm (fill, set, heat, hang, stroke), most garments take a minute or two. If you want one tool that steams on the hanger and presses flat, the SteamerPro 2-in-1 steamer and iron is ready in about 15 seconds and has 7 fabric settings from silk to linen. It also comes in bundles with a travel case and lint remover, with free shipping and 30-day returns. See the SteamerPro here.