Gideon Handheld Portable Fabric Steamer Review

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Gideon Handheld Portable

31lFwCBB+bL. SL500

Key Features

  • Cheap
  • Lightweight
  • Struggles on very tough wrinkles
  • Drip free… sort of. Maybe
  • Suspicious pattern of glowing reviews

The Claims

At 8 inches x 3 inches x 4 inches and weighing in at just 1.4 pounds, the Gideon Handheld Portable Fabric Steamer is one for the frequent traveler or those who don’t have enough space to store a full-sized standing steamer.

Like all steamers, the Gideon is extremely easy to use and like most portable models it heats up in less than 60 seconds. The manufacturer claims the product is 100% spit and drip free, eliminating the worry of many potential customers who are researching the purchase of a handheld steamer. In reality, it can spit – that’s just the nature of steam.

They say it is safe for use on a wide range of fabrics (both garment and household) including wool, cotton, silk, satin, and polyester among many others. That’s true, since steaming is gentler than ironing.

The product features a safety auto shut-off protection sensor that cuts power to the steamer when the water level gets too low or the steamer becomes too hot. The 5-ounce refillable water tank is extremely small but allows for up to 8 minutes of continuous steaming time, and the 6-foot power cord, while shorter than that of many other compact and portable steamers, is sufficient.

The Gideon produces steam, and steam beats wrinkles. We rate it as just about adequate – though there are far better options.

Fake Reviews

The clearly fake reviews on Amazon leave a sour taste in the mouth.

When we reviewed this product,, we found ALL of the reviews were fake (that is, paid for by the company).

In the meantime,, enough real customers have bought and used the product that the Fakespot rating is now ‘C’. That still means the majority of customers who are ‘satisfied’ with this product can’t be relied on.

Real Problems

In reality, there are several problems with this device.

The manufacturer claims that the Gideon will get out “even the toughest wrinkles,” which is far from true. The product sufficiently steams away most wrinkles, but the heaviest creases sometimes cannot be entirely removed even after steaming both inside and outside the garment several times. It’s simply not powerful enough.

We don’t expect a small handheld steamer to get rid of all wrinkles, but remember – that’s what the company is claiming!

The manufacturer also guarantees to the product to be “100% drip free,” which is untrue. If the steamer head is moved a bit too vigorously or quickly from side to side or up and down, drops of water often come splashing out, wetting the garment being steamed. We don’t find that to be much of a problem – steam is steam – but it’s galling when companies make wild claims and don’t back them up.

That Said…

However, considering that this is likely a device to be used quickly and at the last minute, it should not be held to the same standards as its more professional-grade counterparts.

Conclusion

The Gideon should be sufficient to get out most minor to mid-level wrinkles from everyday garments like t-shirts and casual pants, and its extremely compact nature makes it appealing to those who travel frequently.

The fast heat-up time and powerful steaming capability also make this product worth the investment for someone who is looking for a quick fix to moderately wrinkled attire.

But if you are looking for a portable steamer for use on business suits or professional wear, or if you are sick of companies flooding Amazon with fake reviews for short-term profit, read our Ebest mini review.