The Best Steam Irons

Buying Guide

Putting on an outfit that is covered in wrinkles can ruin your whole look. Whether it’s just a casual t-shirt and jeans or a formal suit and tie, getting the wrinkles out of your clothes polishes the entire outfit and makes you look sharp, tidy and well put together. If you don’t want to look rumply, opt for a steam iron to do the job.

There are several different types of steam irons available. While all of them remove wrinkles effectively, the material, size and features of the irons differ. A conventional steam iron is what many people have in their homes. It pushes small amounts of hot steam into the fabric while ironing in order to get rid of the creases faster. To create steam, you have to fill the iron with tap water. This type of iron is often cost effective, long lasting and easy to use. Some conventional steam irons have a cord while others are cordless. Cordless irons offer more flexibility and convenience.

Another option is a steam-ironing system, which is better for ironing a large amount of garments at one time. This type of iron is much larger than a conventional steam iron and needs to be placed on a small table or hung up when using with an ironing board. Steam-iron systems are highly effective but take a while to get up to the right temperature.

Pay special attention to the soleplates of your iron, which can be made from stainless steel, ceramic, anodized aluminum and nonstick materials. Being able to glide smoothly over clothes is key, and stainless steel or ceramic are two of the best choices for this.

• With any electrical appliance, safety is of the utmost importance. Opt for a steam iron that has an automatic shut-off feature, which ensures that the iron powers off after it is motionless for a certain amount of time.
• Some wrinkles are extra stubborn and require more steam to get rid of. Look for a steam iron that has a surge button so you can provide a little burst of steam to get rid of wrinkles that won’t get smoothed out otherwise. This is also helpful if you’re ironing heavy fabrics. If you want to steam clothes at a lower setting, look for an iron that has an anti-drip feature. This way, your clothes won’t end up feeling damp when you’re done ironing.
• A steam iron with a retractable cord is a good way to ensure everything stays neat and tidy when not in use. Typically on these irons, there will be a button that retracts the cord slowly back into the cavity.
• The water reservoir is the tank you have to fill up with water so that the iron can heat it up and convert it into steam. Some people prefer transparent water reservoirs so they can easily see when they need to fill up the tank.
• If you want to get the wrinkles out of curtains or other hanging fabrics, opt for a steam iron that has a vertical steaming feature. This way you can hold it upright, instead of horizontally, to smooth out wrinkles without having to pull down all your window dressing.
• If you use starch while ironing, it’s best to clean the iron’s soleplate when the iron is not in use. This way, you won’t end up with any residue on your clothes.