After working at the front desk for so many years, I finally realized: A handy garment steamer can really save lives.
If you ask me, what is the most dreaded situation I have encountered during my time as a receptionist?
It's not customer complaints, nor is it having a flooded phone line. Instead, it's...
It was almost time to go to work in the morning. I looked down and saw that my clothes were completely wrinkled.
This sounds a bit funny, but only those who have worked in the front desk can understand how panicked one felt at that moment.
I have been working as a receptionist in this company for the past seven years. Every day, I sit in the most prominent position in the lobby, greeting visitors, clients, bosses, interviewees, and all kinds of people who show up unexpectedly. Many people think this job is easy, but in fact, the pressure is hidden in the details.
You can't be sloppy, can't be disorganized, and can't look unprepared.
To be honest, I used to underestimate the importance of clothing. Only later did I gradually understand that:
The professionalism of the front desk staff is, to a large extent, "appearing to be very reliable".
And one thing that helps me reduce anxiety, avoid embarrassing situations and avoid waking up early is a handy garment steamer.
This job at the front desk may seem simple, but in fact, one is constantly on call throughout the day.
When many friends first come to my company to visit me, they would say:
"This job of yours is quite comfortable, you just sit there and answer the phone."
I usually just smile and don't explain much.
Because outsiders really have a hard time understanding our daily routine.
I'll briefly describe my ordinary working day for you.
At 8:20 in the morning, I arrive at the company.
First, I turn on the computer.
Then I check the visitor system.
I confirm the schedule of the meetings for the day.
I tidy up the desktop at the front desk.
I arrange the courier documents in chronological order.
Finally, I take one last look at my clothes.
Then at 8:55, people began to enter one after another.
For the entire rest of the day, there were very few real breaks.
The phone rang, visitors were registered, colleagues borrowed the meeting room, takeout arrived, the boss asked for the documents to be printed...
These things would suddenly pop up, and often all at the same time.
So we rely heavily on a certain state:
It always seems that we are fully prepared.
Even though I just finished dealing with a bunch of things not long ago.
I used to get up early every day just to iron the clothes.
During the first few years of my employment, the company had quite strict requirements for the appearance of the front desk staff.
A white shirt, suit pants, and a dark coat were the standard combination.
The problem is -
White shirts tend to get wrinkled easily.
Especially those made of pure cotton. After being washed and dried, there will be creases on the sleeves, front part and back of the garment.
If not dealt with, it will look very lackluster.
At that time, I used a traditional iron.
Every morning, the routine was the same:
First, spread out the ironing board.
Add water to the iron.
Let it heat up slowly.
Then press it piece by piece.
Collar opening
Cuff
Shoulder
Ahead
behind
The entire process will take approximately 20 minutes.
Sometimes, halfway through ironing, one realizes there isn't enough time left, and becomes extremely nervous.
When nervous, one's hands tend to make mistakes.
If the temperature is just a little higher, the fabric will develop those shiny marks.
I remember there was one time when I was in a particularly embarrassing situation.
That day, a client was coming for an interview and I was in a hurry to leave. The iron accidentally stayed in one position for too long.
As a result, there was a bright spot directly on the front of my shirt.
At that time, I could only change into another shirt and my whole mood was completely disrupted.
Later on, I kept thinking:
Is there a way that would be faster and also easier?
The first time I used a garment steamer was in the company's changing room.
It was probably around four or five years ago that the company's administrative department installed a handheld steam device in the staff lounge.
That day, I just casually gave it a try, and to my surprise, it turned out to be quite impressive.
Hang up the clothes
Press the button
Steam will start to come out after several seconds
Walk up and down from top to bottom
In just two or three minutes, the shirt became very smooth.
At that moment, my strongest feeling wasn't "the effect was great", but rather -
It turns out that sorting out clothes can be so much easier.
Later, I gradually started to use this method at home as well.
Then, I simply placed another one in the office locker.
Because in this front desk position, you really never know when you might suddenly need it.
There was once an experience that made me completely decide to never be without a garment steamer.
It was a Monday morning.
I arrived at the company ahead of time and took my coat out of the closet.
The clothes had been folded inside the closet for two days over the weekend, and there was a very obvious horizontal crease on the back.
I was planning to deal with it later when I had some free time. But suddenly, the sales department brought the client directly into the office.
And this was the first time a client had visited the company.
At that moment, I could only immediately stand up to receive them.
I felt extremely uncomfortable because I knew the crease on my back was very obvious.
After that day, I made a decision:
The office must have a garment steamer that is always ready for use.
It's not for the sake of appearance, but to reduce that kind of "fear of not being able to do it in time" anxiety.
Over the years of using it, I gradually came to understand what kind of garment steamer is truly effective.
I'm not the kind of person who specializes in studying parameters.
But after using it for a long time, some practical judgment criteria will still form.
All of these were summarized from the daily experiences of encountering problems.
First: The startup should be fast.
The morning time is really tight.
If the equipment takes two or three minutes to produce steam, it's very likely that people will give up.
Especially when one is already running late.
The range that I can currently accept myself is approximately:
About half a minute to one minute.
This time won't make anyone feel anxious.
Second: Don't be too heavy.
This point is particularly important.
Some machines seem to have many functions, but they are very heavy when held in hand.
When folding long coats or dresses, the hands will feel very tired.
If you use it every day, the weight will really affect the experience.
Third: The steam must be stable.
I used to have a device before. At the beginning, the steam was very strong.
But after using it for a few minutes, it weakened and even became intermittent.
The result is that:
Some parts of the clothes are smooth and flat, while other parts are still wrinkled.
Later I came to understand that stability is more important than "seeming strong".
Fourth: The structure should be as simple as possible.
I really like the design that is very straightforward in operation.
Add water
Open
Use
Just these three steps.
There are too many buttons and the modes are too complicated. In fact, this only adds to the burden.
Especially when one is in a hurry in the morning, they simply don't want to bother with the research.
Fifth: The size should be suitable for easy storage.
The storage cabinets at the front desk are usually not very large.
There are already many things to be stored inside:
Backup shoes
Makeup bag
Document
Water cup
If the equipment is too large, it can easily become a burden.
I used a Nesugar handheld device in the office for a while. It was a relatively lightweight type.
It wouldn't take up too much space when placed in the cabinet, and it was very convenient to use when taken out.
For people like us who use it every day, this "easy-to-use" feeling is more important than any fancy features.
Many people think that a garment steamer can only be used to clean shirts. However, that's far from the truth.
After working at the front desk for a long time, I found that its uses were becoming increasingly diverse.
Sometimes it is even more practical than I imagined.
Sort out the scarves and the suit jackets
In winter, the company will provide uniform scarves.
This kind of fabric is prone to leaving marks if ironed with an iron.
Using steam for ironing will result in a much more natural finish.
The suit jacket is the same.
Steam can allow the fabric to slowly return to its original shape instead of being forcibly compressed.
It is particularly convenient when on a business trip.
When I was on business trips in the past, I was the most afraid of opening the suitcase.
The clothes tend to get wrinkled.
The iron in the hotel sometimes doesn't work properly and sometimes isn't very clean.
Later, I got used to carrying a small garment steamer.
It is not large in size and is very convenient to put in the suitcase.
After arriving at the hotel, you can get your clothes sorted out in just a few minutes.
You will feel much more at ease.
My current view on this matter is actually quite simple.
The clothes are neatly arranged, not for showing off.
But to make oneself more composed.
Especially in positions like the front desk, you are constantly interacting with strangers every day.
The first impression is often formed within just a few seconds.
We don't need to wear expensive clothes.
But we must look clean, neat and energetic.
And a good garment steamer actually does a very simple thing:
It helps you maintain your dignity even when you are at your busiest.
If you are a receptionist, an administrative staff member, or someone who needs to interact with many people every day, I sincerely recommend that you remember these few words.
All of this I have gradually understood over the years.
First, don't wait until your clothes are very wrinkled before you deal with them.
The easiest time to tidy them up is when there are only minor wrinkles.
Secondly, it would be best to have a machine ready in the office
that can really come in handy in an emergency
Thirdly, don't strive for the most expensive option.
Convenience and stability are more important than anything else.
Fourth, make sorting out clothes a regular action
Just as brushing teeth is a natural habit.
Final Note
Over the years working as a receptionist, one thing I have learned is:
Many seemingly small details can gradually affect others' judgment of you.
Is the clothing neatly arranged?
Is the tabletop tidy?
Is the speech composed?
These things won't immediately change one's fate, but they will gradually build up a sense of trust.
For me, the garment steamer is neither a high-tech product nor a fashionable item.
It is more like a quiet helper that accompanies me every morning.
It made me feel a little more at ease when I walked into the company and sat at the front desk.
