I ditched my iron for this Tefal steamer and it's changed my life
Ironing can be tedious. And more often than not, it's something I put off doing for as long as possible. Not just because it takes so long to do, but because I haven't really got the storage space to house an iron and ironing board. That being said, I'm a sucker for crisp shirts, wrinkle-free dresses, and smooth bed linen. Which is exactly why I decided to invest in a steamer, Tefal's Pure Tex Handheld Clothes Steamer, to be specific.
Fast forward two years and it's one of my favourite household gadgets. Perfect for when I need to decrease something fast, remove bits of lint or quite simply gives my third-time-wearing dress a refresh, it's every bit as good (probably even better) than an iron.
Available from a range of stockists, including John Lewis, Amazon and Very, it will set you back a fair initial cost of £89.99. However, it quickly proves its value through use and becomes a cost-effective investment.
🛍️ Product reviewed: Tefal Pure Tex DT9530 Handheld Clothes Steamer
⏰ Tested for: Two years
⭐ Rating: 4 out of five
💸 Reasons to buy: Portable, easy-to-use, effectively decreases garments, quick to heat up
✋ Reasons to avoid: Awkwardly shaped
💰 Best deal we've found: Get it for £89.99 from John Lewis, reduced from £109.99
Power: 1700W | Cable length: 2.5 metres | Steam output: up to 30 g/min | Capacity: 0.2 litres | Heat time: 20 seconds
Ditch your iron for this best-selling steamer from Tefal, complete with a 4-in-1 system with magnetic quick-change pads for swapping between modes, and the removal of 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and germs.
💸 Reasons to buy
First and foremost, it does a brilliant job at decreasing almost anything. I've used it on the likes of my favourite shirts and dresses, crumpled up bed linen and even curtains.
Then there's the size — it's compact enough to fit in most spaces, which makes it great for those who are low on storage.
It heats up fast, in 25 seconds to be exact, so you're not waiting too long before you can get on with steaming.
It comes with multiple magnetic attachments, each designed to target different concerns: a microfibre attachment for removing dust, hair and lint, a velvet attachment for de-wrinkling, and a diffuser for freshening and adding subtle fragrance.
The actual process of steaming is quick, too. Far faster than using an iron, it's actually an enjoyable (and therapeutic) process.
To use, it's as simple as filling the bottom chamber with water, selecting the steam button and waiting for it to heat up, before seamlessly gliding it across whatever's in need of de-wrinkling while simultaneously holding down the little lever.
Not just that, it's great for things you can't easily wash, like sofas, mattresses, pillows and toys — as it kills up to 99.9% of bacteria and germs.
✋ Reasons to avoid
As much as it's relatively compact, it is awkwardly shaped. I would suggest getting into a good habit of draining the water (if you haven't used it all) before storing it away, this way it won't get stagnant and smell, and also means you can store it lying down.
The wire isn't wildly long either, which means you'll need to an electrical output pretty close by. This isn't a huge issue, but something worth considering.
It's not the cheapest of steamers, either. This model from Tefal is pretty advanced, but there are other more affordable options on the market.
💰 Best deal we've found
Right now you can get Tefal's Pure Tex Handheld Clothes Steamer for the new, lower price of £89.99 from John Lewis. It's also price matched at Amazon and Argos.
However, this steamer isn't always reduced. At Currys right now, the same model currently retails for £119.
Shop now: Tefal Pure Tex DT9530 Handheld Clothes Steamer | £89.99 (Was £109.99) from John Lewis
Shop from John Lewis Shop from Amazon Shop from Argos
3 more affordable handheld steamers
Shop Argos's hugely popular and affordable handheld steamer for under £30. Designed to remove kinks and creases in your garments, it comes with a reasonable 3-metre power cord and heats up in 30 seconds.
This model from Philips has top reviews for a reason. Compact and foldable, it's super easy to store and light to use. It's perfect for travelling on-the-go, and kills up to 99.9% of germs.
Invest in Tefal's cheaper model, which comes in two colours and has a heat-up time of 40 seconds, with two steam settings. It even comes with a handy door hook to hang clothes.
