When traveling, you naturally want to look well-groomed, but clothes wrinkle quickly in a suitcase. A shirt, blouse, dress, or trousers can come out of your luggage quite wrinkled after a long car ride or flight. Taking a garment steamer on your travels can then be a practical solution. With a compact garment steamer, you can quickly get clothes wrinkle-free again without needing an ironing board.
But what should you look out for when buying a garment steamer for travel? Is every model suitable to take in your suitcase and can you use a garment steamer in any hotel? In this article, you'll read everything you need to know about a travel garment steamer.
Why take a garment steamer on your travels?
A garment steamer is especially useful when you want to look neat during your trip. Clothing that is tightly folded in a suitcase often gets wrinkles. That is annoying if, for example, you have a business meeting, dinner, wedding, or other occasion.
A travel garment steamer then offers several advantages:
- You quickly remove wrinkles from clothing.
- You don't need an ironing board.
- You can steam clothes directly on a hanger.
- A compact clothes steamer takes up relatively little space.
- You can treat different types of clothing.
- Your clothes quickly look neat again.
Especially when you travel regularly, you can use a portable clothes steamer as a handy addition to your luggage.
What should you look for in a travel clothes steamer?
Not every clothes steamer is equally suitable to take in a suitcase. When you are looking for a clothes steamer for travel, the size, weight, ease of use, and speed are especially important.
1. Choose a compact garment steamer
Space in a suitcase is limited. That is why a compact model is often the best choice if you want to take a garment steamer with you on a trip.
A large standing garment steamer can be excellent for home, but is less practical when you regularly travel by plane, train or car. A compact handheld garment steamer can be placed in your luggage much more easily.
When it comes to size, pay attention not only to the dimensions of the device itself, but also to the accessories. A long hose, large base, or bulky water reservoir can take up extra space.
2. Pay attention to the weight
In addition to size, weight plays an important role. Especially when traveling by plane, you want to avoid taking unnecessary weight with you.
A light garment steamer is also more comfortable to use. After all, you have to hold the device in your hand while steaming.
A good travel garment steamer therefore combines low weight with sufficient steam power to effectively remove wrinkles.
3. Quick heating is ideal for travel
While traveling, you probably don't want to spend a lot of time ironing your clothes. You want to hang up your shirt or dress, turn on the garment steamer, and get started quickly.
That's why a quick-heating garment steamer is an important feature. The shorter the waiting time, the easier it is to use the steamer briefly before heading out the door.
This is especially useful when you need to get ready quickly in the morning for an appointment.
4. Choose enough steam power
A compact garment steamer should not compromise performance, of course. The ultimate goal is to quickly remove wrinkles from your clothes.
So pay attention to steam production and the way the steam is released. A powerful, steady steam jet can help remove wrinkles from different types of fabric.
For thin garments like blouses or T-shirts, a compact handheld steamer can work excellently. For heavier fabrics, more steam power may be desirable.
5. A water tank that fits your trip
A garment steamer needs water to produce steam. The size of the water tank is therefore an important feature.
A larger tank means you can steam longer without refilling water. At the same time, a large tank often makes the device heavier and less compact.
For a travel garment steamer, a good balance is important. If you usually steam only a few garments at a time, a compact water tank may be sufficient.
Also check how easy the tank is to fill and empty. Ease of use is especially important when traveling.
6. Check the voltage when traveling abroad
When traveling abroad with a garment steamer, it is wise to consider the mains voltage.
In the Netherlands and many other European countries, the same mains voltage is used, but that is not the case worldwide. If you are traveling to a destination outside Europe, for example, check in advance whether your garment steamer is suitable for the local voltage.
A travel adapter may sometimes be necessary, but note: a plug adapter does not automatically change the voltage. Therefore, always check the specifications of the garment steamer before using it abroad.
7. Pack the garment steamer safely in your suitcase
A garment steamer contains electrical components and should therefore be stored carefully. Let the appliance cool down completely before packing it.
Empty the water tank before the garment steamer goes into your suitcase. This prevents water from leaking out of the appliance during transport.
Preferably pack the garment steamer in a place where it cannot be bumped hard or crushed by other baggage. Keep any accessories together so you can easily find everything at your destination.
Can you take a garment steamer on an airplane?
An electric garment steamer is in principle a small electrical appliance, but the rules for carry-on and checked baggage can vary by airline and situation.
When you want to take a garment steamer on the airplane , it is therefore wise to check the current baggage rules of your airline before departure.
Also, always take the garment steamer empty. A water reservoir with liquid can raise unnecessary questions during security checks, especially when the device is in your carry-on luggage.
Also check whether the size of the garment steamer falls within the permitted dimensions of your carry-on luggage.
Using a garment steamer in a hotel
A major advantage of a travel garment steamer is that you don't need a special space. In a hotel room, for example, you can hang a shirt on a hanger on a door or in a closet and then remove the wrinkles.
Make sure you have enough space and that the hot steam cannot cause damage to surfaces. Also, do not keep the steam head in one place for a long time.
Always check the instructions for your garment steamer and the care label of the garment before steaming.
Which clothing can you steam while traveling?
A garment steamer can be handy for many different garments. Think, for example, of:
- shirts;
- blouses;
- T-shirts;
- dresses;
- skirts;
- blazers;
- trousers;
- coats;
- clothing of delicate fabrics that are suitable for steaming.
Always check the care label of the garment. Not every fabric or garment is suitable for steam treatment.
Clothes steamer or travel iron?
A travel iron is compact, but you often need a suitable surface to iron your clothes. A clothes steamer, on the other hand, has the advantage that you can treat your clothes vertically.
For travelers who mainly want to quickly remove wrinkles from clothing, a portable clothes steamer can therefore be a particularly practical choice.
A clothes steamer is moreover not only handy on vacation. You can use it at home for everyday clothing and, for example, take it on a business trip, weekend getaway, or event.
How do you use a clothes steamer when traveling?
Steaming a shirt or other garment is easy. Hang the garment on a sturdy hanger first. Fill the water reservoir according to the instructions and let the clothes steamer heat up completely.
Then gently move the steam head along the creased fabric. For example, start at the top near the collar and work your way down. If necessary, gently pull the fabric taut with your free hand.
Move the garment steamer evenly and give extra attention to heavily creased areas. Then let the garment hang briefly before putting it on. This allows any remaining moisture to evaporate.
Why the FLOWSTEAM Garment Steamer Is Ideal for Travel
Anyone who travels regularly and wants to look well-groomed will benefit from a garment steamer that is easy to use. The FLOWSTEAM Garment Steamer is designed to quickly and easily remove creases from clothing without needing an ironing board.
This makes the FLOWSTEAM Garment Steamer not only suitable for home, but also interesting to take along on a vacation, business trip, or weekend getaway.
A shirt that comes out of your suitcase wrinkled? Hang it up, grab the FLOWSTEAM Garment Steamer, and quickly make your clothes neat again.
Conclusion: a garment steamer is a handy travel companion
A garment steamer to bring on a trip can offer a lot of convenience. When choosing, pay particular attention to a compact size, low weight, fast heat-up time, sufficient steam power, and a practical water reservoir. If you are traveling abroad, also check the mains voltage and the baggage regulations of your airline.
Do you want a compact and user-friendly solution to quickly remove wrinkles from your clothes on the go? Check out the FLOWSTEAM garment steamer and order it today. That way you'll leave home looking well-groomed and wrinkle-free, even when traveling.