If you‘ve ever tried to have your curtains or drapes steamed by a professional, then you know how expensive this can be. In fact, these prices awaken the DIY-er in me. Finding the best steamer for curtains and drapes may be a challenge, though. But we got your back. In this article, we will compare the best steamers for curtains and drapes of 2025.
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Introduction To Fabric Steamers
A fabric steamer is a steamer machine that removes wrinkles and cleans fabrics. Sounds similar to ironing, right?
Key differences between steamers and irons:
| Steaming | Ironing |
| All fabric types | Damaging to delicate fabric types |
| Can operate in all positions | Requires an ironing board |
| Low risk of burning and damaging fabrics | Medium risk of burning and damaging fabrics |
| Portable travel options available | Not suitable for traveling |
| Medium precision | High precision |
If you want to steam curtains and drapes it is best to go for a steamer. Their flexible and low risk properties make them an ideal fit for the job.
Obviously, you don’t want to put in more effort then needed, just to end up ruining your drapes. In fact, even for people who already own an iron we would recommend using a steamer for curtains and drapes. Unless perhaps, if you are a pro with an iron and don’t mind the risk of ruining the fabric.
Nerdy Fact
While the terms curtains and drapes are used interchangeably, there actually is a difference between them. Curtains are designed to fit the window and drapes are designed to fit the wall the window is placed in. Therefore, drapes are usually larger than curtains.
How to Find The Best Steamer for Curtains and Drapes
Important factors to look for in a fabric steamer for curtains and drapes are centered around the capacity and the handling of the machine. Fabric steamers are often made for clothes and garments, which are a lot smaller than curtains and drapes.
Capacity
In order to determine the capacity of the fabric steamer to handle larger fabrics three things need to be checked:
- Tank size
- Steaming time
- Pre-heating time
Based on the tank size we can separate fabric steamers into two groups. A large tank should feature a longer steaming and pre-heating time, whereas a small tank should feature a shorter steaming and pre-heating time. That last one is particularly important to look out for.
Especially in smaller fabric cleaners you may come across short steaming times combined with long pre-heating times, which is terrible if you’re steaming larger curtains or drapes.
Handling
Steamers have the unique benefit of allowing you to steam your curtains and drapes while they are still hanging. While steaming like this, you may or may not need a ladder, and you don’t want to be handling a cumbersome machine.
There are various factors that improve the handling of steamers:
- No steam/heat leakage
- Length of the cord or hose
- A fabric hanger on a telescopic pole
In summary, these are the qualities that we seek for our top 5 best steamers for curtains and drapes.
Top 5 Best Steamers For Curtains And Drapes
Best Compact Steamer for Curtains and Drapes:
HiLIFE Steamer for Clothes
If small, portable, and effective is what you are looking for, then this is the steamer you want. This entry-level steamer has all the basics we like to see in a fabric steamer for curtains and drapes.
Specifications:
- Power: 1100W
- Tank: 10.1 oz or 300.0 mL
- Steaming time: 20 minutes
- Pre-heating time: 30 seconds
- Cord length: 8.6 ft or 262 cm
It does a good job, especially considering its size. However, if you are dealing with many, and / or large curtains the refills and pre-heating may get a bit annoying. In that case, you should consider one of the other models on this list.
Why to Choose
- Portable
- Affordable
- Good steaming time for a small steamer
Why to Avoid
- May require refilling for larger jobs
- May struggle with thicker fabrics
Best Budget Steamer for Curtains and Drapes:
Steamfast SF-407 Canister Steamer
Next, we find the best budget steamer. The Steamfast SF-407 is the first full-sized fabric steamer we find on our list.
Specifications:
- Power: 1500W
- Tank: 40 oz or 1.2 L
- Steaming time: 50 minutes
- Pre-heating time: 45 seconds
- Hose length: 53 inches or 135 cm
This steamer for curtains and drapes features a telescopic pole and a hanger. If for whatever reason, you do not want to steam the curtains while hanging on the window, you can steam them while hanging on the steamer itself. For example, if you want to steam all the curtains and drapes in your home. In that case, you would collect them all first to make optimal use of the steaming time and not going to have to move the machine around through the house.
On the the other hand, this steamer is noticeably less powerful than the next steamers on this list. The steam nozzle is somewhat basic and you may have to re-do certain fabrics multiple times to get a good result.
Why to Choose
- Affordable
- Telescopic pole & Hanger
Why to Avoid
- Short steaming time (for a full sized-steamer)
- May struggle with thicker fabrics
Best Heavy-Duty Steamer for Curtains and Drapes:
Rowenta Handheld Steamer
The Rowenta Handheld Steamer is the most powerful steamer in our rankings, yet it features a compact, handheld design.
Specifications:
- Power: 1875W
- XL Steam Head
- Tank: 7.1 oz or 210.0 mL
- Steaming time: 12 minutes
- Pre-heating time: 15 seconds
- Cord length: 8.5 ft or 259 cm
The 1875W power and XL steam head make for an amazing steaming experience. In fact, this is a steamer for any kind of curtains and drapes. On the other hand, it is a portable model that has to make compromises somewhere. As a result, it will run out of steam in 12 minutes. Luckily, Rowenta included the fastest pre-heating we’ve seen. With only 15 seconds of pre-heating time, refilling won’t be as much of an issue as it otherwise would’ve been.
Why to Choose
- The most powerful portable fabric steamer
- Short pre-heating time
Why to Avoid
- Short steaming time = many refills
- High price for a compact steamer
- Nozzle may be a bit short for certain curtains and drapes
The Best Steamer for Curtains:
True & Tidy X5A Standing Clothes Steamer
Now we’re getting into commercial steamers terrain. The True & Tidy X5A is a serious fabric steamer that combines great power, a large tank, and that convenient hanger. Thus, allowing you to steam all fabrics in your home in one session.
Specifications:
- Power: 1800W
- Tank: 98.0 oz or 2.9 L
- Steaming time: 90 minutes
- Pre-heating time: 40 seconds
- Hose length: 66 inches or 168 cm
The high power and the wide steaming nozzle allow for a high steaming speed. Combined with the long steaming time and relatively short pre-heating time, this steamer makes for an efficient steaming session.
Worried about a blocked nozzle?
In our article on how to use a steam mop, we also explain how to fix the nozzle.
Why to Choose
- High capacity steamer
- 3 Power settings
- Good value-for-money
Why to Avoid
- The hose may be a bit short for drapes
The Best Steamer for Drapes:
SALAV Heavy Duty Commercial Steamer
The SALAV Heavy Duty Commercial Steamer shares all the great specs of the True & Tidy X5A and adds a longer hose. Therefore, it is suitable for longer drapes.
Specifications:
- Power: 1800W
- Tank: 101.4 oz or 3.0 L
- Steaming time: 90 minutes
- Pre-heating time: 40 seconds
- Hose length: 70.5 inches or 179 cm
As can be seen, it boasts the same power, steaming time, pre-heating time, and a slightly larger tank. This commercial steamer for curtains and drapes supports curtains and drapes on its hanger and allows you to steam them conveniently. Additionally, the wide and powerful nozzle allows you to steam large surfaces swiftly.
Why to Choose
- High capacity steamer
- Tall telescopic pole & Hanger
- Efficient
Why to Avoid
- High Price
- Does not have power settings
Conclusion
While there are many fabric steamers to choose from, finding the best steamer for curtains and drapes becomes a lot easier when you know what to look for. Not every fabric steamer has the capacity to steam curtains, let alone drapes. After reading this we hope that you now have a clear picture of what you want and perhaps you’ve even picked one from our top 5.
In summary, these are the 5 best steamers for curtains and drapes of 2025:
- Best Compact Steamer: HiLIFE Steamer for Clothes
- Best Budget Steamer: Steamfast SF-407 Canister Steamer
- Best Heavy-Duty Steamer: Rowenta Handheld Steamer
- The Best Steamer for Curtains: True & Tidy X5A Standing Clothes Steamer
- The Best Steamer for Drapes: SALAV Heavy Duty Commercial Steamer
Every top pick on this list fits different needs. It truly depends on the size and type of the fabric you will be steaming, and how often you expect to be doing so. In any case, these fabric steamers are suited for the job.
Finally, we hope that these tips and recommendations help you enjoy smooth and clean curtains and drapes.
