Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Frankly, I was surprised this tiny steamer performs as well as it does. Ordinarily, I use a $200 Rowenta steam generator (similar to this Rowenta DG8030 Expert Steam Generator) to "iron" our clothes, and I wondered how well the SteamFast could compare. I'm happy to say, quite favorably. It actually has a few features that recommend it over the Rowenta, not the least of which is PRICE. Other benefits are convenience and warm-up time. When I use the Rowenta model, I have to use (and set up) an ironing board, dragging it from one end of the house to the other. It also takes about 5-7 minutes to warm up and start generating steam. The SteamFast, on the other hand, is self-contained; no ironing board is needed. Steaming is done simply by hanging garments on the steamer itself. It also heats up and is ready to use, just as the instructions say, in just 45 SECONDS. Super fast--I was really surprised! I also like its tiny footprint for storage; the telescoping pole can be retracted quickly, the hanger "folds in half" for storage, and the whole unit is lightweight and easy to handle (it even has wheels). Here are a couple of tips I've used to get the best performance out of the SteamFast: 1. Use distilled water. 2. Hang the garment, then start steaming at the BOTTOM and work your way upward. Starting at the bottom lets steam start penetrating and softening the whole garment as soon as you start steaming. Stop periodically to smooth out wrinkles with your hand (this greatly speeds the process). 3. I'm sure the manufacturer doesn't recommend this, but I've found it quicker and easier to simply steam garments on their own hangers (I have plastic-coated hangers--metal would be a bad idea, because of the rusting/staining issue). If you choose to do this, you have to be REALLY careful to not burn yourself with rising steam. 4. I've found the steamer works best by NOT using the brush attachment on the steamer head. Pay attention to the angle you hold the steamer head at; you'll quickly learn what angle works best for each type of fabric. All in all, this steamer does a good job and is an improvement (in my opinion) over a standard iron. You will, however, have to steam both the front and back of garments to get a suitable finish. My favorite features are the incredibly fast warm-up time and the fact that it has such a small footprint that it could even be used in a utility room. The cord is relatively short, so you'll need to work within about 6 feet of a power outlet. I've found that I like to use my SteamFast most for individual loads of laundry. I can go from dryer to steamer to closet in no time, rather than accumulating a worthy stack of ironables, like I used to do with the Rowenta, and then spend a couple of hours steaming. In other words, this little unit makes it easy to steam your clothes during your regular laundering process. This is a great value for its price; recommended!