Steam Irons

Pricier steam irons have the most features

Rowenta irons have the most features, though they are generally more expensive than others. They also tend to outperform other steam irons in reviews, particularly when it comes to steam production. Keep in mind that we saw the same complaints about eventual leaks with Rowenta irons as we did for less expensive irons. Overall, however, Rowenta irons steam far better than others.

The Rowenta Advancer DZ9080 (*est. $130) gets excellent evaluations in professional reviews. This 1800-watt iron has all the bells and whistles, including vertical steam (which allows you to steam curtains or hanging garments), burst of steam (for particularly tough wrinkles), variable steam, anti-calcium control (to prevent buildup) and auto shut-off. The Advancer also scores especially high marks for copious amounts of steam. According to Slate magazine's Tom Bartlett, the Rowenta Advancer "produces a burst of steam powerful enough to terrify my dog."

One feature that sets this model apart from other irons is its use of 400 tiny holes in the silicate-coated stainless steel soleplate, whereas most irons have between ten and twenty holes. This helps the Rowenta distribute steam evenly, especially up at the tip where irons typically have a hard time getting enough steam. The downside is this model's weight. It weighs four pounds when empty and close to five when the 13-ounce water tank is full. While some reviews complain that this iron is terribly heavy, its heft is actually preferred by many people, especially those who iron a lot of heavy fabrics, as well as by quilters and others who sew. Owner reviews at Amazon.com for this model are excellent, but the iron hasn't been on the market long enough to determine whether it will have durability issues. Judging by reports for older Rowenta models, the Advancer probably won't prove to last any longer than most irons. The Rowenta Professional DX8800 (*est. $100) is another heavy iron that produces good steam. This model has been on the market much longer and has racked up dozens of owner-written ratings. Some owners report that it eventually starts to leak around the cord area.

The Advancer, however, costs over twice as much as some other models, and cheaper irons, such as the Black & Decker Digital Advantage D2030 (*est. $50) , perform well for much less. Like most irons these days, you don't need to use distilled water in the Advancer -- in fact, distilled water may actually damage the iron, as stated on Rowenta's website, and you shouldn't use softened water either.

We found the best reviews overall for the Black & Decker Digital Advantage D2030 (*est. $50) . The D2030 steam iron uses 1500 watts and has vertical steam, variable steam, burst of steam and a 10-minute motion-sensitive auto shut-off (which kicks the iron back on if you pick it up). Its small LCD displays settings and reminders to run the self-cleaning cycle. In a review at Good Housekeeping, editors say the Black & Decker "aced" the wrinkle-removal tests. Slate's Tom Bartlett ranks it third beyond the more expensive T-Fal Aquaspeed and Rowenta Advancer. Bartlett says it works well, with a good burst-of-steam feature. The Black & Decker D2030 weighs about four pounds when full of water, lighter than the Rowenta Advancer. The Black & Decker iron gets some of the highest scores from owners at Amazon.com, with over 400 reviews.

We covered the T-Fal Ultraglide Diffusion series in our last report, though it hasn’t received as many reviews this time around. Testers say the T-Fal glides exceptionally well over fabric -- so well, in fact, that it almost feels as if the iron isn’t even touching the fabric, a sensation some testers found a little disconcerting.

The T-Fal Ultraglide Diffusion steam iron comes in three different versions. The T-Fal Ultraglide Diffusion 1769 (*est. $50) has a longer soleplate and vertical steam, along with burst of steam, an anti-clog valve and a 3-way shut-off. The Ultraglide Diffusion 1759 (*est. $45) doesn't have a vertical steam feature, but does have all the others. The more basic (*est. $35) doesn't have vertical steam or an anti-clog valve, and there's no auto shut-off. All three models have extra steam holes at the tip of the soleplate to better press tight spots like collars, cuffs and edges, and all three have the same nonstick soleplate. All three also use 1400 watts. The two pricier models have a three-way auto shut-off feature, which turns off the iron after a period of inactivity, if it tips over, or if it’s left sitting on its soleplate. If you sew or like to pause between spurts of ironing, you might appreciate the T-Fal Diffusion 1749's lack of an auto-shut off. It's hard to find an iron these days that doesn't shut off after about eight minutes of inactivity.

Sunbeam irons get good professional reviews, but most of the steam irons we saw in tests have been replaced with newer models. The Sunbeam Professional 4238 (*est. $40) is the near twin of the discontinued Sunbeam 4239, which reviewers at Good Housekeeping recommend for its ease of use. The Sunbeam 4238 has a non-stick soleplate instead of the 4239’s stainless steel soleplate. The Professional 4238 has spray mist, shot of steam, vertical steam, auto shut-off, a self-clean feature and a soft-touch grip. The electronic controls and digital display are on the handle where they’re easy to reach. Owners on Amazon have posted mostly favorable reviews, although several have reported drips or problems with the digital display. This iron operates at 1400 watts.

Basic steam irons

According to reviews, almost any model will iron a shirt with little trouble. Expensive irons may provide more steam, and many can do tricks such as steaming vertical curtains. However, if your ironing needs amount to pressing a shirt or a skirt now and then, a basic no-frills iron will do. Keep in mind that we found negative owner-written reviews about every iron, but if your needs are simple, at least you've only spent $20 or so.

The Black & Decker Steam Advantage AS150 steam iron (*est. $20) is inexpensive, but owners say it has some usability quirks. It must sit flat in order to fill the water tank. That's fine if the iron is cool, but it's a problem if you need to refill it while it's hot. This 1200-watt iron has auto shut-off and a non-stick soleplate.

Another Black & Decker model is filling a nice niche for those who like to have an iron on for long periods of time. Those who enjoy sewing and quilting prefer models without an auto shut-off. It's difficult to find models without that feature, but to a crafter or sewing enthusiast, nothing is more annoying than having your iron shut-off every ten minutes while you’re working. The Black & Decker Classic Metal Iron F63D (*est. $30) does not have auto-shut off and also eschews plastic housing for heavier metal. Reviewers say this model gets very hot and steams well. The Black & Decker F63D has a polished aluminum soleplate and uses 1100 watts. There are no extra features like vertical steaming or a mist function. We read some reports that the F63D can leak and that the soleplate gets gunked up too easily. A better choice is the (*est. $35), which costs a bit more, but it has a nicer soleplate.

The Proctor-Silex Auto Shut Off Iron 17610 (*est. $35) is a favorite of the editors of Good Housekeeping. They like its retractable cord and give this iron two thumbs-up as a good value. Proctor-Silex is one of several brands sold by Hamilton Beach/Proctor-Silex, Inc. It’s worth noting that we found mixed reviews for some Hamilton Beach irons whose owners either loved them or hated them. Both the Hamilton Beach Steam Storm Plus 14560T (*est. $25) and the Hamilton Beach Steam Storm Ultra Stainless Steel 14570 (*est. $35) got equal numbers of one-star ratings and five-star ratings with nothing in between from owners, some of whom report leaks and overheating.

The first couple of generations of cordless irons didn't fare well in reviews, but experts say they have improved. Older models couldn't maintain heat for enough time to press a shirt, and testers had to repeatedly return the iron to its base and wait for the unit to reheat.

Experts say that Panasonic cordless irons are a good choice if you don't like a cord getting in the way. The well-reviewed Panasonic Cordless NI-L45NR has been replaced by the NI-L46NR (*est. $60) . The NI-L46NR comes with a heat-resistant carrying case and a base unit with retractable cord reel, which stays plugged in and reheats the iron between passes. The soleplate has a non-stick coating, and the iron offers both burst of steam and a self-cleaning feature. It uses 1430 watts, plus it has automatic shut-off. The Panasonic cordless iron has a detachable water tank, which makes refills easier. A slightly more advanced model, the Panasonic Cordless NI-L70SR (*est. $70) has additional features, such as a stainless steel soleplate, vertical steam and adjustable steam. Both models are too new to have many user reviews. Consumer Reports still advises against purchasing a cordless iron, however, because they need to be reheated in their base every few minutes.

Important Features: Steam irons

Here's what reviews say to look for in a steam iron. The products in Consumer Search Fast Answers have most, if not all, of these features.

• Non-stick soleplates are easy to clean; starch buildup wipes right off. Despite manufacturer claims, Consumer Reports says that soleplate material does not affect glide.

• Variable steam automatically adjusts the amount of steam for the heat setting, ensuring that you don't get high steam on more delicate fabrics.

• Vertical steam allows you to use the iron like a steamer to remove wrinkles on hanging garments or curtains.

• Burst of steam gives you an extra steam surge, allowing you to tackle particularly nasty wrinkles. This is by far the favorite feature of reviewers.

• Auto shutoff is a must for most consumers. However, you can still find irons without this feature, since people who do a lot of sewing prefer the iron to be on all the time. Be sure to read the box to know what you're getting.

• A self-cleaning feature enables you to shoot air through the steam vents to clear mineral buildup, which prevents eventual clogging and leaks from stopped-up steam holes.

• An anti-calcium feature helps prevent mineral buildup, which can clog steam vents. Higher-end models, such as the Rowenta Advancer, generally have this feature.

• Weight of the iron may not affect performance, but it can make a huge difference in how comfortable the iron is to use. Managing a heavy iron can be difficult for those with less arm/hand strength or for anyone who needs to do a lot of ironing. Try out the handle, as well, to make sure that it fits the size of your hand.

Almost all irons have flexible cords, a spray or mist button, five or more temperature settings and at least a one-year warranty. Some models offer power cords that pivot out of the way, while others are retractable. In addition, today's irons are meant to be used with ordinary tap water. With few exceptions, distilled water is no longer necessary, and in some cases it may even damage your iron. Be sure to check the box and owner's manual to determine whether or not to use distilled water.

Tips on avoiding leaks

Reviews say there are a few things you can do to avoid leaks. Editors at Good Housekeeping suggest ironing delicates first, using a lower temperature setting, then turning up the heat for cottons and linens. This can be helpful because leaks can sometimes occur as an iron cools down. Consumer Reports magazine suggests emptying the water tank every time you finish ironing, in order to reduce the chance of drips the next time you iron. The editors also say it's a good idea to empty the iron while it is still warm, so that residual heat will evaporate remaining moisture.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Black & Decker Digital Advantage D2030 (*est. $50)	details
2	Rowenta Advancer DZ9080 (*est. $130)	details
2	T-Fal Aquaspeed (*est. $65)	details
2	Rowenta Expert Steam Generator (*est. $200)	-
2	Rowenta Professional DX8800 (*est. $100)	details
1 each	Sunbeam Professional 4238 , Sunbeam Professional 4239, Sunbeam DuraPress 4064, Sunbeam Ultura, Hamilton Beach Professional 14970 , Proctor Silex 17610 , Shark X-tended GI490 , Panasonic Cordless , Philips Azur Precise, Braun Freestyle SI6250, Kenwood Emerald ST622, Rowenta Delfino, Rowenta Surfline, Rowenta Effective , Travel Smart iron , Oliso Auto Lift, Ufesa PV156 Vertinox, , Bosch Sensixx Comfort Secure

Although several reviews rate the more expensive T-Fal Aquaspeed or Rowenta Advancer a bit higher, we found excellent reviews for the Black & Decker Digital Advantage steam iron, especially when you factor value into the equation. This model also weighs less than the heavy Rowenta Advancer, though it's a bit heavier than the T-Fal Aquaspeed. A couple of older reviews recommend the Rowenta Professional DX8800 as well.

Keep in mind that although Rowenta, T-Fal and Black & Decker get slightly better reviews overall, we found complaints about durability and leaks for every iron, regardless of brand.

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