Should You Use a Steamer or Iron to Remove Wrinkles? Laundry Experts Settle the Debate

No matter how quickly you remove your clothes from the washer and dryer, or how much care you take when hanging and folding them, wrinkles are inevitable. Removing wrinkles requires the right combination of heat, moisture, and a little bit of pressure or force, and steamers and irons are the go-to tools of the trade. But how do you know when to use which? We spoke with laundry experts to better understand the difference between steamers and irons, and when to reach for each of them.

Steamer vs. Iron: What's the Difference?

Steamers and irons are both essential laundry care tools that help release wrinkles from clothing and other textiles. "Steamers and irons use heat, moisture, and force in different ways to unlock wrinkles," says Sammy Wang, a fabric care senior specialist with P&G.  However, these tools are not necessarily interchangeable, and understanding the difference between the two can help you make the right choice to remove wrinkles from a particular garment.

Steamers create steam by heating water, and that steam relaxes and releases wrinkles. Steamers are best used when clothes are hanging vertically, says Wang. Steamers use the garment’s own weight while it hangs to help straighten out wrinkles. Some steamers also come with attachments that gently tug on fabrics to help remove wrinkles.

Irons, on the other hand, use a heated surface combined with steam to press wrinkles out of clothing. "Irons are best used when clothes are lying flat horizontally, like on an ironing board," says Wang. Irons use the weight of the iron and the pressure exerted while ironing to press out wrinkles, flattening the garment.

When to Use a Steamer

If you have clothing that is delicate or flowy, you’ll want to opt for using a steamer over an iron. "A steamer is better when you want a soft, drapey finish," says Patric Richardson, author and host of The Laundry Guy on Discovery+. Steamers release wrinkles using steam, without coming in direct contact with a garment, meaning steaming works best on materials that can’t be ironed.

Pros and Cons of Using a Steamer

Using a steamer is usually faster and easier than ironing. Steaming can help release wrinkles from fabrics that can’t endure the high heat and direct contact of an iron, and it does not require as much setup as ironing. However, "it’s more difficult to create sharp creases with steaming," says Wang.

When to Use an Iron

Ironing presses wrinkles out of clothing, the end result of which is a sharp finish. You should use an iron on garments like button-down shirts and trousers that look best when they are flat and crisp. Ironing works best on certain fabrics, like 100 percent cotton, which can withstand high heat.

Pros and Cons of Using an Iron

The biggest benefit of using an iron is that it forms sharp creases. According to Richardson, ironing creates crisp, flat finishes that keep you looking polished all day long. The downside of using an iron is that it’s more technical, requires a more elaborate setup, and is a more time-consuming process. Irons can also get too hot for some materials, like polyester, chiffon, or nylon.

How to Steam Clothes

If you’re ready to try your hand at steaming your clothes, give Wang’s go-to method a try:

1. First, make sure your clothes are clean. Lingering stains and odors will only be made worse from the heat and moisture of a steamer.
2. Check the care label for any precautions against using steam. Some fabrics or embellishments are sensitive to moisture.
3. Hang clothes on a hanger in an open area where you can have room to move around and away from any heat-sensitive materials.
4. Always follow the instructions on your steamer—for example, most steamers recommend using distilled water to avoid complications from the hard water metals and minerals in tap water.
5. Use the right steam/heat setting for the fabric. Some fabrics like 100 percent cotton can tolerate much higher temperatures/steam settings, whereas fabrics like polyester or more delicate fabrics like silk need lower heat/steam settings.
6. Make sure the stream of steam is consistent before bringing it towards the fabric. Steamers can sometimes sputter when first turned on, which can leave water spots on water-sensitive fabrics and finishes.
7. Keep the steamer moving while steaming. Don’t leave the steam sitting in one area of a garment too long as this could cause heat or moisture damage.
8. Be careful! The steam from steamers can be extremely hot.
9. Let clothes dry completely on the hanger after steaming to avoid creating more wrinkles.

How to Iron Clothes

If ironing is the best approach for your garment, follow Wang’s step-by-step guide to get the best results:

1. First, make sure your clothes are clean. Not only can odors and stains get exacerbated by heat, but contact with the hot surface of an iron can cause discoloration, making "invisible solids" visible.
2. If possible, use a fabric softener when doing your laundry. Fabric softeners condition fabric fibers, which helps prevent deep wrinkles from forming during the laundry process and can also help wrinkles flatten out easier when ironing. Using fabric softeners on clothes can also help irons glide more smoothly over the fabric.
3. Check the care label for any precautions against using steam. Some fabrics or embellishments are sensitive to moisture.
4. Before turning on your iron, make sure the ironing surface is clean. A dirty iron can transfer to clothes, creating a potentially difficult-to-remove stain. 
5. Turn clothes inside out to prevent possible markings on delicate fabrics.
6. Place clothes on an ironing board or other surface that’s heat-protected. Make sure the surface you’re ironing on is clean as well. Dirt or other stains from the ironing surface can transfer to clothes during ironing.
7. Always follow the instructions on your iron—for example, many irons recommend using distilled water to avoid complications from the hard water metals and minerals in tap water.
8. Use the right heat setting for the fabric. Some fabrics like 100 percent cotton can tolerate much higher temperatures, whereas fabrics like polyester need lower temperatures.
9. Keep the iron moving while ironing. Don’t let the iron sit in one area of a garment too long as this could cause heat damage or even discoloration.
10. Use the steam button when needed during ironing—giving a burst of steam during ironing can help get out tough wrinkles.
11. Be careful! The surface of irons and iron steam can get extremely hot.
12. Hang clothes after ironing to let them cool off and dry to avoid creating more wrinkles.