# How to steam a lined garment Canonical page: https://everydaygarmentcare.co.uk/steamers/steam-a-lined-garment/ Publisher: Everyday Garment Care Steamers / Garment care Check the outer fabric and lining before steaming a coat, dress or skirt. Learn how to work on a permitted panel and when a seam needs repair. By Everyday Garment Care · Updated November 2026 ![A navy jacket hanging open to reveal a pale lining]() ## Check how the two layers are attached Follow the care instructions for the complete piece. If steam is permitted, start with an accessible panel and let it cool and dry before deciding whether the lining needs treatment. Keep attachments, folded edges and shaped areas out of the steam path unless the maker permits the method. ## Work out what the lining is doing Hang the garment on its usual support and empty the pockets. Look at it from the front and side. Check whether the crease is in the outer fabric, inside the lining or where the two meet. If the garment has just come out of a case, give the fabric time to settle. A light fold on a broad panel can be easier to assess once the weight is distributed evenly. Look at the hem and at the seams under each arm or around the waist. A loose skirt lining can hang from the waistband and move separately for much of its length. A coat lining may be attached at the sleeves, front facing and other edges. A structured coat can also have hidden layers that give the outer cloth its shape. Treat the garment's sewn construction as part of the care decision. Read the label and any maker's guidance for the complete garment. If the label lists different fibres for the face and lining, use those details to ask about the right treatment. Choose a method both layers can tolerate wherever heat and moisture could reach them together. If the care instruction specifies professional cleaning, ask the garment maker or cleaner whether home crease treatment is allowed. ## Find a panel you can reach without pulling the lining A loose lining may lift away from the outer fabric without stress. With the appliance off, check whether the piece can hang open while you reach the affected area. Ease the layers apart only as far as they move naturally. If the cloth pulls at a small thread or join, put it back in its original position. Such attachments can keep a lining in place without stitching it to the full width of the hem. Tailored linings may have folds built into them for movement. Anderson & Sheppard explains how a fold in the back lining of a jacket opens as the garment is worn. A fold that follows the stitching and sits the same way each time may belong there. Leave it in place and focus on a visible wrinkle that is out of character for the garment. **What to check when a lined garment needs attention** | What you see | What to check | What to do next | | --- | --- | --- | | Loose lining in a skirt | Whether the lining moves freely and can be supported without pulling at the waistband | Treat a small accessible area only if its care instructions permit steam | | Crease beside a coat facing | Whether outer cloth, lining and facing are sewn together at the crease | Use only a treatment allowed for the complete section | | Lining showing below the hem | Whether the garment hangs evenly and the lining still protrudes | Ask a tailor to check the length and attachments | ## Steam a permitted section with the layers supported Choose a small section of plain outer cloth or an accessible area of lining. Check what sits behind it and whether the garment will hold its shape while you work. If the two layers are sewn together at that point, follow the maker's instructions for the section as a whole. The advice for an unlined version of the same fabric can differ. On a hidden area with the same materials, try the lightest permitted method with the correct model attachment and head position. Let the test cool and dry. Inspect both sides if you can. If you find water marks, puckering or a change in how the lining hangs, leave that section alone and ask for advice. Keep your hand clear of the steam path even if you need to hold an edge. The Russell Hobbs Steam Genie 2 in 1 28370 has a delicate fabric attachment. Its hanging method uses the head against the cloth, so check that contact is allowed on the layer you plan to treat. Fit the attachment while the steamer and attachment are cool, as the manual directs. Keep any button, lining attachment or joined seam that needs a different treatment clear of the working area. [View on Amazon]() For small pressing jobs too ### Russell Hobbs Steam Genie 2 in 1 28370 A ceramic heated plate adds a pressing option to hanging steaming. The UK instructions describe a steam trigger lock and a 60-second warm-up. Good for A hanging finish with occasional pressing of collars or cuffs on a suitable flat, heat-resistant surface. Bear in mind Pressing still needs a surface that withstands heat and steam. Unplug before filling through the water inlet. - Pressing feature - Ceramic heated plate - Trigger lock - 60-second heat-up Make a brief pass on the crease and wait for the fabric to settle. If the lining has its own crease and the maker allows treatment, work on it separately after the outer cloth has cooled and dried. Unfasten a coat so you can see the inside clearly. For a dress, turn it only if the lining and outer layer can stay supported in the new position. Leave enough space behind the garment for any steam that passes through it. ## Leave shaped and attached details in place A coat shoulder or lapel has a deliberate curve that can be altered by heat, moisture or pressure. Dege & Skinner advises against oversteaming structured coats and jackets. If the shape is already distorted, a tailor can examine the layers and decide whether it needs a press or a repair. The [suit jacket guide]() covers jacket-specific checks for lapels and shoulders. Skip details such as glued trim, coated fabric or beads unless the garment instructions establish a method for them. Inspect both sides. A decoration on the outer face can be directly behind the lining when you turn a garment. See [how to work around garment trim]() for help checking those areas before choosing a panel. ## Check the lining once the garment is cool and dry Leave the garment open where it can hang without stretching. Look inside the hem and near the edges where the lining joins the face. If those areas still feel damp, leave the garment out of its bag and give the layers room to dry. Compare how the outer fabric and lining fall once they are cool and dry. If a ridge remains along a seam, or the lining still catches or twists when you move the garment, check with a tailor. Take note of whether you first saw it after travel, cleaning or an alteration. For a long dress with a crease on its skirt, first check whether the whole length can hang and be reached safely. [How to steam a long dress](). ## Garment and steamer instructions - [Dege & Skinner care guide for coats and structured garments]() - [Anderson & Sheppard on folds in a jacket lining]() - [Anderson & Sheppard on pressing a suit and its lining]() - [GINETEX garment care symbols]() - [Russell Hobbs 28370 instructions for hanging use and attachments]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Should I steam the lining first? Look for the garment maker’s instructions. Treat the layer that actually needs attention if steam is allowed there. A lining that hangs freely and sits smoothly can be left alone. ### Can I steam a coat just because the outer fabric is wool? Check the full coat label and maker’s advice. A coat may have shoulder structure, an interlining or a lining with different limits. Ask the maker or a professional cleaner if you cannot confirm how the finished coat can be treated. ### Can I turn a lined dress inside out to steam it? Use that position if the garment maker allows it and you can support the dress without pulling on the lining or seams. Check what will sit behind the area you steam. ### Will steaming fix a lining that hangs below the hem? First check how the layers sit on the correct hanger. If the lining still shows, ask a tailor to check the attachment and length. Steam should be used only for creases where the garment permits it. ### How can I tell when a lined garment is dry? Let it hang open where the shape allows. Check the inner seam, underarm or waistband and other places where the layers meet. Wait until both sides feel cool and dry before closing it in a wardrobe or garment bag. **Everyday Garment Care** We research manufacturer instructions and product specifications to explain practical garment care and equipment choices. [Editorial policy]() **Affiliate disclosure.** If you buy through a product link on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. [How our links work]().