Introduction

Irons that won't make you steaming mad

Unless you're a full-time professional beach bum, you probably need to make use of a steam iron every now and then. While most people may not be passionate about ironing, they tend to be very passionate about how well their iron works; few domestic chores can be more frustrating if the equipment doesn't do its job.

First and foremost, a steam iron should get rid of wrinkles quickly and effectively, without having to make repeated passes over the fabric. According to experts, when it comes to eradicating wrinkles, the more steam, the better. Variable steam control and burst-of-steam functions are all conducive to better ironing, particularly if you're dealing with a wide variety of fabrics. A well-controlled burst-of-steam button will push steam deeply into the fibers, while a variable steam function will help control steam amounts; this is handy when working with more delicate fabrics. Vertical steaming capability is also a plus, allowing you to give your clothes a quick once-over while on the hanger, and it also works for curtains and window treatments.

Since drips and scorches are the enemy, anti-drip and nonscorch functions are also important, as is a tight water tank plug to prevent leaks. An automatic shutoff (a must if you're multitasking) is included in most steam irons now, and many even have a function that shuts the iron off if it tips over. Another great feature is a smooth soleplate; while some users -- particularly those who use spray starch -- prefer nonstick materials, others favor the easy-glide properties of stainless steel or ceramic.

Everything else after this is gravy, whether it's retractable cords, easy access buttons or see-through (and even removable) water tanks. These features are helpful, but some users admit they would happily dispense with the extras to find an iron that does the job safely and efficiently without leaking or spitting over their ironing projects. That's why we took an especially hard look at user reviews and ratings when determining which steam irons hold up best over the long term with typical use.

One important refrain in owner reviews is complaints about breakdowns and leaks. No matter how expensive the iron, we nearly always found some comments that it broke down after a year or two, or that it leaks. The amount and regularity of such mishaps can be at least somewhat mitigated by proper iron care, experts say, and they offer a few tips to help keep your iron from leaking, which we include in our section on how to buy a steam iron.

Taking these variables into consideration, we turned to our review sources and were particularly impressed with the comprehensive testing methods performed by the experts at ConsumerReports.org. Staff members test 42 irons for steam strength, temperature consistency and even heat distribution across the entire soleplate. Each iron is then evaluated on a variety of fabrics ranging from silk and cotton-poly blends to wool blends and linen. Finally, the editors analyze ease of use, rating how easy the iron is to fill and empty of water, and how accessible the temperature controls are. They also check for leaks and gauge how well the iron steams at low settings.

Interestingly, ConsumerReports.org experts seem a little skeptical about some of the bells and whistles featured in today's steam irons. In their tests, models with a nonstick soleplate don't perform as well as stainless steel and ceramic soleplates; likewise, they say a self-cleaning setting isn't necessary because a burst-of-steam function works just as well for cleaning mineral deposits off the soleplate. As for cordless models, editors say the two they tested needed to be reheated every few minutes.

The Good Housekeeping Research Institute also offers a thorough assessment of 11 steam irons, testing them for soleplate temperature and steam production, stability and weight, and ease of use in working the controls and filling the water tank. They also rate the helpfulness of company customer service lines. Finally, they evaluate how successfully each iron removes wrinkles from fabrics.

We also turned to Real Simple for its list of top choices, although testers don't reveal their methods or mention whether comparative tests were done. We include results from the Australian consumer site Choice.com.au primarily because we admire its testers' methodology, which serves as a good template of what to look for in a steam iron; unfortunately, none of its choices are available in the U.S. And although Slate offers a thorough assessment of a number of steam irons, its findings were published in 2006 and most of the tested irons have been replaced by newer versions, although one top pick is still available. We also include user reviews from retail sites such as Macy's, QVC and Amazon.com, which provides a wealth of detailed consumer-posted comments.