(1
At half past six in the morning, I was waiting for a taxi at Chicago Airport with my suitcase in my arms. The Frappuccino in my hand was shaking like a snow globe—all because I was staring blankly at the shirt in the suitcase. It was wrinkled like the lake surface in Chicago in winter, but I had to show up in front of the client at exactly nine o'clock. Reason tells me: One should get up early to iron clothes. But my gut just laughed: You’ve got that little clothes steamer in your carry-on, three minutes and you’re good. So I felt at ease and continued drinking coffee, like a gambler betting it all in the final seconds.
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Frankly speaking, I'm not a naturally organized person. I would write a packing list before setting off, but then casually stuff it into my jacket pocket. I know about fabric care, but I often put the silk scarf together with the keychain. But I'm a bit smart: knowing I'm unreliable, I find a tool to cover for me. The white steam iron of Nesugar is the buffer between me and wrinkles. It is so light that it can squeeze into a mesh bag with an electric toothbrush. It fogs out in 30 seconds, even faster than my reflexes.
(3
If you have never used a portable steam iron, please keep the following "semi-rational" process in mind:
Hang up: Keep the hem of your clothes at least twenty centimeters off the ground. Gravity will help pull the pleats down.
Spot steaming: First, hit the collar and cuffs, just like hitting pressure points in martial arts. The small areas should be smooth first, and then the larger areas will be smooth.
Three-centimeter safety distance: Fog sees, water droplets don't—this is the sweet spot for steam.
Shake twice: After spraying each area, gently shake the corner of the garment. The fibers will relax in the leftover heat.
Cold seal: Use the hair dryer on the cold setting for ten seconds to lock in those smooth lines.
My rational side stopped there, because from then on I would often be "unreliable"—I would randomly steam the curtains, my backpack, even the hotel key card, feeling secretly pleased: deodorizing and sanitizing at the same time—and maybe making the hotel’s electric bill a little higher.
(4
Some people are worried that steam will damage the fabric. In fact, just remember three simple tips:
Cotton and linen, don't worry. Hit it hard with lots of steam.
Silk should be restrained; keep your distance and go easy.
Don't keep the wool for long. Just a quick pass and you’re done.
If I'm really not sure, I'll do a spot test—find an inconspicuous corner of the garment and spray for two seconds first, see how the fabric reacts, give it a gentle tug and decide if it’s safe. If it goes wrong, no big deal, but it can save your whole outfit. Logic and gut feeling finally make peace.
(5
The actual combat that I am most satisfied with took place in Iceland. At five o'clock in the morning, golden mist was wandering around the port of Reykjavik. I stood on the terrace, steaming away at my down vest. The cold wind blew the steam into a mini rainbow, instantly smoothing out the vest. My photographer friend caught the whole thing on a time-lapse. Later, we all watched the replay together. They asked me where that rainbow came from. I just shrugged and said, "Maybe it was because the vest was in a good mood."
(6
Of course, even the most useful tool has its drawbacks: First, it needs to be plugged in; Secondly, when it comes to thick down jackets, the outer shell can be flattened but you can’t really fluff it back up. Thirdly, once you get used to the flatness, you’ll start noticing wrinkles everywhere—even on bus seats. Is that a side effect? Maybe, but I’ll take it.
(7
Many friends have asked me why I am so obsessed with "flatness". My answer is very practical: When your collar’s crisp and your cuffs are sharp, you hold your head a little higher when you meet someone new. That sense of confidence is like an extra shot of espresso—no one sees it, but it gives you a boost at the negotiation table, in front of the camera, or in your travel selfies.
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Having written this far, my phone timer just went off: The entire piece is approximately two thousand words—enough for you to read between two subway stops, and enough for me to finish this now-cold latte. The last sentence: To those friends like me who are half rational and half casual: Don’t worry about being a little unreliable. Just bring a clever little gadget to cover for you, and life will always balance out between wrinkles and steam.
