10 September 2018NEWS

Cheap steam irons for 2018

BUYING cheap electrical stuff can often mean being lumbered with a bit of a dud. Steam irons are no different. A flimsy plastic thing from a brand you've never heard of that's more of a deathtrap than a useful appliance.

But it need not be this way!

There are some really good steam irons on the market right now, from well-known brands that are powerful yet affordable with all the features you'll need to zip through your ironing pile.

NAME		WATTS	STEAM	SHOT	AUTO-OFF?	PRICE*
	Russell Hobbs 22522	2400	45	130	No	£23
	Bosch TDA2633GB	2200	30	90	No	£25
	Morphy Richards 300274	2400	45	120	Yes	£25
	Russell Hobbs 20630	3100	45	210	Yes	£32
	Breville Press Xpress	2800	60	180	Yes	£30

* Average selling price at time this article was published

First of all, a few must haves:

Price no more than £35
More than 2000 watts of power power - this ensures there is always plenty of heat and you are not constantly waiting for it to get to temperature
ceramic soleplate as opposed to stainless steel or 'non-stick' one which tend to be less smooth to glide, are easily scratched and oddly enough, can be more difficult to clean

These two last features do rule out some of the very cheap irons (under £20) but you won't regret spending those extra few pounds when it comes to the weekly ironing chores.

With all that in mind, here is a group of reasonably priced steam irons from reputable brands that can steam their way through a decent load of ironing without breaking the bank.

1. Russell Hobbs Auto Steam Pro 22522

"A long 3 metre cable and quite powerful steam output"

A well priced iron that offers a lot including a full 2400 watts of power, decent 3 metre power cable and a good sized water tank.

There's impressive steam output - second highest in this group - with a maximum output of 130g/minute. The only thing missing is the lack of an auto-off safety feature. Full Details

2. Bosch TDA2633GB

"A very lightweight iron with a decent length cable"

This bright blue iron from well known German brand Bosch is a little underpowered in the steam stakes, especially the steam shot and the water tank is a little smaller than average too.

However, one big redeeming feature is its weight - only 1 kilo when empty. The average weight of an iron is around 1.3 to 1.5 kilos so this iron will really suit if you suffer wrist strain when ironing. Full Details

3. Morphy Richards Breeze 300274

"A big water tank and high wattage means lots of steam"

The rather ungainly styling is a bit of a Morphy Richards trademark but this does allow for a larger than average water tank. Coupled with 2400 watts of power and a decent amount of steam output, this iron is quite a workhorse.

You even get auto-off and this is one of the cheapest irons to have this. The rather short cable of 2 metres is the only let down. Full Details

4. Russell Hobbs 20630

"A great performer, ultra powerful and packed with features for a relatively low price"

Just sneaking in under our £35 budget (but still worth considering if a couple of pounds over) this iron is super powerful with 3100 watts of power which is almost the maximum you can get. It ticks all the right boxes with auto-off, a 3 metre power cord and a two year warranty.

The steam output is superb with a steam shot of up to 210g and very respectable continuous steam of 45g. The only real downside is it's a little heavier than average. Full Details

5. Breville Press Xpress

"An attractive iron with high steam output, auto off and a 3 metre cord"

Another iron that just creeps under the £35 limit is this Breville which used to be our go-to top steamer before it was usurped by the even more powerful Russell Hobbs 20630. Just pipped in the power stakes, this iron is otherwise as well specified as that Russell Hobbs.

It is quite a bit lighter than the Russell Hobbs though, which would make it a better choice for longer ironing sessions. Prices do seem to fluctuate - buy between £30 and £35 and you'll have a very capable iron for not much money. Full Details