Customer Reviews

SteamFast SF-407 1500-Watt Fabric Steamer

5 star:		(147)
4 star:		(91)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(35)

 

 

When I was a visual merchandiser for a retail store, I used a professional steamer nearly every day. I purchased this steamer based on price and user reviews. So far it has lived up to my expectations. It heats up quickly and I can get several garments done before I run out of water. Besides being lighter and made of plastic, it performs very similarly to professional grade (which cost 4 times as much). Two minor problems I have with this steamer - there are no brakes on the wheels so the steamer slides around while I'm steaming, and the telescoping pole isn't quite high enough for my taste. Most of the time I hang my garment on something else. Like with any steamer, it takes a little practice to really get good at it. A pointer for those new to steaming - place the steamer head on the inside of your garment pushing steam from inside to out. It's easier for you to handle everything that way (rather than steaming from the outside of the garment). Plus, I save a lot of steam burns by working this way!

I read the reviews of all of the steamers Amazon had to offer so decided to invest in this brand. This steamer is ready in less than 10 seconds. It takes the wrinkles out of everything from jeans, to silks and mens shirts too! We no longer need to send our shirts to the cleaners. The tank is easy to fill just lift off of the bottom (it's instantly detachable) and unscrew the top to pour water. I've never had to go back to using a iron and ironing board. YAY! It will change your life and is just as professional as department store steamers.

I am very pleased with the fabric steamer. Great on coats, jackets and pants (no shine line from the iron) Everything looks like it just came from the dry cleaner.

I've used a professional steamer at my work and I've always wanted one but didn't want to spend $200, so when I found this one for $60 I decided it was time to take a chance. This steamer is perfect in every way. It sets up easy, it stores a lot of water, it says it takes 30 seconds to steam but mine is steaming in seconds once I turn it on. The hook is tall enough to put a hanger on while steaming and then it retracts so I can store it in my closet and it only takes up a square foot in there. For those reviewers who expected to get "crisp" pleats, you need to buy a dry-cleaning machine, not a steamer- steam makes the clothing supple and wrinkle free, not "crisp". It will take out wrinkles- it takes me less than a minute to steam a wrinkly button up dress shirt and it's so easy to go around the buttons, the collar etc- unlike ironing which would take forever and you'd wind up making creases working on corners. It does use a lot of power though, I blew a fuse in my 1960's house when I plugged it in with some of my other appliances though. I've only had it a month though so I don't know how long it will last but I love it so far, I just hope it's built well enough to last years.

I did a lot of research before buying this one. The other price points (unless the super professional grades) don't add much more feature, more like a bigger water tank. 45 minutes of steam is enough for me, as my arm was sore after 30 minutes or less. :(

Pros: steams up really fast (< 1min), no drips. works well. The trick is to sweep the wand *SLOWLY*, instead of rapid back-and-forth motion. And I find that putting the wand with the brush INSIDE the shirt, and pulling it out & upwards gives you more tension in the fabric and thus makes it smoother and crispier, more than just taking the wrinkles out if you just do it from the outside. Heavier cotton requires more work.

Cons: The pole is still too short (but others are of same height). So for longer clothing, you have to stoop down to get to the bottom hem. The pole is steady, just wobbles slight from all the tugging, but that doesn't bothers me. The problem is the hanger will wobble and twist a whole lot more and thus making steaming process a bit harder.

Caveats: some wrinkles may return if you don't do enough(same with using the iron). And also, the clothes can wrinkle when slightly damp from the steaming. So hang them carefully afterwards.

Overall I like it much better than an iron, and much safer. You may still get slight burn from the steam if not careful, but nowhere close to touching a hot piece of iron. All this is just from my first use after reading all the tips in other reviews. I can only get better with practice. Highly recommend!

EDIT: This portion is an update after one year of use. The steamer had clogged up a few times (no steam coming out after 1-2 minutes). It turns out, there was mineral build-up from my using regular tap water (vs distilled water). I had to give it a thorough clean & rinse thru to get all the yucky brown & black residues out. Make sure to flush out all the mineral deposits. I also recommend that you empty out all the water if you don't plan on using it for days. Not just the tank, but where the water pools at the bottom of the unit. Keep it dry if not in use.

Creates steam in less than a minute. Water resorvoir is awkward and hard to drain for storage. Tube from base unit to wand is stiff and hard to store when cool. Steamer works well and is worth the price.

Although it says it's ready in 45 seconds, it's ready at 30! Easy to assemble, lightweight, easy storage, reliable so far - so much easier than setting up an ironing board. Works on drapes, pants, etc. in one pass! Great for lightweight and Heavy fabrics - just like a retail steamer I used years ago-throw out that iron & board!

I steam-pressed EVERYTHING I could get my hands on. I ran out of H20 and went back for another 2.5 liter. I pressed clothes that have been waiting to be ironed for two years. I cleaned my arm-chair (unbelievable) and took a couple of stains out an area rug. Good thing we don't have a poodle or it would be running around with straight hair right now.

I'm going to chuck my ironing board off the Coronado Bridge and throw the iron through the window of the dry-cleaner who has been RIPPING ME OFF for years.

Previously I had the SF-465 steamer and it crapped out after a year. After reading the great reviews on this little unit, I decided to give it a try. Let me tell you it blows away the much more expensive SF-465!!! Here are the advantages, this unit outputs more steam than any other model I have tried with less water drops! You do not have to hold a steam button like many other units. You just turn the switch on and you are steaming in 30 seconds. It is half the size of the SF-465 so its easy to store in the laundry room and I love the fact that the water tank pops out easily for refill. With the Sf-465 I had to carry a water container back and forth to add water. I'm thrilled with this unit, but I've only had it for a week. I'll try to follow up in a few months...

UPDATE JULY 2010:
STILL WORKING GREAT!!!!

I am sick and tired of steamers that drip more than they steam. I decided to try once more, and this steamer made my day. It worked very well. It was definitely worth the money.