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Is Conair Still The Best?
Is Conair Still The Best?
Writtten and Edited by: Benjamin White
December 8, 2025
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When it comes to garment steamers, the Conair Turbo Extreme Steam holds the title as the #1 bestseller—but several cheaper options online claim they perform just as well, or even better. So I put them to the test. I compared four popular handheld steamers across heat-up time, runtime, and wrinkle removal to see which one truly delivers.
If you’re looking for the best steamer for travel, everyday use, or heavy wrinkle removal, here’s what you need to know before you buy.
The Steamers I Tested
1. Conair Turbo Extreme Steam — $72.99
The Conair Turbo Extreme Steam packs 1875 watts of power with five steam settings and claims a 40-second heat-up time and up to 20 minutes of continuous steam. It’s positioned as a premium handheld steamer—and one of the most popular on the market.
2. Electrolux Handheld Steamer — $59.99
This steamer offers 1500 watts, two steam settings, and auto shutoff for safety. Electrolux advertises a quick 30-second heat-up and an 18-minute continuous runtime.
3. Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron — ~$25
This steamer offers 1500 watts, two steam settings, and auto shutoff for safety. Electrolux advertises a quick 30-second heat-up and an 18-minute continuous runtime.
4. Jack & Rose Travel Steamer — $59.99
Featuring three steam modes, an LED display, and a rotating steam head, this steamer advertises a 15-second heat-up time and up to 20 minutes of steaming.
Test 1: Heat-Up Time
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam
Heated in exactly 40 seconds, matching the advertised claim.
Electrolux Handheld Steamer
Reached full heat in 24 seconds, beating its own 30-second claim.
Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron
Ready in 12 seconds—slightly slower than the advertised 10 seconds, but still extremely fast.
Jack & Rose Travel Steamer
Took about 30 seconds to heat up—about 15 seconds slower than the marketed 15-second heat-up.
Heat-Up Winner:
Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron — fastest in real-world testing.
Test 2: Runtime
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam
● Half power: 14.5 minutes
● Low power: ~24 minutes
It exceeded the advertised time on lower settings.
Electrolux Handheld Steamer
Ran for almost 16 minutes, falling just short of its 18-minute claim.
Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron
No advertised runtime, but in testing:
● First cycle: 6:45
● Restarted cycle: 4 minutes
Total: ~11 minutes (before producing a humming sound)
Jack & Rose Travel Steamer
Claimed 20 minutes, but delivered only:
● Low mode: 7.5 minutes
● Slight extra run when tilted upright: 30 seconds
Total: ~8 minutes
Runtime Winner:
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam — longest lasting, most reliable.
Test 3: Wrinkle Removal
All steamers were tested on a heavily wrinkled cotton button-down shirt, steaming each section for one minute.
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam
Delivered strong steam and removed most major wrinkles.
Electrolux Handheld Steamer
Spilled a bit of water at the start and left visible wrinkles after steaming. Not as effective.
Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron
Surprisingly good results. After one minute, it was nearly as effective as the Conair.
Jack & Rose Travel Steamer
Removed some wrinkles, but left the shirt noticeably more wrinkled than the top performers.
Wrinkle Removal Winner:
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam — most consistent and powerful performance.
Final Results: Which Steamer Is Best?
Best for Travel / Fast Touch-Ups:
Portable Travel Electric Steam Iron
If you want fast heat-up time and a compact option for quick use or vacation, this mini steamer
is great. The downside is its shorter runtime, so it’s not ideal for larger loads.
Best Overall Steamer:
Conair Turbo Extreme Steam
There’s a reason it’s the #1 selling handheld steamer. It heats reliably, runs consistently for long sessions, and delivers the best wrinkle removal. For most people, this is the one worth buying.
