School shirts, work blazers and curtains queue up for attention while the ironing board gathers dust you never meant to clean.
Busy homes need shortcuts that actually work. A compact foldable steamer from Lakeland, priced at £29.99, promises quick crease removal without the board or the faff. It targets the minutes you lose to set-up, waiting, and packing away, and turns them into visible results on hanging garments, linens and soft furnishings.
What £29.99 buys you
This handheld gadget folds down for storage and stands around 28cm tall when ready to use. It steams vertically, so clothes can stay on their hanger, and larger textiles like curtains and sheets can be refreshed where they hang. The head folds away, which helps it slip into overstuffed cupboards where space is tight.
The controls make it feel family-proof. A removable water tank speeds refills at the sink. A steam lock keeps steam flowing continuously, so you can keep both hands on the fabric. An auto shut-off kicks in if it sits too long, which adds peace of mind when the doorbell goes or a child shouts for help with homework.
It also comes with a stated three-year warranty from Lakeland, which signals the brand expects it to last through repeated weekly use rather than one season of novelty.
Skip the ironing board, hang the garment, press steam, and smooth fabric taut. From basket to wearable in a few minutes.
The chores it tackles without drama
Think of those pinch points in your week. Monday’s crumpled school shirts. A blazer creased from the back of a chair. Guest room curtains that look tired before relatives arrive. Holiday outfits pulled straight from a case. This steamer targets that exact list, removing light-to-moderate creases and freshening fibres quickly.
- Parents juggling uniforms before the school run.
- Hybrid workers who need one smart layer for video calls or meetings.
- Renters and students without space for a full ironing setup.
- Anyone who dreads dragging out a board for one item.
- Hosts sprucing curtains and bed linen between washes.
Time and stress savings, crunched
Most of the time you spend ironing isn’t the actual pressing. It is waiting for a plate to heat, unfolding a board, and manoeuvring fabric. Vertical steaming cuts that dead time because you hang the piece and go. Many users find they can smooth a shirt or dress in one to two minutes, while cotton-rich items may take a little longer. Heavier, crisp finishes still favour the iron. But for everyday de-creasing, a steamer often wins on speed and effort.
| Task | Ironing steps | Steamer shortcut | Potential minutes saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| One cotton shirt | Set up board, heat iron, press both sides | Hang, steam front and sleeves while pulling fabric taut | 3–5 |
| Curtains | Take down, iron panel by panel, rehang | Steam in place from top to bottom | 15–30 |
| Bedding crease refresh | Clear space, iron large surface area | Steam while bed is made | 10–20 |
No board, fewer steps, less faff. That is where the real saving sits, especially when you only have ten spare minutes.
How it compares to a traditional iron
Steaming and ironing do different jobs. The iron delivers crisp, sharp creases and flat, pressed seams. The steamer relaxes fibres to remove wrinkles and revive shape without flattening texture. For tailored cotton shirts where a razor-edged cuff and collar are non-negotiable, keep the iron. For synthetics, knits, viscose, silk blends, jackets and pleated skirts that hate direct plate heat, a steamer is often kinder and quicker.
- Best uses for a steamer: quick refreshes, travel-worn outfits, delicate fabrics, suit jackets, curtains and bedding.
- Keep the iron for: heavy linens, sharp trouser creases, complex pleats, heavy-duty pressing after a full wash.
Storage, travel and small-space living
The fold-away head and compact height make it easy to tuck into a hallway cupboard or a bedroom drawer. That helps if you share space with kids’ kit, pushchairs and laundry baskets. For trips, it is handy for wedding outfits and workwear straight from a suitcase. If you travel abroad, check local voltage and plug requirements before packing any heated appliance.
Safety, fabric care and maintenance
The auto shut-off supports forgetful moments, but you still need safe habits. Keep steam pointed away from hands. Hold the steamer a short distance from the fabric so condensation does not spot delicate fibres. Test on an inside seam if you worry about prints, sequins or trims. Hang items on a sturdy hanger and pull fabric gently to help the fibres relax while you pass the steam head in smooth downward strokes.
Hard water can leave scale in heated appliances. If you live in a hard-water area, consider using filtered or demineralised water to slow build-up. Empty any remaining water after use and let the unit cool before folding and storing. Wipe the head dry to avoid marks transferring to pale fabrics next time.
A few simple habits—filtered water, a short cool-down, and dry storage—keep steam performance consistent week after week.
Price, warranty and family value
At £29.99, this sits in the sweet spot for an everyday helper, not a luxury purchase. The removable tank and steam lock suit multitaskers who juggle laundry with family life. The three-year warranty from Lakeland adds reassurance if you plan to use it often. It is the sort of small buy that pays back in saved minutes and reduced hassle rather than in flashy features.
Who might skip it
If you love immaculate, pressed cotton with knife-sharp pleats, you will still reach for a traditional iron and board. If you process large weekly loads that need structured finishing—think work uniforms with formal creases—a steamer is a companion, not a replacement. For everyone else, it fills the gap between “looks fine” and “looks polished” with very little set-up.
Tips for faster, cleaner results
- Shake out the garment first to loosen set-in creases.
- Use a broad, sturdy hanger and button up shirts to keep fabric stable.
- Steam from the inside of lightweight garments to avoid water spotting.
- Smooth the fabric with your free hand below the steam path, keeping fingers away from heat.
- Work from top to bottom and allow a minute for any moisture to evaporate before wearing.
- Empty the tank after use and leave the head dry before folding away.
A quick note on energy and hygiene
Short bursts of steaming can replace long heat-up times and board sessions. That can cut your appliance run-time, though actual electricity use varies by model and habit. Because you use it vertically, you tend to tackle only what needs attention, not the entire pile—a quiet win for both time and energy.
Steam helps relax fibres and reduce odours between washes. It is not a substitute for laundering, but it keeps garments fresher for longer, which may extend the life of delicate pieces. Use caution on glued interfacing or flocked prints, as heat and moisture can soften adhesives. For woollens, use light passes and greater distance to avoid shine.
If this makes a shirt wearable in 2 minutes, I’m in 🙂
Sounds handy for synthetics and curtains, but can it handle thick cotton oxford shirts without leaving them limp? My steamer always struggles on cuffs and collars—do Lakeland’s attachements fix that, or is the iron still non-negotiable?