A cloth steamer has saved my "chaotic yet decent" life
I'm not a perfectionist. But life often forces me to pretend to be one.
Every day, I'm shuttling between exhibitions, client meetings and flights. I might be having a bagel in New York in the morning and showing up at a press conference in Tokyo in the evening. In this kind of pace, there's not much I can control. Sometimes, I don't even have time to eat. But there's one thing I never compromise on—I can't appear before anyone in wrinkled clothes.
You might think this sounds too formalistic. But only when you have truly experienced the moment when your entire state is ruined by a piece of clothing will you understand how important a clean and crisp appearance is. It's not for others, but for me to maintain a sense of control and a decent self-assertion in the fast-paced life.
That’s why a cloth steamer became my secret weapon.
01 | At first, it was just annoyance with the iron, but later it turned into a reliance on steam.
I can't remember how many times I've been "let down" by traditional irons. They are heavy, slow, picky about fabric, prone to leaking, and those tiny irons in hotels that make no sense, as if they were designed specifically to cause anxiety.
At first, I simply wanted to find something to replace the iron, so I tried a cloth steamer. To my surprise, once I started using it, I couldn't do without it.
I still remember that night very clearly. In an old hotel in Milan, after taking a bath, I found the suit jacket I was going to wear the next morning all wrinkled. There was no iron or any tool, only an old wooden hanger and... a cloth steamer I had brought along casually. Five minutes later, the clothes were as neat as if they had just come out of the dry cleaner's. Standing in front of the mirror at that moment, I was almost moved.
02 | Why is the cloth steamer more suitable for today's fast-paced life than the traditional iron?
This is not a complete rejection of traditional irons; they are certainly useful. But what truly attracts me about the cloth steamer is the wisdom it demonstrates in adapting to modern life through its details.
A. Portability + Ready-to-use = The First Choice for Travelers
The portable cloth steamer from Nesugar that I often use has a simple and lightweight design, which can be tucked into a corner of the carry-on luggage, taking up almost no space. Most importantly—no ironing board needed! All you need is a wall and a hanger to steam the entire garment.
During each trip, I can handle shirts, dresses, blazers and even once in Paris, I used it to rescue a silk dress that had been deformed from being squashed in the suitcase within just two or three minutes.
B. Wide range of applicable materials, no more anxiety
I have almost tried cotton, linen, chiffon, silk, wool, etc. Traditional irons need to adjust the temperature and be cautious of "burning"; the steam released by the cloth steamer is gentle and stable, feeling like a hot towel on the fabric, and there is almost no need to worry about the accident of "turning yellow due to overheating".
I have a few particularly expensive items that I never dared to iron by myself before. Now, I trust them all to the cloth steamer.
03 | Not Just for "Temporary Use", but an Everyday Essential I Use Daily
Many people think that a cloth steamer is something you only bring when traveling on business. But for me, it has long become a part of my daily life.
Every morning, I enjoy a cup of coffee while using a cloth steamer to tidy up my outfit for the day. Especially in winter, some wool coats or knitted sweaters don't need frequent washing; a steam treatment is actually more suitable.
Sometimes, I even use it on curtains and bed sheets. Yes, you heard that right. Just a light spray and the fabric becomes smooth and tidy, as if I've moved into a brand new house.
04 | Can a cloth steamer really solve "last-minute crises"? I've experienced it several times myself.
Sometimes, it's not just an "icing on the cake", but a "lifesaver".
Outside the conference room in Tokyo, a big crease was found on the back of my shirt ten minutes ago
I pulled the Nesugar steamer out of my bag and fixed the problem in two minutes. When I walked into the conference room, no one could tell that I had just carried out an "emergency operation".
At the shooting site in Los Angeles, when the model tried on the sample dress, she found that the hem was deformed
The director went crazy and the stylist was almost in a state of collapse. I took out the small cloth steamer I carried with me, told jokes while dealing with the dress, and fixed it in three minutes. Everyone said I was like a magician.
The winter coat in New York smells strange, but there's no time to wash it
That day, I just gave it a few quick steams, and the whole coat felt like it had just come back from the dry cleaners. At that moment, I suddenly realized that it was not an "alternative" to ironing clothes at all, but a completely different life tool.
05 | Who is the cloth steamer suitable for?
Of course, I personally rely on it a lot, but in fact, many people can also truly benefit from it:
Frequent travelers: Save time, don't rely on hotel irons, stay presentable anytime, anywhere.
For those who care about their outfits but are afraid of the hassle: simpler than an ironing board and no technical barriers.
For those who have requirements for the material of their clothes: when dealing with delicate fabrics such as silk and wool, steam is safer.
Home minimalist: Not wanting to have a bulky ironing board, this compact tool is just right.
Content creator/photographer: Every look must be perfect. The condition of the clothing determines the quality of the shoot.
06 | Tips for Using a Cloth Steamer (Proven Effective)
These are the practical tips I've found very useful after actual use:
1.Clothes must be hung up; don't lay them flat. Otherwise, it won't be effective.
2.Keep the nozzle about 1 to 2 inches away from the fabric so that the steam is more concentrated.
3.Vertical spraying is more effective than horizontal spraying, as it utilizes gravity to naturally straighten the fabric.
4.For cotton and linen clothes, you can gently stretch them before steaming for better results.
5.Remember to empty the water tank after use, which can prolong the machine's lifespan.
6.Don’t stop at clothes—curtains, throw pillows, and scarves can get the same treatment, with surprisingly great results.
07 | Why I've Always Used Nesugar's Cloth Steamer
In fact, I've tried many brands. Some seemed to have rich functions, but in actual use, either the steam was unstable, or the heating was slow, they leaked water easily, or took up too much space.
This Nesugar model was initially recommended by a friend. After taking it on a business trip to Miami, I haven't switched to any other since. It's not because of its fancy features, but because it's stable, reliable and practical.
It doesn't have fancy functions, but it always performs reliably when I need it most. For me, the value of a tool lies in its ability to deliver when it counts.
08 | The more complex life gets, the more I believe in the power of "small details".
I once wrote on a plane:
"You can't control the changes in the world, but you can control what you wear when you go out."
In this era where everything changes at a rapid pace, a cloth steamer is like an anchor for me in the chaos. It's not big, not expensive, and not fancy, but in my life, it brings a sense of stability and order.
When I iron a shirt with it in the morning, it's not just about smoothing out the fabric; it's about telling myself to start the day neatly and efficiently.
Conclusion | A cloth steamer is not merely a "household tool"; it represents a lifestyle
If you still think a cloth steamer is only for "housewives", you have truly missed out on all its charm. For me, it is a sign of respect for my appearance, a grasp of details, and a control over the pace of life.
And Nesugar is exactly the one I've been using all along. I never actively recommend brands, but this time, I'm willing to vouch for it—not because it's perfect, but because it allows me to stand in front of others every time without a single wrinkle or a hint of nervousness.
If you are willing to start taking every piece of clothing you wear out seriously, then begin with a cloth steamer.
