Travel Steamer Recommendation?

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Buy one when you get to Europe. A US based steamer that requires high wattage with need both a converter and an adapter and will not work particularly well on 240v. If a steamer is critical then buy it when you arrive.

I don't know if you'll be near a mall or large shopping centre, but check out the "Electronics" stores.

Some years ago in Italy, I inquired about getting a Euro curling iron. My friend brought me to the Mall where there was an electronic store - they sold other gadgets and this and that too. It was not expensive - I recall about 12€ and was the one I wanted - a "brush wand."

Many of us are used to going to a Walmart Super Center or a big Target or even the Malls and pretty much getting everything we need. So going to an electronics store for a curling wand seemed different - but, it does make sense (it is an electric item.)

If you're in Rome, try the department store - Coin, an electronics store, or a beauty supply store - i.e. similar to "Sally's Beauty. Supplies" If you are near the bigger COOP stores (as in a Mall), they may have a beauty/hair style section - maybe in cosmetics or toiletries.

LOL! I "swear' I am not drinking...I based my reply on "a curling iron." You asked about a steamer....oh boy....

If you don't mind, I'll leave the post up if others browsing may want a curling iron or may find the steamer in one of the suggestions.

Thank you Frank and Girasole....you both make a good point...If I really need it, I'll buy it there (Germany). Otherwise I will need a converter (now I know why my last travel steamer blew up). I'll bring the Downy Wrinkle Spray and see how it goes ;-)

Thanks again!

kadams, You are welcome. And thanks also for "humoring me" on my slight blunder. But, now if you need a "curling iron," you have a few suggestions on that. lol

I'd try very hard to avoid carrying a steamer around with me. A small squirt bottle to spritz wrinkles may be all you need. I suggest doing a test packing of all your clothe in a full suitcase. Don't pack too neatly; you may sometimes be rushed during your trip. Leave everything in the bag for 24 hours. Then hang the clothes and see what they look like a few hours later. If some are not acceptable, spritz the wrinkles and check again a few hours later.

I do exactly what acraven does. A small spray bottle and plain water. Hang the garment up the night before, spray the wrinkles, and in the morning all is good.

As stated, try it at home first. If an item you want to take wrinkles easily, you may want to take something else.

If you do take the empty bottle through security, take off the top because if they see a bottle with top on the X-ray they may pull your bag aside to inspect. I learned this the hard way.

I too carry a small 3-4oz empty spray bottle. If spritzing and hanging alone doesn't do the job I spray then use a hair dryer on the item. I've also used a hotel iron when my husbands dress shirt had spent two weeks packed and the above wasn't enough.

A converter is not necessarily going to do the trick. European electrical current is generally 50 cycle AC current with 240 volts. In the US, we use 120 volts with 60 cycles. The exception is in your laundry room and maybe your kitchen where you have a 220 - 240 volt outlet for your dryer or electric range.

Most small appliances have dual voltage capability, and you can read that in a label near the plug or on the base of the appliance in very small type. For the purpose of most appliances, which do not generate heat, the dual voltage capability is fine; examples are your chargers, your laptop, perhaps your water pick.

The problem is that when an appliance needs to generate heat, it needs to draw more current, or amps. This means that American appliances really are not at their best because while they technically will work at the higher of the voltages, they really aren't designed to do so for extended periods of time.

Hence, heed the warnings and buy your steamer in Italy. Also, be advised that the wiring in older buildings is not generally set up to draw high amperage for generating heat. When you plug your steamer or hair dryer into the lower amperage current rated circuit, you can trip a fuse or breaker, if the circuit has one, or your device can really fry itself.

I am not an electrician, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

Where are you traveling that irons aren't provided either in the room or by request? They typically are steam irons. Turn it into a steamer....if the Downy or water doesn't do the trick.

Magellan sells the Conair compact dual voltage steamer which will work in Europe. I have used a small travel steamer overseas for decades. Just get a plug adapter, no need for a voltage converter with the dual voltage. The principle of the steamer is essentially like an electric kettle, just boiling water to create steam, no fans or motors involved.

That being said, you might want to check with your hotels and bed/breakfasts. Many have at least one ironing board and steam iron available if you ask. I rarely need to carry the steamer any more in western Europe for vacations. But on business trips I still pack it for convenience.

Where are you traveling that irons aren't provided either in the room
or by request? They typically are steam irons. Turn it into a
steamer....if the Downy or water doesn't do the trick.

Good advice. I used an iron by request in a London hotel, several years ago.

When I travel with anything I might want to iron - in the US or abroad - I bring an empty small (3 or 4 ounce) spray bottle and an old linen dishcloth. I use the hotel's iron on steam setting, spritz a mist of water on the garment to be ironed, and use the cloth as a press cloth between the iron and my garment. That allows the heat and steam to reach the garment, while protecting the garment from deposits of any grunge from the iron. Occasionally that cloth has saved the day, as you can't be sure that the hot iron won't deposit something on your clothes. If it leaves something ugly on the press cloth, it's no big deal.

It's been a long time since I traveled overseas with clothing that requires ironing. I like the idea mentioned above, of bringing my empty spritz bottle to encourage packing folds/wrinkles to vanish overnight.