Find The Best Steam Irons and Steam Generator Irons
Steam Iron Reviews, News & Best Buys
Saturday 28th January 2012
Browse The Latest Irons
Looking for a new steam iron or steam generator iron? With so many different models and features on offer it can be quite a task - and that's before you start price comparing to bag the best deal!
Well, help is at hand - we've got news and reviews on the best steam irons and steam generator irons on the market, and tracked down the best deals from the UK's top retailers, including any of those all-important voucher codes! ”
Best Steam Irons
Best Steam Generator Irons
Latest Iron Reviews
» Philips GC4870
One of our steam iron best buys, sleek, stylish and loads of features
» Bosch TDS2569
Another steam generator iron best buy - highly rated by users
Featured Steam Iron
» Bosch TDA5620
A stylish and popular steam iron with a ceramic soleplate and a higher than average wattage for speedier ironing
Most Popular Irons
New Buyers Resource
Steam Scene Magazine is Here!
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new online 'glossy' magazine all about steam irons: Steam Scene.
It has an in-depth look at some of the latest steam irons as well as advice and tips. It is designed to help you with your buying decision and we hope that you find it useful.
As well as the magazine, you can still always find the latest news and offers here on our homepage.
Manufacturer News
Philips Wins Top Award
Philips has won the best small appliance brand in the prestigious Which? awards for 2011.
It was awarded the highest number of overall Best Buys this year, dominating the Which? best buy tables for steam irons.
We have certainly found Philips irons to be very popular this year, and they have a wide range of both steam irons and steam generator irons to suit all budgets, and many new models have been launched recently.
Don't Put Perrier In Your Steam Iron
Water, Water, Everywhere!
Common questions asked about steam irons and steam generator irons are "Can I use tap water in my steam iron?" and "What type of water is suitable for steam irons?"
To answer those questions we have created the definitive guide so click the link below and wonder no longer!
Easy to Fill - No more Spills!
Russell Hobbs Easy Fill Steam Iron
Called 'Heather' owing to it's bright purple colour scheme, the 17877 features Russell Hobb's unique EasyFill system which has a wide funnel located in the base. So much easier than the usual small filling hole!
Not only is the illuminated water tank easy to fill, but at 0.4 litres it is also one of the largest capacity tanks in a standard steam iron meaning plenty of steam before a fill-up is required.
The cord, generous at 3 metres, wraps fully around the base which is handy, and the soleplate is made from ceramic so it glides smoothly over any fabric. Good value and ideal for fuss-free ironing!
Popular Choice
Top of The Ironing Board
Really popular right now, this is one of the most highly rated ironing boards around with a wealth of features to help you complete your ironing as painlessly as possible.
For a start, it's a good size at 164cm wide (about 5.5 feet) and 47cm wide. That's a bit longer than most ironing boards but it is big enough to hold a steam generator.
It's height adjustable through a wide 63 to 102 cm range (iron your clothes sitting down says Brabantia) and includes a handy child lock to stop it collapsing accidentally. There's also a useful heat resistant pad so you can place the iron face down without risking making brown marks.
It's been called the Rolls Royce of ironing boards by one user and we think that's a good description. With it's stylish black frame and funky oval swirl pattern it looks good too. Brabantia are so confident of it's quality they offer a 10 year guarantee.
Powerful Yet Compact
Three Big Shot Steam Irons to Consider!
So you're looking for a steam iron that can produce loads of steam but don't have space for a steam generator iron? This trio outputs at least 40g per minute of steam and can deliver a large burst shot when required!
Morphy Richards
40853 Comfigrip
Irons in the Comfigrip range are shaped for maximum comfort when ironing for long periods. Great steam shot capability and a well designed, large water inlet makes refilling easy.
We Like: Energy saving mode and a nice long power cable. Very good value for money
Power: 2200 watts
Steam: 40 g/min
Shot: 170 g/min
Cord: 3 metres
With Philips unique Ionic technology, this new iron produces 50% smaller steam particles to really get deep into those creases. High wattage means quick heat up and less waiting time!
We Like: High continuous steam output and a massive shot of steam
Power: 2600 watts
Steam: 50 g/min
Shot: 170 g/min
Cord: 2.5 metres
It's palladium coated ceramic soleplate means ultra smooth gliding and great non stick properties, and the PowerZone mode allows for deep steaming of thick fabrics like Jeans or heavy curtains.
We Like: 8 fabric presets are helpful as is the auto shut off safety facility
Power: 2600 watts
Steam: 50 g/min
Shot: 160 g/min
Cord: 3 metres
New Steam Generator Irons
Philips Starts A Revolution!
Imagine a top of the range steam iron that doesn't require any fiddling with temperature settings or fabric types, and yet can allow you to be ironing cotton one minute, and cashmere the next!
Wait no longer, as Philips have brought out their new Perfect Care range which features their revolutionary new Optimal Temp technology. Current models are the GC9220 and the GC9230.
Philips have been working with fabric specialists for the last 3 years to create a steam iron that can perfectly iron any fabric type without burning and without having to change anything! The resultant time savings can therefore be quite dramatic. With a 1.5 litre water tank, Philips claim almost 2 hours of steam generation.
This range of steam generator irons will be of particular interest to to people that often have to iron many mixed fabric types and who simply have a lot of ironing to get through - up to 240grams of steam will power through those creases!
> Philips GC9220 PerfectCare Steam Generator Iron
> Philips GC9230 PerfectCare Steam Generator Iron
New Steam Iron
Philips Steams In With New Budget Iron
New from Philips is the GC2930 steam iron, a replacement for the popular GC2840 (which might still be available).
This irons build on the strengths of the GC2840, namely a smooth ceramic soleplate, anti-scale system, 2 year warranty and 2200 watts of power.
There are some good improvements too: the continuous steam is at 35g/minute while the steam shot is now 110g. At 1.2kilos it is quite manageable.
Already A Best Seller!
New Steam Generator Iron from Philips
Not to be outdone by Bosch and Tefals recent new releases, Philips have just launched their new flagship steam generator, the GC8340.
It has the same styliing as the lower powered GC8323 and GC8325 models but this time in a bright blue. There's the now obligatory 2400 watts of power, 120g continuous shot and a rather large 210g steam shot.
There is a also an eco mode which is fast becoming standard equipment these days. The eco mode uses lower amounts of water and energy so it may take longer to do some ironing but you're saving money!
Updated Range Launched
New Steam Generator Irons From Tefal
Tefal has just released updates to three of it's top steam generator iron models. As well as some upgraded steam outputs, they all now deliver pressure at an amazing 5.5 bar - up from 5 bar, making them among the few irons that can do this. Also present is a new eco mode which uses 20% less energy. Currently available at a bit of a premium to their replacements, which you might still find available.
A replacement for the old GV8330, this new model retains the clever anti-calc system of it's predecessor and has the same maximum output of 120g although it is now delivered at the upgraded rate of 5.5 bar.
Tefal Pro Express Turbo GV8460
This is the replacement for the GV8360 and has an upgraded 220g turbo shot (that's up from 200g on the old one). Otherwise it shares the same high spec as the GV8430 non turbo version. Great spec for the price so our best buy of the trio!
The new flagship of the Tefal range, this replaces the GV9360 - an iron that was recommended by the Good Housekeeping Instutute. This one should please them too - 220g turbo steam shot and 120g continuous steam, anti-calc system, cord storage in the base and auto-shut off.
Ready For Take Off!
Intellidome Steam Generator
It may look more like the Starship Enterprise or something from Thunderbirds, but this is the latest steam generator iron from Morphy Richards. With it's attractive pink and white casing, it is certainly distinctive and a good specification make it one to consider if you are on a budget.
There's a huge 1.5 litre water tank which supplies plenty of steam at a constant 90g per minute at 4 bar pressure. The iron itself weighs just 0.86 kilos which is around half the weight of a traditional steam iron. Great if you've a lot of ironing to do.
There is a helpful LCD information panel on the base unit and a double anti-scale system features a flushable boiler and a replaceable cartridge that helps limit limescale build-up in the first place - good for hard water areas.
The unit is quite bulky but more stylish than some other steam generator irons, and the soleplate is stainless steel rather than ceramic. Other than that, the large water tank makes it a good buy for the price.
New Steam Generator Irons
Purple Is The New Black With Bosch TDS2021
It may have a new design and a bright colour scheme instead of their trademark black, but this new steam generator still has that good old Bosch build quality. It has a pretty good spec too for the price.
2400 watts of power is plenty to keep heat-up times to a minimum, while a 110g continuous steam shot should suit most fabric types and it's delivered at 5 bar pressure too. There's a 160g steam shot when you need it and an energy saving eco mode when you don't!
The Palladium coated ceramic soleplate gives a smooth glide and there's a handy anti-scale feature to keep limescale build up to a minimum. Two year warranty is standard.
Busy Summer for Philips
Two New Steam Irons From Philips
Philips has just launched two more steam irons in it's Azur 4800 series range. The GC4890 is the new entry level model and the GC4860 sits just below the top of the range GC4870. Rather confusingly, the GC4890 is an entry level model while the lower numbered GC4870 is the top of the range!
The GC4800 series is currently replacing the older GC4700 series which you might still find available. All GC4800 series now have 2600 watts, 50g of continuous steam, a 170g steam shot and a two year warranty. Extra features and case colourings differ though.
This may be the new entry level model in the Azur range but it still manages a high specification including ceramic soleplate, 50g of continuous steam and a 170g steam shot. There's a soft grip handle for comfort. Like all the Azur range it weighs in at around 1.6 kilos. Good value at around £40.
The GC4860 is positioned just below the top of the range GC4870 and has most of it's high specification features including the 170g steam shot and auto-off safety features, but lacks the deep steam Ionic function.
New From Philips
Power On A Budget
If you are looking for a powerful steam iron that doesn't break the bank, then this recent offering from Philips could be it. The blue and grey pastel casing of the GC4850 hide what could be described as a bit of a beast!
There's 2600 watts of power allowing the iron to heat up quickly, an impressive 50 grams per minute of continuous steam and a massive 170g steam shot. With all that steam there's a good sized 0.350 litre water tank too.
There's a ceramic soleplate, a 2.5 metre power cord and a two year warranty. Priced around £40 we think it's price vs performance ratio makes it one of the best steam irons on the market at the moment.
Best Selling UK Iron Last Year
Bosch Tops The Charts
According to market research experts GfK, the Bosch TDA5620 was the most popular selling steam iron in the UK last year.
With a quick glance at its specification it is not difficult to see why. With 2750 watts on tap it's one of the most powerful and really cuts down heat up times. There's a decent 40g continuous steam output and a 120g steam shot for more stubborn creases.
Theres a long 3 metre powercord and a 2 year guarantee for peace of mind (second year by registering free on their website).
Latest Steam Iron News
New Heavyweight from Philips
Recently released by Philips into their Azur Ionic range is the GC4870. This new steam iron snubs the sleek styling of the rest of the Azur range and instead features a rather chunky design in gold and black.
This bold styling is backed up by an equally bold specification: Its 50g of continuous steam makes it one of the most powerful steam irons out there, no doubt hepled by it's high 2600 watts of power. A 170g steam shot is also very impressive and with their Ionic technology gets really deep into the fabric to banish those creases.
As you would expect, this iron has an auto-shut off safety feature and an anti-calc system to beat hard water. It tips the scales at 1.6kilos making one of the heaviest irons, but weight coupled with the high spec makes it a real contender for those with a never-ending ironing pile!
Answering the Question:
What are the Best Steam Generator Irons?
This is a question we are often asked, and the answer really does depend on your budget of course, and also the amount of ironing that you do on a regular basis.
The key things to look for when purchasing a steam generator iron are:
- Ceramic soleplate for the smoothest possible gliding
- Sufficient wattage for quick heat-up times - ideally 2400 watts or higher
- Anti scale system to prevent damaging limescale build-up
- Large water capacity - the bigger the better for power users
Learn the Lingo!
Demystifying the Jargon
Steam Irons
Emit low rate continuous steam, but often have higher "burst shots" for stubborn creases
Steam Generators
A hand held iron is coupled to a separate unit with a large water tank producing higher rates of continuous steam for longer. Can halve time spent at the iron
Steam Output
Measured in grams per minute, continuous steam is a constant output; a steam shot is a higher, short burst
Soleplates
Ceramic or stainless steel are best and give smoother gliding and are more scratch resistant
Heat Settings
In additon to the basic temperature presets, some irons can regulate temperature and steam for different fabric types
Wattage
The higher the wattage the quicker the iron heats up
Cord Length
Longer cords (up to 3 metres) will give more flexibility when ironing larger items
Vertical Steam
Iron curtains and clothes as they hang
Auto Off
A safety feature that switches the iron off after a period of inactivity
I'm Sorry I
Haven't a Clue
Choosing the Right Iron
There are many irons on the market, but when it comes to deciding whether you need a steam iron or a steam generator, and how much steam output to go for, there are three main things to review: the size of your average ironing load, the types of fabrics and how often you use the iron. Other factors include the length of the cable and anti-scale systems if you live in a hard water area. We recommend to try and get one with a ceramic sole plate if possible - they give the smoothest gliding.
Occasional Ironers
If you don't iron on a regular basis then normal steam irons with around 30g of constant steam and a shot of around 80g should suffice.
Average Family?
For an average family's weekly ironing needs, consider a more heavy duty steam iron with greater constant steam. Look for one with 2400 watts or more - they heat up and stay hot, quicker. If you have a lot of thicker or crease prone fabrics then you may want to consider a steam generator.
Power Users!
Does your ironing pile never seem to go down, iron working overtime? You would certainly benefit from the extra muscle of a steam generator. Their large water tanks can produce huge amounts of high pressure steam for a couple of hours before a top-up is needed. You won't want to go back to using a regular steam iron ever again!
Steam Irons
