Find the Best Steam Iron/Steamer for You
Steam iron, garment steamer, steam generator... So many choices, but what's the best? Let's find the right kind depending on your purposes and lifestyle.
What Kind of Clothing Care Are You Looking for?
STEAM IRON
Basic Ironing Item for Anyone for Daily Fabric Care
Pressing while applying steam removes wrinkles. In addition to the pressing function, some models also can apply steam while the clothes are on hangers.
1. Crisp Finish with Press and Steam
Pressing items while applying steam will remove wrinkles and give them a crisp finish.
2. Making a Neat Crease Line
Pressing will give pleated skirts and slacks a nice crease.
3. Easy Storing with Compact Body
The built-in tank takes up little space and can be stored in a small space.
Dry or Steam?
With a dry iron, you can make the surface of the garment wet with a mist spray and iron over it to give a crisp finish and nice creases. However, sprayed water does not penetrate deep into the fabric like steam does, and is not suitable for thick fabrics like wool. A steam iron can also be used as a dry iron by turning off the steam.
Corded or Cordless?
Steam irons come in 2 types, corded and cordless, and they each have merits and demerits.
Corded: Cords Cause Hassles, but Operation is Stable
Since it is always connected to a power source, temperature is stable, making it easy to iron not only clothes but also large linens like bed sheets. However, maneuvering can be difficult because the cord can become an obstacle.
Cordless: Moves Freely in Any Direction
Handling becomes easy without the cord, and you can freely move the iron to detailed parts to remove wrinkles well. It is suitable for daily usage as you can iron smoothly, and it quickly reheats at the power base while you reposition the clothes.
What Makes the Panasonic Steam Iron Better
Vertical Steam Shot to Care Hung Clothes
When the button is pressed, it shoots out powerful steam. Wrinkles can be removed even when the clothes are on hangers.
Anti-calc Technology for Easy Maintenance
The substance inside the anti-calc unit installed in the water tank prevents limescale, keeping the inside clean for a long lasting steam performance.
Anti-drip Function to Protect Clothes from Staining
When the temperature of the soleplate drops to a certain level, it automatically stops the water supply to prevent leakage from the steam holes.
Recommended Steam Irons
STEAM GENERATOR IRON
Excellent Results with Powerful Steam and High Pressure
Although it is used in the same way as a steam iron, the ability to continuously shoot more steam makes it highly effective and gives a pro-like finish. It is recommended for families as it can iron many items at once.
1. Quick Care with Continuous Steam
The steam shot is not the kind which emits strong steam instantaneously, but continuously releases steam while the button is pressed, allowing for quick wrinkle removal.
2. A Large Water Tank Lets You Iron Many Items at Once
The separate tank from the main unit has a large capacity, allowing it to iron a lot of clothes at once.
3. Pressing with Powerful Steam for a Crisp Finish
By pressing with a large amount of steam, shirts and slacks can be given a crisp finish.
Mechanism of Steam Generator Iron
Whether it has a boiler or not is the biggest difference with the steam iron. A high-pressured boiler on the steam generator iron lets it keep emitting big and powerful steam continuously. There also is a type which pumps water to the handle to generate steam with a heater installed in the handle. Although it does not produce steam as big and strong as the boiler type, it also emits steam continuously.
The Key to Choosing a Steam Generator Iron is Calc Care
Calc care is crucial to steam generator irons that use a lot of water. Water minerals calcify and build up in the boiler and soleplate, making it difficult to remove completely. Calc buildup degrades steam power, causes damage, and also adheres to clothes. Through proper descaling, the iron can be used for a long time.
Panasonic's Unique and Thorough Calc Care
1. Prevents Calc Buildup
First and foremost, the most important thing is to avoid calc formation. Panasonic ADVANCED ANTI-CALC device suppresses calc buildup on the inside by injecting anti-calc substances into the water.
*Applicable for the NI-GT500 model.
2. Easy Cleaning via a Simple Internal Structure
The simple structure of the inside of the boiler allows for thorough rinsing just by putting 500 ml of water from the base.
What Makes the Panasonic Steam Generator Iron Better
Easy Ironing with Optimum Temperature Setting
The delicate fabric of abaya and the thick fabric of kandura can be ironed at the same time without the need for temperature setting.
*Applicable for the NI-GT500 model.
Professional-level Results with Penetrating Steam
The high-pressure boiler continues to generate a large amount of steam, giving the garments a crisp finish without water leakage.
Hygiene Care for 99.99%*¹ Bacteria Removal
Steam simply applied to clothes removes up to 99.99%*¹ of bacteria. This makes hygiene care of hard-to-wash delicates easily.
*1 Certified by TECHNO SCIENCE Co., Ltd.; Test report number: 21070220-002; Test method: Spray steam against** fabric with bacteria; Eliminating bacteria rate: Up to 99.99% of Escherichia coli and up to 99.99% of Staphylococcus aureus
**The test is conducted on cotton cloth and using the product on other fabric might harm the cloth if the temperature is not monitored.
Recommended Steam Generator Iron
UPRIGHT GARMENT STEAMER
Gentle and Quick Care for Various Kinds of Fabric Anytime
Clothes can be easily cared for just by hanging them from the accompanying hanger and applying steam. Since there is no need to press them with a soleplate like irons, it is fabric-friendly care, and is recommended for your favorite delicate clothes that you do not want damaged.
1. Gentle on Delicate and Sensitive Fabric Items
Wrinkles are removed not by pressing, but by applying steam, allowing for a gentle finish for delicate garments. Since it stands upright, it makes taking care of long clothes easy.
2. Effortless Care with No Technique Required
All you have to do is apply steam from the top to bottom along the garment. Because it can be done on clothes hung from the accompanying hanger, there is no need to prepare an ironing board which tends to be troublesome.
3. Cares for Plenty of Items at Once
The big capacity of the tank is good for people who want to steam many clothes at once.
What Makes the Panasonic Garment Steamer Better
Steam Settings on Handle
Since the types of steam can easily be changed right by your hand, you do not have to crouch down to operate it.
Height Can Be Set Freely
The height can be adjusted freely, depending on the length of clothes, or whether you use it sitting down on a chair.
Easy-cleaning Design
A detachable hose makes it easy to wash inside the steamer to prevent calcification.
Recommended Upright Garment Steamer
Specification Comparison Points to Find the Best Iron for You
1. Desired Finish
Irons with a soleplate give you a crisp/creased finish, whereas the types without a soleplate result in a soft finish.
2. Amount of Steam
The more steam an iron generates, the quicker it is to remove stubborn wrinkles.
3. Capacity of Water Tank
Large capacity means plenty of clothes can be taken care of without the need of adding water while ironing.
4. Startup Time
It varies from within a minute to a few minutes. The faster it is, the handier it gets.
5. Storability
From a standing type to a type that fits in your bag, you can take the size into consideration depending on how often you would like to use it, and how big the room is.
Comparison Chart
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Types |
Steam Generator
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Steam Iron
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Upright
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1. Desired Finish |
Crisp finish with press / Soft finish with steam |
Crisp finish with press |
Soft finish with steam |
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2. Amount of Steam |
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3. Capacity of Water Tank |
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4. Startup Time |
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5.Storability |
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6. Fabric Type*1 |
All ironable fabric like cotton and silk.*2 |
Especially for hard fabric(Ex: cotton, linen) |
Especially for soft fabric / items with tatreez or studs |
The chart is a rough guide. Details may vary depending on the product.
*1 Basic ironable clothes can be taken care of with any product, by setting the soleplate temperature and amount of steam appropriately.
*2 When using the Optimal Care Mode on NI-GT500.
Other Ironing Product Contents
How to Clean and Descale Steam Iron
Descaling is essential to ironing products. Check out how to descale steam iron to keep the steam powerful.
What Panasonic Values — Quality and Technology
Our Passion for Iron
Development story of the “Multi-Direction Soleplate”
Ironing Tips
The war on wrinkles_ Steamers vs Irons
It’s time to straighten this out! Discover the difference between a steamer and an iron and pick up some tips on getting those creases out.
Japan Quality - Panasonic Irons
For 90 years, we have helped our customers to spend their days wearing clean, wrinkle-free clothes.