No matter how much I might try and avoid it, sometimes I find myself facing a mountain of ironing.

From school shirts to fancy dresses, an hour or so hunched over the ironing board is an integral part of my laundry routine that just can't be avoided.

Having seen some social media influencers switching to handheld steamers I was intrigued to find out more about them.

Conventional  irons require an ironing board and precise technique, running a steaming hot iron acorss the board, re-arranging garments to ensure no wrinkle goes unnoticed. 

Steamers on the other handoffer a more flexible approach. Used in an upright position they promise to work on a variety of fabrics, with minimal risk of damage.

Eager to chuck out my ironing board for good, I ordered myself a handheld steamer.

I like the idea that unlike traditional irons, steamers don’t require direct contact with the fabric, reducing the chances of scorch marks or shine. This makes them especially useful for delicate materials like silk, chiffon and wool.

Another key benefit is the steamer’s ability to refresh and sanitise garments, as the high-temperature steam is ideal for freshening up clothes between washes.

This is particularly useful for suits, coats and other items that require professional cleaning but don’t necessarily need a full wash after each wear.

With this in mind, I scooped up a lightweight jacket that was looking a bit creased up from a recent night out. 

A quick scan of the instructions and I had the small tank filled with water and the steamer heating up.

Feeling like a backstage extra at a fashion show, I began to steam. 

I will say that it feels a bit odd at first, running the steamer up and down the garment, and I worried that all that steam was just making it wet. 

But in fact it was working wonders. The nasty creases fell out pretty quickly and it was much easier than having to manhandle an oddly shapped jacket across an ironing board. 

Do I think I could do a entire laundry load of school shirts using this steamer? Probably not! But it is quick and easy to use, making it well suited to unweildy garments, delicates and things only worn once in a while. 

Better still, it didn't make my back hurt.