I must confess, I’ve never been a fan of ironing. It always seems like such a futile task when, after just 10 minutes of wear, the garment is already creased again.
I try to keep ironing to a bare minimum, but there are some items of clothing that simply demand it. That was until I discovered the Philips 3000 Series Handheld Steamer….
When this device was sent to me, 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 within seconds, but it was also quite enjoyable to use – although I suspect the novelty factor played a part here.
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 no time.
It has garnered over a thousand positive reviews on Amazon, where it’s priced at £34.99.
My first experience with the steamer was when I was preparing for a dinner outing 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 to go, reports the Mirror.
The steamer effortlessly smoothed out the creases as I passed it over the dress. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the dress didn’t feel damp at all.
In less than five minutes, my dress was ready to wear, and I hadn’t even had to drag out the ironing board.
Naturally, the steam emitted is scorching, whereas the steamer head remains cool to the touch, so handling it by the handle should pose no issues.
However, it is recommended to refrain from using fragranced water in the steamer, unlike with an iron, as it may damage the product – a feature I’d love to see incorporated in future models.
One quirk is that, after switching it off, the residual water takes a while to cool, resulting in occasional “burps” that can be startling. The first time this happened, I was taken aback, half-expecting a mischievous spirit from a Studio Ghibli film to appear – a niche but fitting reference, I assure you.
The steamer proved excellent at preparing my son’s school shirts for the week ahead. I simply laid them flat and ran the steamer over them, effortlessly erasing wrinkles in under a minute.
This saved me a significant amount of time, as I didn’t need to fuss with positioning a cumbersome ironing board.
The steamer also came to the rescue when my sister-in-law required a gentle steaming solution for her daughter’s bridesmaid dress.
Thanks to its compact storage pouch, it fit neatly into a suitcase and was perfect for the delicate fabric – a task that would have been impossible with a traditional iron.
The charming and sleek design is compact, making it 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 fabrics, this steamer is a game-changer.
