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6 Best Steamers for Curtains & Drapes in 2022: Buying Guide

You’ve washed your curtains and drapes in the washing machine for as long as you remember. As long as the fabric allows you to wash them you’re fine. However, they get filthy too fast. And at this point, you’re tired of vacuuming your dirty curtains.

Well, the solution would be to get a steamer for your curtains to safely wash them and give them the rejuvenating look they can’t achieve with just a regular vacuum cleaner. What steamer for curtains should you pick? Read along and find out which models are some of the best steamers for curtains and drapes.

A Quick Look at My Favorite Streamers for Curtains and Drapes

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Electrolu Steam Nozzle

Electrolu Steam Nozzle

9.7
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Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam

Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam

9.5
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Rowenta DR8120 X-Cel Steamer

Rowenta DR8120 X-Cel Steamer

9.1
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PurSteam Handheld Steamer

PurSteam Handheld Steamer

8.8
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J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer

J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer

8.6
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iSteam Steamer

iSteam Steamer

8.2
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Key Takeaways

  • Most steamers take up to 30 seconds to heat up, with some going as low as 20 seconds.
  • They can create continuous steam lasting up to 10 minutes. Some steamers can create steam that lasts as long as 15 minutes.
  • There are rumors of steamers leaking or malfunctioning after a while, so always make sure to read other people’s experiences with products in addition to this review.
  • My personal favorite steamer off of this list is the J-2000 Jiffy, it’s economical, practical, and has the highest-capacity water tank.
  • Not all steamers are good at removing all types of wrinkles.
  • Some steamers have special features, such as automatic water filtration, mechanisms that prevent the steamer from overheating, and more.

Top 5 Best Steamers for Curtains

To help you with your choice, I’ve chosen a total of 5 steamers which I consider to be the best steamers for curtains you can find. Without any stalling, here’s the list of the 5 best steamers for your curtains or drapes.

6. Electrolu Steam Nozzle – Most Eco Friendly

As first on the list, we have the Electrolux Portable Handheld Steamer. This steamer comes in black with a weight of 1 Pound and a wattage of 1500 Watts. Comes together with a fabric brush, and lint brush, and it is made out of a ceramic plate that holds a steam nozzle in place which helps in its process of fast heating. It has a removable water tank that can safely hold 300ml of liquid.

Apart from that, this model is also a 2-in-1, which means it is both a fabric wrinkle remover and a clothing iron. Its pump steam technology is reportedly safe to use as it doesn’t allow room for any water leaking or spilling out, whether you use it horizontally or vertically. In my experience, it’s compact, meaning you can take it with you on the go, and is perfect for steaming and rejuvenating any fabric, be it wool, cotton, or silk.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • It is fully equipped, portable, and easy to travel with.
  • Allows you to steam your clothes horizontally or vertically.
  • Its wattage is 1500 Watts.
  • Functions on the principle of sustainable energy sources.
  • It is environmentally friendly.
  • It heats up very fast for about 30s

What I Dislike About It

  • Despite the manufacturer’s description, it can sometimes spill water and could potentially hurt you if the water lands on your skin.
  • It’s not as efficient in removing wrinkles as advertised.
  • There are rare cases of the machine fully breaking down.

Why Should You Buy It?

It’s easy to use and compact, so you can carry it anywhere. Its 1500 Watts makes it an environmentally friendly product, as it doesn’t use as much of your household electricity as other products on this list.


5. Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam – Best Design

With a very long steaming time of 15 minutes and its 2-in-1 features of both a steamer and an iron, the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam is a great option for buying a steamer. It weighs only 200grams.

One of the things I like about this steam is that it comes in white and plum colors and the plate from where the heat comes out is quilted which makes it look more modern and trendy.

Additionally, it features a special smart safety sensor to make sure you’re safe. It’s also surprisingly compact for the amount of features it has, making it a great option to carry around as well.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • Long steam time of up to 15 minutes
  • 2-in-1 steamer and iron
  • Smart safety sensor

What I Dislike About It

  • More expensive than other steamer alternatives
  • High electricity usage at 1875 Watts

Why Should You Buy It?

The Conair TurboExtreme might not get the wrinkles out as well as some of the other steamers, but it’s very compact and easy to hold. What’s more, you can pick from two very gorgeous plum and champagne-white colors.

Also read a list of amazing small sewing machines.


4. Rowenta DR8120 X-Cel Powerful Steamer – Best Customization

The Rowenta DR8120 X-Cel steamer is a powerful machine that comes in two versions; 1600 Watts and 1875 Watts. It has a two-colored look featuring dark blue and white parts. It weighs 1.41 pounds or 600 grams. The plate from which steam comes out heats and it’s made out of metal.

This makes it great for ironing out even the most stubborn of crinkles. It’s great for sanitizing and cleaning both smaller clothes such as a coat, a suit, or a jacket, and bigger items such as drapes, curtains, or even thick beddings. You can use this steamer with regular tap water, however, it does take about 40 seconds to heat up which is a lot longer than most of the steamers on this list.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • Customizable steam output
  • Can use regular tap water instead of deionized water
  • Normal electricity usage of 1600 Watts on one version

What I Dislike About It

  • It works for only a small amount of time, up to 10 minutes.
  • It’s a lot more expensive than its value
  • Takes a very long time to heat up

Why Should You Buy It?

You can customize the steam input on this product, and it comes in 2 different color combinations with an easy-to-hold handle.


3. PurSteam Elite Travel Fabric Steamer – Best Bang For The Bucks

The PurStream Elite Steamer is a fast and effective fabric steamer. It has a slightly big look to it and comes in white. It also comes together with an extra long 8ft power cord so you won’t be needing an extension cable and a user manual.

What makes this steamer stand out from the rest is that it’s great at removing the strongest of wrinkles in no time, at the sacrifice of waiting for about a minute for it to heat up. It only needs 800 Watts of power usage and has a high-capacity water tank that can hold about 130ml of water.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • High-capacity water tank
  • Comes with an 8 ft long power cord
  • Automatically turns off when you’re out of water
  • Low electricity usage

What I Dislike About It

  • Average steaming time of 10 minutes
  • Heats up in about 90 seconds, which is the longest heating-up time on this list.
  • Has been reported to leak after some usage

Why Should You Buy It?

I wouldn’t say it’s very easy to hold, however, it’s sustainable and its long cord makes it perfectly easy to move around while using it in your household.

Also read a list of amazing mini irons.


2. J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer – Best High-End Steamer

The J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer is a great steamer option for your drapes. It has a wattage of 1300 Watts which is pretty sustainable.

This is one of the biggest steamers I have included in this list. It’s a floor-standing steamer that weighs 7kg. It comes in 2 color variants, pink and beige; with a metal or a plastic steam head.

Its build consists of a high-impact plastic housing which is pretty durable and a plastic or metal steam head, connected with a metal pipe. It has a 3liter water tank which makes it perfect for long periods of usage. You can use this steamer for about an hour and a half without refilling the tank.

The heating up time is about 2 minutes which is a lot more than most of the steamers on the list, however, it does also have the biggest water tank. So, I wouldn’t say that the heating time is a big drawback.

It’s great for getting any of your thick garments wrinkle-free, especially good for drapes.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer has a sustainable energy consumption because it runs on 1300 Watts
  • It’s great at removing any wrinkles and works wonders with thick fabrics
  • It has a 3liter water tank, so the 2-minute heating time isn’t all that long
  • The beige and especially the pink version looks very modern

What I Dislike About It

  • It’s quite a large steamer which you can’t really take with you if you’re planning to travel and use it on the go
  • It doesn’t ship out of the USA

Why Should You Buy It?

If you live in the USA this is the perfect steamer for your drapes. It’s sustainable, yet modern and perfect for long periods of usage.


1. iSteam Steamer – Best Overall

The iSteam Steamer comes in 6 different colors. It’s a fast steamer that takes only 25 seconds to heat up. It is a handheld steamer which makes it portable and suited for frequent travelers.

It’s worth mentioning the fact that its compact build makes it easy to hold and is efficient in powerfully removing wrinkles from your curtains, drapes, bedding, and more. It has an innovative 360 degrees technology that guarantees no water leakage. Not only does it have a balanced, luxurious feel to it, but it’s also a powerful machine that works on only 110 Watts.

Summary

What I Like About It

  • Unlike other steamers, it’s available in many colors making it a good accessory in your home even when it isn’t being used
  • Special filter that purifies the water within the tank
  • Removes wrinkles very well

What I Dislike About It

  • Average consistent steam time of 10 minutes
  • Doesn’t last very long and is said to malfunction after just a few uses

Why Should You Buy It?

The iSteamer is a powerful compact handheld steamer that looks luxurious. What more can you want than an easy-to-hold steamer that offers 6 different colors you can choose from?


How to Efficiently Pick Out The Best Steamer For You

Comfort and Size

These two terms are interchangeable, as the size helps with how easily the steamer is carried around. Therefore, the weight of the model in question is a pretty important factor to consider when buying a steamer, as well as balance and whether or not it sits comfortably in your hand.

Steamers come in two sizes: handheld or full-sized. The handheld steamers are practical and great for people on the go. They are perfect for steaming up any fabric while you are traveling. Whereas, despite their size, full-sized steamers are usually better functioning because of their size and storage. They are better suited for cleaning larger surfaces. For example, curtains, blankets, or tablecloths.

Build

The build is an important factor to be considered when buying a steamer especially if it is handheld. If it’s got a big build that makes it harder to carry around. However, if it’s floor-standing the build is equally as important because flimsy parts that are of low quality make it a lot easier to break and don’t let it withstand the test of time.

Power Usage

The lesser the power consumption the better, if you care about the environment. Higher power consumption also leads to bigger electrical bills. However, if you have money to spend you can buy a steamer with a higher power usage, which leads to faster cleaning and heating up.

How fast does it heat up?

Faster heating is a great thing to look for in a steamer. There are a bunch of very fast heating steamers on this list, but also some that are very slow and good for other reasons.

The fastest is around 20 seconds, while the slowest is around 90 seconds. What’s more important is how long it takes for it to efficiently remove all the wrinkles and whether it can remove more serious wrinkles.

Additional features

It’s a good idea to look at what other items you get along with your steamer in the packaging of the box it comes in. You should look at whether it comes with a booklet, brushes, gloves, or any other kind of attachment and features.

The safety sensor with a shut-off technology is a key feature to look for when it comes to buying a quality steamer to ensure your safety. It’s practically necessary for your steamer to have this feature, as it helps your steamer shut down on its own if it’s empty or not in use. Otherwise, it could overheat and lead to potential injuries, or on the off chance that you forgot to turn it off, it could even cause a fire hazard.

Price

As always, price is an important factor when deciding what to buy. It is logical to look for steamers that are sold at a reasonable price and have great value for money. Depending on the size and quality of the steamer we can assume how well it’s going to work which more often than not is a parallel with how expensive it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the point of steaming curtains and drapes?

Steaming curtains is a simple and easy alternative to ironing. As curtains are thin and delicate, an iron might easily damage them if you press onto them for too long. On the other hand, steaming is a much safer way to remove wrinkles, because the risk of burning yourself is much lower.

How do I steam curtains?

Once you’ve hanged up your curtains somewhere, turn on the steamer and start going over all of the wrinkled spots on it. Go over the entire surface of the curtains a few times and you’ll immediately notice the change. After you’re done, leave them to try for a bit until they’re ready for use again. 

What are the key factors in determining which steamer to buy?

Steamer quality varies based on how fast the steamer heats up, how long the steam lasts, the quality of the steam beam as well as its power usage. Some steamers come with additional features, such as being able to work on regular tap water.

Also Read: Ways To Remove Iron on Letters

Final Verdict

There are two main types of steamers for curtains: floor-standing ones and handheld ones. If you want to travel you should get yourself a handheld one, as it is compact and portable. Just make sure to buy one that has a light and balanced build which makes it easy to hold.

Whereas, floor-standing ones can fit up to a gallon of water making them slightly better when it comes to refilling the tank and being more powerful. Either way, it’s up to you to choose the steamer best suited for your needs, and my job here is done.