Can we finally ditch the ironing board? John Lewis sells futuristic £1,150 wardrobes that claim to de-crease and ‘dry clean’ clothes
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They promise to end the much-hated chore of ironing. Looking more like a kitchen appliance, these devices are in fact a larger version of the steam iron – called steam wardrobes.
The gadgets, designed to slot into closets or wardrobes, work in much the same fashion but are said to do all the work for you.
All you have to do is hang up your clothes overnight and the product will both iron and freshen them up – allowing wearers to go for longer periods between washes.
As handheld steamers have become increasingly popular in recent years, the larger appliance has already taken off in the US and is now starting to become a must-have on this side of the Pond.
John Lewis is among those stocking the ‘clothing care systems’, which sell from around £550, rising to the thousands for top-of-the-range models.
More delicate fabrics such as lace or satin can also be gently dried in the appliance after hand-washing, with some fans of the technology suggesting it could mean the end of dry-cleaning bills in the long term.
Wardrobe 2.0: Home tech experts say clever wardrobes – currently made by brands including LG, Haier and Samsung – that can iron and refresh clothes could become a staple in UK homes
Integrated within conventional fitted wardrobe space or stand-alone, the appliances can cost into the thousands for the top-of-the range versions, which can refresh and de-crease clothes
The downsides? The appliance takes up as much space as a fridge but usually cannot hold more than five items at a time. Garments also don’t stay in the closet, they’re stored elsewhere and simply added when they need a refresh.
Other variations of the steam closet include the ‘drying closet’, which is designed to dry slightly damp clothes in a more gentle way than a traditional tumble dryer might – without the fear of shrinkage or fading.
Reviews of the LG Styler S3BF Steam Clothing Care System, which retails at £1,149, and offers both drying and steaming functionality, are generally positive on the UK John Lewis website.
One reviewer said the modern wardrobe had ‘completely changed how I care for my clothes’, saying: ‘It freshens up my jackets and trousers beautifully, removes odours, and saves me countless trips to the dry cleaners. It is a fantastic investment!’
However, another offered a more frank appraisal, suggesting the appliance had malfunctioned after two years of use.
Elsewhere, a New York Times Wirecutter review of the same LG appliance also criticised the wardrobe, with the reviewer saying it took 90 minutes for damp shirts to emerge from the wardrobe dry – and that wrinkles were still very much in place despite using the steam functionality.
Beyond washing and drying, fashion-led tech hasn’t always kept up with advances elsewhere – or maybe we’re just not that keen on having them in our bedrooms.
Home organisation expert Gemma Bray, aka The Organised Mum on Instagram, says steam closets seem like the future, but questions whether they’re actually a match for the much simpler – and space-saving – iron.
Ms Bray tells the Daily Mail: ‘The jury’s still out for me on these devices. There’s a temptation with things like this to over-optimise your life, and while it might be a brilliant idea in principle, once you weigh up the amount of space it takes up and what it costs to buy in the first place, you have to ask whether it’s actually better than just sticking to the old-fashioned way of doing things.’
She adds: ‘That’s the balance everyone has to strike for themselves. If you’ve got the spare cash to try out gadgets like this, go for it. But if you’re short on space or watching your budget, it might be best to stick to the classics.’
Those behind the products say consumers are definitely seeking out more modern solutions, including ones that incorporate AI, when it comes to managing their clothes and wardrobe, from washing and drying to storage and maintenance.
Jodie Dowling, a junior product manager for brands Haier and Hoover, says: ‘As consumers invest more in quality clothing, we’re seeing a growing appetite for technology that helps them protect that investment for longer.
‘The role of the wardrobe is evolving beyond simply storing clothes, with consumers looking for smarter ways to care for delicate, premium and everyday garments.
‘Solutions like the Haier Couture Care Closet bring this thinking into the bedroom, helping make garment care more convenient, considered and integrated into everyday routines.
‘The same desire for smarter, more effortless clothing care is coming through in the laundry room.
‘Launching soon, the Haier Vision 15 uses AI Vision Sense to recognise what’s inside the drum, helping consumers avoid common laundry mishaps – including that dreaded rogue red sock turning a load of whites pink.’
