Customer Reviews

Rowenta IS9100 1550 Watt Precision Valet Commercial Garment Steamer with Retractable Cord

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I recently returned the Rowenta Pro Compact steamer in exchange for this "commercial" steamer.

It certainly is a big improvement. The extra 150 watts of steaming power makes a noticeable difference.

There are several features that make this a wonderful unit. The large 1 gallon water tank is clear and easy to remove and refill. The on/off switch and the automatic cord reel are both foot actuated. There are two onboard accessories bins that keep the attachments from disappearing. The steam is powerful, plentiful and literally rolling out in 60 seconds. Also, the unit is quite sturdy.

Unfortunately, there are a few design flaws and disappointing problems. The two large wheels do not roll on my hardwood floors nor on my carpet. Instead as you drag the machine it leaves a nice trail of marks on the floor. The telescoping handles are not secured into the base of the machine and pull out when you attempt to lift the machine. Also, this unit did not come with a handy plastic brush attachment that the cheaper unit did.

Having said all this, the Rowenta Precision Valet Steamer does a wonderful job of removing stubborn wrinkle quickly and easily.

I have used a steamer (different brand) for the last 4 years minus all the nice amenities that the Rowenta IS9100 model has. Last month it started leaking which could not be repaired so I was on the hunt for a new steamer.
I was going to buy the same steamer and then I saw this Rowenta Model IS9100 Commercial one and with all the amenities and I decided to buy this and give it a try. After researching "everything" that was out there on clothes steamers, the Rowenta rose to the top of my list for several reasons. The larger water resorvoir which is fabulous! I can steam many more items now without having to stop and refill it...VERY nice feature.

The adjustable handle is also quite nice, allowing me to push it down and slide it out of the way in my laundry room. The efficient and FAST operation of this unit is also very very good. Seems like you don't even wait a minute or so and you have HOT steam and ready to rock and roll! (As much as you can rock and roll while steaming clothes ;-) Less expensive steamers take 3 to 4 times longer to heat up, so this is a great feature. Also very hot steam...be careful ladies, this is a wonderful feature for getting out those really stubborn wrinkles, but it really smarts if you accidentally get a thumb in the way ;-)
The automatic cord rewind is another great feature. Before with my old steamer I had to wind my cord around and around and around my stand, which usually fell down anyway.

The garment rack on top is also great...just throw your shirt, sweater over the shoulder forms and steam away....then slide your hanger on and hang up...viola...done...kaput....give me the next item to steam. It rolls great and overall this is one top notch steamer.
So, if you are in the market and looking for a solid steamer...you won't find one better than this! I love mine! (If you couldn't tell ;-) You really will not find one better. Remember that old saying "You get what you pay for"...well this is worth every cent!
Halle' Hudson
Spring, TX

I have to wear business attire to work everyday. I bought this steamer with the hope that I could cut down on my dry-cleaning bill and avoid the chemicals used by dry cleaners by doing my own ironing. I was particularly hoping that I could use this to handle washing and ironing my dress shirts, which become wrinkly after a single use and dirty after a couple wears. I have a regular table iron that I have used for over a decade to iron my clothes, but it simply takes too long to adequately iron a dress shirt. I was hoping this steamer was the answer to my dilemma; unfortunately, it isn't.

The steamer simply cannot handle dress shirts adequately, other than taking out simple creases on the flat areas of the front and back. If you have a freshly washed cotton dress shirt that is nice and wrinkly out of the dryer, look elsewhere for help. And forget about ironing the sleeves; anything other than a minor touch-up and you'll be disappointed. If you've seen the video of the unit on Bed, Bath and Beyond's website, don't be fooled (like I was). The unit doesn't work quite as effectively on dress shirts as the video indicates.

The main issue -- as far as I can tell -- is that the unit suffers from a design flaw; there is no backboard against which one can press the shirt, so one has to akwardly pull down on the shirt, making it impossible to avoid unintended creasing. Perhaps if there was a clip on the bottom that one could use to keep the shirt stretched out (like the comparable Haan unit), it would be easier to maneuver around some of the tougher parts of the dress shirt, like the sides and sleeves. But because the unit has no such feature, you have to use your off hand to pull the bottom of the shirt so that it is straight enough to be ironed. Not only is this ineffective, but it's dangerous, as you are constantly at risk of steaming your hand (which I almost did twice on my first try).

To Rowenta's credit, the steam hose seemed to work well and the pressure of the steam was constant. I tried the unit on some of my dress slacks and suit coats, and it seemed okay for purposes of minor touch-ups as to those items of clothing. But I'm not convinced that this limited usefulness is worth the price tag. Also, I've read some reviews in which users complained about the wheels; the wheels are a little sticky, but I did not have major issues with transporting the unit around my apartment (on carpet, rug, or hard-wood floor). Overall, the unit is relatively sturdy, so I wasn't really worried about tipping the unit over. A minor complaint is that the handle where the hose is supposed to rest is also where hangers are supposed to be placed, so you have to hold on to the hose when taking items on and off.

Bottom line for me: If the unit worked well enough to serve as an adequate substitute for dry-cleaning my dress shirts, I would definitely keep it. But because it doesn't, I will be returning it. If you don't need it for dress shirts (other than minor touch-ups), this might not be a bad option for you.

Simply amazing!

I was shocked to see the wrinkles disappear from my pants and shirts. I never knew how clothes could be restored so easily. Using an iron never quite got the garment looking perfect. This unit does. It was fun just to steam everything in sight from neckties to polo shirts. It is a good investment. You will not be let down.

I am very pleased with the product. It is very easy to use and does an excellent job. I have other Rowenta products and as before, Rowenta lived up to its reputation.

The on/off operating button went kaput after three and a half months of use. My only recourse is to ship it to the closest service station (that would be in Colorado: so convenient that I'm in Minnesota) for a three week wait until they can look at it.

Seriously, how much freakin' research do I have to do before I buy something? Colorado? Three weeks? My boutique can't wait that long; guess I'll have to buy another one that has far better customer service than Rowenta.

Great steamer, though does take up quite a lot of space. But it warms up quickly and billows tons of wrinkle-reducing steam. Great for suits and all woolens, not as good for dress shirts. But its worth its weight in gold for any working guy who regularly wears suits, as the combination of this and a lint roller reduces the need to give your suits to dry cleaners to maybe twice a year.

I finally bought one of these professional grade steamers after wanting one for years. I am so sorry I hesitated as this is fun and easy to use. It gets the wrinkles out really fast without any risk of ruining the fabric, as you have with an iron. I just love this thing. I got the wrinkles out of my son's graduation gown in about 2 minutes. Can you imagine how long it would have taken to iron the big graduation gown! Love this steamer.

I don't usually take time to write product reviews, but I'm so disappointed by this one I wanted to help save other buyers from a mistake. This would be the absolute best garment steamer on the market - IF ONLY it could fulfill its primary function: to produce steam!!! It seems they thought of everything - great accessories, built-in hanger, adjustable height, portability, easy-to-fill, removable, large-capacity water tank, variable steam settings, super-easy assembly, etc, etc... The only problem is, the steam output is pathetic. Even on highest steam setting, there is little to no visible steam coming out. I tried it anyway on a couple of garments (a dress and a shirt), and it left them WET and still wrinkled. I even called Rowenta customer service, and they suggested using bottled spring water instead of tap water. So I went out and bought a gallon of spring water, tried it, and no difference. Even if there had been, it wouldn't be the most convenient thing to own a steamer that you had to go out and buy special water for... I'm returning it and will have to look for a different steamer that has the most important feature: steam.

I am a huge proponent of clothes steamers and this one works as well as any I've had in the past. Overall it's much flimsier than my last Conair model that was damaged in a move, but it puts out plenty of steam and does the job. It isn't easy to roll around, despite the large back wheels. The base rests so close to the ground it gets caught up when rolling on carpet. The side supports don't lock in place and pull out easily when moving the steamer about. If I had it to do over again, I would visit a store and get a feel for which products felt sturdier before buying online.