The Hilife Steamer for clothes is part of the latest trend among garment steamers that have been part of the fashion industry for years now, and in recent years, the rest of us have discovered their greatness. Steam irons, while popular, are heavy, and hot, require a horizontal surface like an ironing board, and can easily burn or melt delicate fabrics.
Clothes steamers on the other hand offer convenient and flexible garment care solutions. From pro-grade, upright steamers to portable handheld models, the best clothes steamers are much less awkward than traditional ironing. Again, you’ll spend less money on some of the best-handled steamers, but they do the job of removing stubborn wrinkles with unmatched precision.
In this review, we’re looking at the Hilife Steamer for clothes that come in a handheld design, have a fairly big capacity (240ml), and has a 700W motor that produces strong penetrating steam for tough wrinkles on your clothes. The portable handheld design makes it ideal for home use, office and can be used during travel as it weighs much less than an old-fashioned steam iron.
Hilife Steamer for Clothes specs
- Tank capacity: 240 milliliters (8.1 fluid ounces)
- Warm-up period: 120 seconds
- Steam duration: 14 – 16 minutes
- Voltage: 120V
- Wattage: 700W
- Power cord length: 2.7 meters (9 feet)
Design and Features
The Hilife Steamer is a little, stout appliance that measures 6.8 x 5.5 x 7 inches and weighs only 1.7 pounds, but it’s a little heavier than the URPOWER Garment Steamer (1.2 pounds); still, it feels well-built and durable despite its small size. It arrives in white plastic, but it gets some clear plastic on the sides and front to allow you to monitor the amount of water in the holding jar, and a lip with nozzles through which the steam is released. It comes with a 9.2-foot power cord and rubber cable wrap for easy storage.
Using the Hilife Steamer is pretty easy out of the box: Just ensure the steamer is unplugged, fill it with water, and attach the brush accessory. The steam nozzle twists and locks into place, there’s also an ON/OFF switch that controls the heating element.
The reservoir holds up to 240ml of water. Also included is a plastic measurement cup, marked up to 250ml, which takes the guesswork out of accurately filling the steamer. If you misplace the measurement cup, don’t be worried, there’s a maximum fill line on the side of the steamer. Overfilling can cause water to spurt out of the steam nozzle.
Hilife specifically recommends using distilled or de-mineralized water since mineral buildup will occur if the water source contains minerals and sediments. If mineral buildup occurs, Hilife recommends the following cleaning solutions:
- Create a mixture of white vinegar and citric acid (lemon juice).
- Mix 30mL of cleaning solution with 100mL water or 1:4 ratio.
- When the steamer is off and completely cool, add the mixture to the reservoir. Heat for 3 to 5 minutes.
- After the steamer has cooled, repeat with only 130mL of water.
- Repeat steps as needed until the unit is clean.
Finally, the Hilife HL7 takes about 2 minutes to make steam, and a full reservoir (240ml of water) provides between 10-15 minutes of steam. Between water refills, the heating element requires a 15-minute cool-down period. In addition to unplugging in-between refills, allowing it to cool down ensures that you will not burn yourself with hot water or the generated steam.
- Easy to Use: This 700W steamer generates gentle, long-lasting steam and has a 9- foot...
- Portable: This garment steamer is portable and lightweight, making it an ideal travel...
What we like
Quick and easy removal of wrinkles on clothes
Among handheld steamers, the Hilife steamer easily leads the pack thanks to quick steam generation, meaning you spend less time getting wrinkles off your clothes. As mentioned, it takes 120 seconds to generate steam, meaning that once you turn it on, you won’t worry about waiting for a long time. This feature comes in handy especially when you have a pile of clothes that need to be steam ironed, and you won’t have any idle time in between. Also, the 240ml capacity is large enough to steam a pile of clothes without having to refill too often.
Another time-saving feature is the power rating on this clothes steamer. With a 700W power rating, it means that this gadget can not only generate powerful steam, but it can do so quickly as well. That said, we’ve seen handheld steamers like the Conair Garment Steamer with a 1875W power rating and a 215ml capacity, should you need something more powerful and with a larger capacity for a big household.
Multipurpose use – steamer and sterilizer
If you look around, you’ll realize that there are handheld steamers that cost much less than our review unit, yet they have almost similar specs on paper. While that’s true, what is probably lacking is the sterilizer option – with those alternatives, you’re only getting the steam function.
With the Hilife steamer, you can use it as both a seamer for your garments and as a sterilizer across the household. There are various other applications of this steamer as well, which is the reason why you should go for it. It minimizes the need to buy all of these features separately. It not only provides you with better value for money but adds to the convenience.
Easy to use and pack for travel
One of my favorite features of the Hilife portable garment steamer is its small size. It is easy to store on a shelf in our laundry area. A traditional ironing board is awkward and may be difficult to move around. It was convenient to take the steamer to the room where I keep my garment rack.
As a portable steamer, it easily fits into a suitcase for travel. It takes approximately one hour to cool completely. A paper towel works well for drying water left in the reservoir.
What we don’t like
ON/OFF controls lack key features
On the Hilife HL7 steamer, once the ON button is selected, the unit will begin heating the water and release water after 120 seconds. Unfortunately, after the water in the reservoir is heated, the steam is released automatically.
The off button will stop the steam temporarily. When you are ready to begin steaming again, it will take 30 seconds to 2 minutes to heat the water again.
There is no auto-off function or warning beep once the water gets too low.
It’s prone to accidental leaking
If you tilt the steamer more than 35°, hot water will come out. The steam nozzle must remain upright.
The brush accessory helps control the distance between the steam nozzle and the clothing. This helped to minimize the need for tilting the steamer nozzle. In addition, it also minimizes water spots.
Should you buy the HiLife Steamer?
The Hilife Steamer lives up to its promise of providing a convenient and efficient solution for garment care. Its quick heating time, versatility, and user-friendly design make it a valuable addition to any household. While some minor issues have been reported, such as occasional water leakage, the overall positive performance and safety features outweigh these drawbacks.
If you’re seeking a practical and hassle-free way to keep your clothes wrinkle-free, the Hilife Steamer is definitely worth considering.
The Review
Hilife Steamer
The HiLife Steamer for clothes lives up to its promise of providing a convenient and efficient solution for garment care. Its quick heating time, versatility, and user-friendly design make it a valuable addition to any household.
Recommended Configuration
Hilife Steamer for Clothes, Portable Handheld Design, 240ml Big Capacity, 700W, Strong Penetrating Steam, Removes Wrinkle, for Home, Office and Travel
$29.99 in stock
3 used from $23.69
PROS
- Quick heating time for efficient steaming
- Versatile and suitable for various fabrics
- Compact and portable design
- Continuous steam function for larger tasks
CONS
- Occasional water leakage reported by some users
- Water tank capacity might be limited for extensive steaming sessions
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-11-21 at 01:06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
