Garment Care: Best temperatures for steaming different fabrics

When using a steam generator iron or garment steamer, it's crucial to set the right temperature and steam level to prevent damage to the fabric and get the best results. You may be wondering how to know which temperature to set to have successful steaming; generally, all this information can be found on the laundry care labels for the material. 

In this article we have provided a general overview of the best temperatures for steaming different fabrics. 

Please note, we always recommend following your laundry care label first and to take this article as general advice for fabric types. 

Low Temperature (110°C / 230°F)

Medium Temperature (150°C / 302°F)

• Polyester: Medium heat with moderate steam works well; test on a small area first. 
• Rayon: Use medium heat and light steam, as rayon can be delicate. 
• Spandex: Use medium heat with caution, and minimal steam.

High Temperature (200°C / 392°F)

• Cotton: High heat and high steam are effective, especially for heavy cotton fabrics. 
• Linen: High heat and a lot of steam work best to remove wrinkles from linen. 
• Denim: High temperature and heavy steam are necessary for thick denim.

Fabrics not suitable for steaming

There are also certain fabrics which are not suitable for steaming due to their sensitivity to heat and moisture: 

• Velvet: Steam can cause watermarks and damage the pile. 
• Sueded fabrics: Can be damaged by steam and heat. 
• Waxed jackets: Steam and heat can melt the wax coating. 
• Plastic or vinyl: Can melt under high heat and steam. 
• Silk blends: Be cautious as some blends may not react well to steam; always test a small area first. 

Summary

Whilst you should always take caution to avoid damaging any of your garments, setting the correct temperature can be easily done by considering the type of material and following the laundry care label.