4 Best Fabrics to Use a Steamer On: Complete Guide

Nowadays, I have a love-hate relationship with the iron. They are heavy, and take time to heat and set up. I grew up watching my grandma iron in an era where we didn’t own a steamer. But since getting my hands on one, it has been life-changing! Steaming is a much gentler way to remove wrinkles, and you can apply it on a much wider range of fabrics. In this post, I’ll share the 4 best fabrics to use a steamer on, and tips for getting the most use out of yours.

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The Benefits of Steaming Your Clothes

I’ve always found steaming more convenient than ironing, due to the minimal set up. However, aside from this perk, steaming actually provides a few more benefits to our clothes:

• It disinfects. The heat from the steamer can help kill dust mite and germs, which helps freshen our clothes.
• It maintains the surface texture of our clothes. Unlike a heavy iron, a handheld steamer does not crush the surface of your clothes.
• It removes wrinkles in a gentler way. With a steamer, you can control the distance at which heat is being applied, which prevents scorching or heat damage.

Lastly, you can find appliances that now do both! I own these 2 travel-friendly iron-steamers.

• Nori Handheld Iron with steaming capabilities across 6 fabric settings (looks like a hair straightener) – also reviewed HERE. Works best on smaller/shorter garments.
• Mini travel iron that has a handle with 180-degree rotation so you can use vertically as a steamer.

Left: Nori Iron Press with Gentle Steaming Capabilities (6 Fabric Settings) | Right: Mini Travel Iron with Rotating Handle to Work as a Steamer!

4 Best Fabrics to Use a Steamer For

Although some may prefer the steamer for its convenience, there are several fabrics where it might be the only device you should use.

Silks & Delicate Fabrics

The direct heat that comes from an iron is too strong to use on silk, silk-like fabrics (e.g. chiffon), and other delicates (e.g. lace). A steamer is a great tool that adds heat from a distance to release wrinkles. Just remember to hold the fabric taut for the best effect.

Safety Tip: Make sure you don’t place your hand on the underside of the fabric where the steam is being released, as it cause serious burns!

Wool & Cashmere

Even our precious knits can develop wrinkles, especially when they’ve been stored away for a season. One of the reasons wool and cashmere are so warm is their plush surface. The crushing weight of the iron can flatten the fabric, so these pieces are much better off being steamed.

For more tips on how to store and clean wool/cashmere pieces in the off-season, read my full guide. Also read my general fabric care guide here for proper sweater upkeep.

I own this affordable handheld steamer from Target that is under $20. It works well if you only have a few pieces to steam on occasion.

Velvet & Other Textured Fabrics

Similar to wool and cashmere, you may own other fabrics that have a plush texture. In textiles, we call these ‘pile’ fabrics. A great example of a pile fabric is velvet. Because this fabric has a raised surface, an iron may crush this texture or even scorch the small surface fibers. As such, steaming is the safer way to go.

Beaded or Embellished Fabrics

This one seems obvious, but it is not the best idea to apply an iron to your sequin dress, as you may even melt the decorative pieces that were sewn on to the fabric. Some sources may not agree with steaming beaded materials. However, I think it is okay if you are careful, and holding the steamer at a distance. Use your best judgment, and when in doubt, test on a less noticeable area of the garment.

Another tip: Flip the garment inside out so that the embellishments are not receiving direct heat.

Tips to Avoid Fabric Damage with a Steamer

As delicate as the steamer may be, there are still a few precautions to take with your most delicate pieces. When in doubt, here are some additional tips I would recommend:

• Hold the steamer at a greater distance if you are nervous about fabric damage.
• Flip the garment inside out if you don’t want the surface exposed to heat.
• Read the fabric care label, and test on an inconspicuous area first.
• The Safest Way to Steam: Just place the garment in the bathroom. Regular shower steam can help release wrinkles too!
• To avoid water marks from the steamer, place a pantyhose over the steamer nozzle (weird, but works!)

For a quick and simple graphic on when to iron vs steam your clothes, catch my content on Instagram!