Philips STH3020/10 Series 3000: foldable handheld steamer for home and travel

The Philips STH3020/10 is a handheld steamer for freshening up clothes without an ironing board. You hold it against a hanging shirt or dress and let the steam relax the creases. At 1,000 W it produces up to 20 grams of steam per minute according to Philips, and it is ready after about 30 seconds.

The steam plate is metal, so you can also press lightly against the fabric. The 120 ml tank comes off for easy refilling. The maker says it works on all ironable fabrics and can refresh clothes between washes, for instance to tackle odours.

For travel it folds up and comes with a storage bag, so it fits in a suitcase and helps with creases after unpacking. The two-metre cord usually reaches hotel sockets.

Worth knowing: a steamer is no substitute for an iron if you want sharp creases or perfectly flat collars. 120 ml covers a few garments before you refill. There is only one steam setting and no automatic anti-calc system; with hard water, distilled or filtered water is a good idea. Never point the steam at people or at clothes someone is wearing.