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Before You Buy a Clothes Steamer

By , About.com Guide

As professional cleaners know, steam is a gentle and effective way to remove wrinkles. Steaming is faster than ironing and will not scorch or damage most fabrics. Before you buy a home steamer, take time to review these tips to help you make the right decision. You can read reviews of top rated clothes steamers at ConsumerSearch .

Home or Travel Steamer?

Where will you be using the steamer most often? At home or when traveling?

Set Your Price

Steamers come in a wide-range of prices. Determine your budget; you may have to make trade-offs when comparing features and prices.

Performance Ratings

Research each model's performance rating on independent sites such as ConsumerSearch . Study how quickly each steanmer heats up, its volume of steam output and its stability to prevent hot water spills and burns.

Features and Attachments

Review every model's attachments and features, like brushes, collapsible handles and heat and steam settings.

Energy Usage

Read the fine print about each steamer's wattage and energy usage. Some residential models require significant power to run them. You can then weigh that against paying dry cleaning bills for pressing.

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