Ironing
When choosing an iron you want it to provide fast results with an excellent finish, with minimal effort. You want an iron that protects your clothes from damage and ultimately makes your clothes look good, so you look good! Just click on a link below, to jump down to further information about the ironing area you're interested in:
Types Of Iron
There are 3 main types of iron:
Steam Iron
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Quick to heat up
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Great for small ironing loads
Steam Generator
This provides a constant flow of high-pressured steam onto the garment and can cut your ironing time by up to half.
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Up to 50% more steam output at all temperatures
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Great for large quantities of ironing
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Ideal for heavier materials like denim
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For best results a steam generator should be used with a mesh ironing board
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If you regularly iron for long periods, look for models which allow you to refill at any time
Steam Press
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High continuous steam output
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High steam pressure and fabric penetration
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Automatic pressure with minimum effort applied by the lid, can apply up to 100lbs of pressure
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Large surface area pressed at one time (equivalent of 6 or more iron plates at one time)
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Professional finish without the shine
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Can be used on more or less any material
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They fold up so are easy to store in a cupboard
They fold up so are easy to store in a cupboard
Wattage/Steam
The higher the wattage, the more powerful the iron and the quicker it will heat up. Higher power irons produce more steam to make it easier to get a great finish on heavier or very dry fabrics which are normally difficult to iron.
Steam output is measured in:
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Continuous steam (g/min)
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Shot of steam (g/min)
The higher the figure quoted the better the iron should be for use on heavier fabrics.
Steam pressure (Bar pressure) is quoted on steam generators. The higher the bar pressure the more effective the steam generator is at forcing steam deep into your fabrics, to provide better performance with heavier or over dry fabrics.
Sole Plates
There are two main types of soleplate:
Stainless Steel
This plate distributes heat evenly and glides easily, reducing fatigue. The plate can be restored by polishing.
Ceramic
Distributes heat evenly, glides easily, has a non-stick, scratch-resistant surface, and is more durable.
Other Features
Other features you might want to look for...
| Other Ironing Features | |
|---|---|
| Anti Calc | Built in anti calc protection can reduce lime scale which clogs the steam vents and leaves white deposits on your clothes. |
| Non-Drip | Prevents watermarks and stains on your clothes. |
| Auto Shut Off | Automatically switches the iron off when you forget, providing peace of mind. |
| Vertical Steam | This feature lets you steam creases from curtains or hanging clothes with no direct contact required. |
| Cord Length | Longer cord lengths allow more freedom to site your ironing board. |
Helplines
| Supplier | Helpline |
|---|---|
| AEG Electrolux | 00 44 08705 350 350 |
| Bosch | 00 44 08702 400 060 |
| Breville | 00 44 0161 621 6900 |
| Domena | 00 44 01825 768899 |
| Morphy Richards | 00 44 0845 077 7700 |
| Philips | 00 44 08709 009 070 |
| Tefal | 00 44 0845 602 1454 |
