I hate house chores… particularly folding laundry and ironing. That’s why most of my summer clothes are linen and seersucker– no need to iron! Unfortunately, I can’t quite get away with that on the wedding day so I decided to invest in a compromise… a steamer!
I initially registered for one, but realized I would need it before the wedding, so I bit the bullet and bought one. Of course, I did my requisite research before deciding on the Conair G54 Compact Fabric Steamer. I’ve never owned a steamer before so I didn’t want to spend an arm and a leg. I got mine on sale at Macys.com for $29.99 and am happy to say that I’m very pleased with the results!
Image from here
I read some poor reviews about it, but also noted that in the numerous positive reviews, people were urged to read the instructions thoroughly before using it. A lot of the issues people encountered (gurgling, water spewing, and leakage) are things that can be prevented if you use the steamer properly (i.e. it will leak if the nozzle is not hung back in the correct position or the steam tube is twisted). My best advice, read the instruction pamphlet before using! The manual also provides some very good tips on how to steam your clothes quickly and effectively (start at the top and work your way down… make light curling motions… etc.)
For someone who hates ironing, this is a god send. In addition to linen and seersucker, I own quite a bit of silk and chiffon pieces (which coincidentally most of my wedding wardrobe consists of as well!) and the steamer just frees all the wrinkles in seconds.
The pros:
- Super portable and light (perfect for transporting on the wedding day)
- I can use it for sheets and drapes as well
- Includes a hanging hook that can conveniently attach to any door where you can hang your garments
- Even Mr. Canary knows how to use it
- And the ultimate: no more ironing!
The cons:
- If you’re steaming a few items, it will require frequent refilling
- Takes a while to warm up (for the first steam, refill steaming is quite fast)
All in all, this is a sound investment for the wedding day and I can definitely get some good use out of it after. Anyone else used or purchase a steamer for your wedding attire? Which one did you end up getting?
I received a steamer for Christmas this year, and I kind of half-heartedly thanked my mom, and moved on to my other gifts. Little did I know that a steamer is a godsend! I now am a huge fan and recommend them to everyone! It’s so quick and easy! Plus, we live in a small apartment, so its a much better option than pulling out an ironing board! AND I think it will be great for my wedding (and future house’s curtains)!
Mine is a conair too, and it looks about the same, except its different colors than the one pictured!
I love it! What a great investment for anyone!
wait…I’m so confused…I thought linen was the worst wrinkle offender there was!!
what magical linen do you use?
I actually own that one and I LOVE IT.
I overfill it, so that I don’t have to refill it as often- Takes a little longer to heat up, but who cares? I turn it on to heat before I jump in the shower.
As long as the hose isn’t bent or twisted? I have NO problems with sputtering/gurgling/spotting.
I got it hand me down- my MIL had used regular tap water so there was some mineral deposits but I use distilled water and have had no further build up.
Clothes look nicer steamed than ironed, I think.
I couldn’t do without mine 
And I’m not even getting married until Fall of 09
All of my linen stuff wrinkles HORRIBLY. I also want to know!
I just bought this last night on a whim. So glad to hear about another happy customer!
thanks for posting this-i just bought one on sale for my upcoming wedding!
Ohmigod, I just bought this steamer from Target for $29.99 based on all the reviews. This was after I learned that merely steaming my (mostly poly satin) wedding dress professionally will cost at least $60. Thanks for the review!
I used to work at Victoria’s Secret, which meant having to steam ALL of their sexy nightwear. All of their steamers gurgled, splurged, and leaked…I’m pretty sure no matter what steamer you buy, they’ll have some sort of spillage. It’s not a biggie, it’s just water and it dries. We never had any issues with it. Love steamers! They do wonders!
Has anyone used this on a wedding dress? I’m curious to know what worked.
We got a steamer from my future MIL at a shower — haven’t used it yet, but I’m excited to try it! Just a word of warning to those of you planning to use it on your silk wedding gowns — my mom is refusing to use a steamer on mine (she made the dress - so she should know) because all of that water could cause spotting or puckering of the fabric. Dry heat from a VERY CLEAN iron is best.
We splurged on the Tobi steamer (yes, the one on the informercials) but found it at BJ’s (woot for saving $50 shipping!) for $110 plus it came with a free travel steamer and attachments for removing pet hair (I have two very furry cats and it really works!) and for upholstery. This thing is awesome. I haven’t had any of the sputtering or water problems/puckering, etc. and I’ve used it on silk, linen, thick cotton, rayon, etc. I had a cheaper one (about $40) but it wasn’t great - leaked, took just as long as ironing - and lasted only about six months. I’m not a “buy it from the infomercial” girl, but this one has worked out well so far!
I am a steamer girl too! Hate, hate, hate ironing… LOVE steaming. I’m about due for a new one, so this is a helpful post. Thanks!
I also heard that water ruins silk…have you tested it on silk fabric yet?
thanks for the post… i’ve been looking for a steamer to use on the wedding day and i just got a Macy’s gift card at my shower (even though i’m not registered there) but now i have something to buy with it! Yippeee!
We have the Tobi Steamer and it’s perfect! I use it all the time and for everything, haven’t experienced any water leaks or bubbles, nothing has been ruined by using it. My first informercial purchase and I’m totally pleased.
[...] bought the fabric steamer recommended by Mrs. Canary to take out the wrinkles on my dress. I purchased it from Amazon.com, [...]
Mrs. Canary, New York
Age and Occupation: 24, Marketing
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Journalist/Editor
Engagement Date: February 16, 2007
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: October 19, 2007
Venue: Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers
About Me: I'm a born and raised New Yorker who loves all things crafty and artsy, food (cheese and dessert!), magazines, and shoes. I'm a power shopper always on the lookout for good deals or great quality-- sometimes I'm lucky and I find both! I love to dance and "shake what my momma gave me" but can also really enjoy a quiet night in with Mr. Canary and a good episode of Seinfeld or curl up with a good book.
my moh has been on the hunt to see if we can find one to borrow…else, i will purchase. With 7 taffetta dresses in the BP, I think it’ll be smart to have even if just in case