Do these units work well enough to justify a purchase? They are both OOS, so no chance I’m paying to store an ironing board, even if it is small.
Maybe my kids are slobs, but I am pretty sure my kids never used an iron or a steamer while in college. Is it something they use a lot currently?
Some dorms have ironing boards and irons for the few kids who use them. It would be the last thing I’d buy, meaning I’d wait to see if there is one provided or if the kids had a need for it.
This is the one I have that works the best by a lot. https://www.target.com/p/joy-mangano-garment-steamer/-/A-51884962?preselect=51830369#lnk=sametab
My D doesn’t own an iron but her boyfriend does and he irons!
Check ebay, they have some for as low $12.
My son hasn’t ironed in two years and he wears a lot of button down shirts. He does try to hang them quickly after they dry. It is my daughter that I’m more worried about and no neither one have ever used an iron.
I sent my D with a small iron her first year and she never used it. Try Downy Wrinkle Release instead. It works, and my D actually used it.
My D actually used one all the time, picked it up at Costco. I think it’s the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam which was inexpensive at Costco. Maybe $39??? She even had it out at home last week. Has also used the Downy Wrinkle release. My sons, uh, no, and if they had something to unwrinkle, they know the “hang it in the steamy shower bathroom” trick, but even that highly unlikely.
I use an iron with a handtowel on a hard surface. I think an iron is a lot easier to use and store than a steamer.
Unless your kids are already ironer/steamer souls, I agree with the wrinkle release spray (though my college kids claim that the Woolite spray works better than Downey!).
The wrinkle release sprays are great!
Folding travel iron, bath towel, flat surface, and you are good to go. I seem to recall people ironing on their beds.
I have that same Conair steamer from Costco and it’s good. I hardly ever use it, but that’s because I use my iron more often and only use the steamer for delicate things.
D got a second hand one at a thrift store that was 5 min from campus. DH told her it was probably 4th or 5th hand, but she is happy with it - and for $7, she will be glad to donate it back when she is done.
I used to just iron on my bed, but I could see freshman girls planning on rushing really wanting their outfits to be 100% perfect and the fabrics might be better served with a steamer vs an iron.
Highly recommend a travel size steamer for dorm room. Very small, quick, easy, and especially good for fabrics that are tough to iron. My D uses hers all the time and says her friends borrow it frequently. Doubt any of them has touched an iron in the dorm. We own several, since Ds and I all have them. I almost never iron anymore. I have purchased different models from Amazon including Pure Steam and Taotronics.
My kids never had an iron in school, but that’s because we at our house we buy all wash/wear and do “hang it up from the dryer” method.
(We actually did move to CO in 1993 with 2 irons … but we left the ironing board in NY and never bought a replacement. DH did a few times have to do ironing on the dining room table / pads for orchestra concert attire.)
I use a steamer regularly. It’s not compact, but tall with a pole to hang the hose on. I wish it had an auto off function. (Time out) I have left it pn by mustake before. I dont want to start a fire!
I bought this one for my son before he left for college last fall:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XD566YX/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I also bought the wrinkle release spray recommended here.
I don’t think he used either, but I feel he may need to dress up more as he becomes an upper classman.