Can a Handheld Steam Iron Remove Odor From Clothes?

Do you think handheld steam hanging irons can remove odors from clothes?

In daily life, odors from clothes are a vexing problem, and handheld steam hanging irons can help remove odors from clothes to a certain extent.

Cleaning effect of steam

Handheld steam hanging irons work by generating high-temperature steam. Steam has a certain cleaning ability, and when steam contacts clothes, it can penetrate into the fibers of clothes. Odor molecules often attach to these fibers, and the heat and humidity of steam can make the odor molecules active. Under the impact and moistening effect of steam, some odor molecules can detach from the fibers of clothes, thereby reducing the odor of clothes.

High-temperature sterilization reduces odor sources

The high-temperature steam generated by the hanging iron also has a sterilizing effect. Many times, the odor of clothes is caused by bacterial growth, such as sweat odor, which becomes more unpleasant under the action of bacteria. The high temperature of steam can kill these bacteria and reduce the generation of odors from the source. When the bacteria are eliminated, the odor substances produced by bacterial decomposition will also be reduced accordingly, making the clothes smell fresher.

Synergistic effect of ventilation and drying

When using a handheld steamer, the steam will gradually evaporate after staying on the clothes. This volatilization process will drive the air to flow around the clothes, playing a certain ventilation role. Moreover, the clothes treated with steam will be in a relatively moist and gradually dry state. This environment is not conducive to the retention of odor molecules, and some of the odor molecules will be taken away as the water vapor evaporates, further improving the smell of the clothes.

Limitations

However, we should also know that handheld steamers have certain limitations in removing odors. If the odor of the clothes is very strong, such as the odor that is contaminated by being in an environment with smoke or other pungent odors for a long time, the steamer alone may not be able to completely remove it. In addition, for some odors that have penetrated deep into the fibers of the clothes and have undergone chemical changes, the effect of the steamer may not be ideal. In this case, it may be necessary to combine other cleaning methods, such as professional clothing deodorizers or cleaning treatments.

In general, handheld steam garment irons have a certain effect in removing general clothing odors, which is mainly achieved through steam cleaning, high-temperature sterilization, and ventilation and drying, but their ability to remove special and strong odors is limited.