When it comes to clothing for your trip, it's helpful to pack lightweight fabrics that won't take up much space in your luggage. But is there anything scarier than arriving at your destination, unpacking your carefully chosen clothes, and then finding them crumpled beyond repair? There are limits to how much you can bathe in.
A few years ago, a friend of mine who happens to be a fashion designer and I flew to Spain to celebrate 30 years of being best friends. And I packed a linen jumpsuit to wear on the night of her birthday. Unfortunately, its appearance was severely crumpled and unwearable. That is, until a friend of mine pulled out a portable steamer that he never leaves the house without, the Hylife Garment Steamer. In a few minutes, the jumpsuit was as good as new.
Despite being a very picky person, I never thought of buying a handheld clothes steamer (I grew up in an ironing board household). But I ordered my own as soon as I got home and now use it almost every week and never leave town without it.
With a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars and over 71,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, this hard-working portable appliance boasts a huge fan base, and for a number of reasons. One of my favorite features is that it comes with a 9 foot cord. This makes it easy to use in hotel rooms with few electrical outlets or in older apartments that were wired in an era before devices.
The steamer can hold 240 ml of water and can be used for continuous steaming for up to 15 minutes. Required if you are doing multiple tasks. It's strong enough for durable fabrics like wool, yet gentle enough for more delicate summer fabrics like silk, satin, chiffon, cotton, and linen.
The steamer itself is lightweight, so while it may be difficult to give up space in your suitcase, you don't have to worry about it adding significantly to your overall weight. It also comes with a measuring cup, so you don't have to take the steamer to the sink to refill it. It also comes with two brushes that can be used on thicker fabrics such as wool, flannel, and some cottons. In my opinion, finer fabrics are unlikely to need them. I almost always use the steamer without the attachment.
Whether you're heading to a destination wedding this summer, have a business trip coming up, or just need an easy way to keep your clothes wrinkle-free, keep one of these Hilife steamers on hand. If you do, the situation will change completely. But don't just take my word for it, check out the reviews below and buy one for yourself before you go.
Hilife handheld clothes steamer