Steam Iron Guide

What is a steam iron?

A steam iron remove the creases and wrinkles out of clothes using hot water and bursts of steam to remove creases and get your clothes looking fresh again. Due to the high heat, not all fabrics are suitable, so please check on the label to make sure your favourite garments are iron friendly.

It can seem like all irons are the same.

They are meant to do the same thing, but this doesn’t always mean you’ll be seeing the same results from different products. Find yourself the perfect modern iron. To help you identify the best suited to you, we have concluded a great deal of research on steam irons to provide you with the information you need.

How to use a steam iron?

Steam irons are different to traditional dry irons as they incorporate the spray element. As you iron, the steam penetrates the fabric which removes the creates much faster than a dry iron. All you need to do is fill the water tank and understand the controls and you’re good to go.

Are you using distilled water in your iron?

Did you know that using water out of the tap can be harming your iron? People in hard water areas are most likely to suffer, but most types of tap water can clog up and affect your iron over time. To keep your iron in the best shape possible, it’s advised that you should use distilled water.

Regular Steam Irons

Regular steam irons use a mixture of steam and heat to smooth out creases. More expensive irons have fancier features and higher steam power. Prices can range from £10-£100+.

An ordinary iron will be best for you if you rarely iron or tend to iron smaller loads of laundry due to the water tanks being on the small side.

In addition, they are a little heavier when using than steam generators, but most are still light enough, which shouldn’t cause any trouble and are small enough, making them easy to store.

The one key downside of steam irons is that they produce considerably less steam than the larger generators, which mean you may have to work harder to get the creases out of your clothes.

Cordless Steam Iron

Cordless steam irons are still a new concept, but we are starting to see more in the market as they increase in popularity.

Cordless steam irons give you the freedom to set up your ironing board wherever is convenient for you without getting in the way of getting frustrated by short cords that won’t stretch to the other side of your ironing board.

It is essential that periodically place the iron back on the baseplates while ironing to keep it hot and steamy (some cordless iron usually cool down quickly once disconnected from their charging bases.)

This is something to think about switching from cord stem irons, especially if you want little time as possible behind your ironing board. In addition, unfortunately, most cordless models use non-replaceable lithium-ion batteries. Once your iron gets to the point where it no longer recharges properly between use, then it’s usually time for a new one.

Steam Generator irons

An excellent steam generator iron can release a greater volume of steam, which helps you get past your ironing in a small amount of time and makes it effortless to remove all the stubborn creases.

The best steam generators undoubtedly make the ironing experience faster and easier.

They can hold around three times as much water as a regular steam iron, which stops you from having to refill as often.

They are also lighter to hold when you’re at the ironing board because the water tank and the heating element are in a separate unit connected to the iron by a length of rubber.

It is worth investing in a steam generator if you constantly iron a big pile of laundry and oversized items such as your beddings. Your priority is to get through the ironing as quickly as possible.

Continuous steam pressure:

The higher the steam rate, the better the iron will get the more challenging creases out. Steam rates are measured in grams and range from around 20g to 55g per minute and is important for peak performance.

Steam shot

Steam shots give the iron the extra punch needed to remove wrinkles for the extra stubborn creases. Most irons have a steam shot of around 100g to 350g per minute.

Tank capacity

The tank capacity can vary significantly. A smaller tank is better for smaller loads, whereas larger tanks will help you get through more. Average tank sizes range from around 0.2 litres to about 0.5 litres. Steam generator irons have larger capacities over 2.5 litres.

What’s the wattage?

Irons with a higher wattage will, on the whole, heat up faster and help get the ironing done quicker. Fast irons are ready to in a little bit over a minute, minimising time waiting around the iron to head up.

Is the iron cordless?

It can be frustrating when you’ve got to be wary of the position of the cord. Cordless irons can be a great alternative, but generally speaking, they will be less powerful than corded models, so check the reviews to see other opinions.

What safety extras are included?

You should look for one with an auto switch-off function and consider how you’ll be using the iron. The size and weight may be too heavy for you, so check the weight before ordering.

Does it have anti-scale and anti-calcium functions?

This isn’t as crucial for soft water areas but in hard water areas, but having an iron with these features can significantly benefit and help prolong its life span if you live in an area with hard water.

How long is the cord?

You don’t want to buy a steam iron only to find that you are restricted when using it. You don’t want an overly long one, but you need to use the iron and have good manoeuvrability/flex in the cord.

Vertical steam

Vertical steam mode is excellent and a real time saver. This lets you do items like curtains whilst they are still hanging. Forget taking them down; a vertical steam iron will make your life a lot easier if you’re frequently washing hanging materials.

Anti-drip design

It’s not ideal when the iron is producing too much steam and it starts dripping on your clothing. Now more and more irons are coming with an anti-drip design which is an excellent feature to have, it’s simple but very affective.

How to clean a steam iron?

Steam irons are pretty quick to clean. You can use a light cloth to remove any surface dirt for the outside (make sure it’s not plugged in). For cleaning out the iron steam vents, you need to add water to the reservoir, add a mixture of half water and have distilled vinegar then find something to iron (it can be something old) and let it work its magic. As it steams, any lingering odours or residue will be released.

How to clean a steam iron soleplate?

It’s simple to clean the soleplate of an iron. The soleplate can get especially clogged, especially ones with more steam holes in them. It would help if you created a paste made from a mix of water and baking soda then used a cloth or towel to wipe the soleplate; the friction from the baking soda help to remove the debris in the holes and improve the performance of the iron. Once complete, lightly rinse with water, and you’ll be good to go.

How to descale a steam iron?

Over time, limescale appears on the inside. This is made worse in hardwater areas. To remove limescale, you need to add water to the tank up to the maximum amount then turn the iron on it’s highest setting for around five minutes. Whilst doing this you’ll want to press the steam button occasionally then let the iron rest for around thirty minutes to one hour.

What’s the difference between a steam iron and a steam generator iron?

Steam iron is like a baby steam generator iron. Steam irons are great for everyday use, but if you’re looking for something that packs more of a punch, you might want to look into buying a steam generator iron.

The water tank is built into the iron with a steam iron, whereas with a steam generator iron, the water tank is in a separate unit upon which the iron is usually placed. Steam generators produce more steam (higher steam output) due to their larger water tank.