How to choose an iron: rating of the best models for 2021 and 6 important criteria

Types of irons

Conventionally, devices can be divided into 4 types:

• With steam;
• Wireless;
• Road;
• With a steam generator.

With steam

This is the most popular iron for home use and is often chosen because... It has all the necessary functions and a good price. It has a special design - a reservoir for filling water, i.e. During ironing, you can moisten the fabric by releasing steam from the soleplate of the iron or spraying water from the spout.

Cordless iron

The same iron as with steam, but differs in the way it is powered. The device heats up only when lying on the base, and without contact with it it maintains the accumulated heat. The advantage is that while ironing, a cordless iron does not hinder your movements and does not cause you to get tangled in cords. Minus - without the base it does not stay hot for so long, about 2 minutes. We recommend choosing this iron for those who iron quickly and less often. But if you regularly have to deal with wrinkles on curtains or on clothes with a complex cut, it is better to buy another model.

Decide on the type of iron

Irons can be steam or conventional, that is, without a steam generation function.
These are outdated models that require damp gauze to be ironed on complex fabrics. There are almost no such irons on sale now. Steam irons come with a built-in or external water tank. The latter are the so-called steam stations: steam is generated in a large separate container and supplied to the iron through a hose.

On the left is a steam iron, on the right is a steam station

Steam stations iron quickly and efficiently, but are expensive and require a lot of space. They are often used in studios and laundries. In everyday life, a simple steam iron is quite enough. The main thing is to decide on the sole, power and functions.

Choosing a sole for an iron

The quality of the sole determines how carefully the iron behaves with fabrics. If, for example, chips or scratches appear on the sole over time, they can ruin things during ironing and frustrate you.

Today, manufacturers offer two sole materials - aluminum and stainless steel with different coatings (ceramics, cermets, non-stick, etc.). If you see “composite” in the device passport, then this is an alloy, sputtering or other coating.

When choosing an inexpensive iron with an aluminum base, it will most likely serve you less even with normal ironing, but it will not burn and will protect any delicate fabric if it has a special non-stick coating.

Ceramics are less afraid of contact with locks or zippers, but such a device cannot be dropped. The same can be said about metal ceramics.

The best choice is a stainless steel iron, especially if it has a sapphire or titanium coating.

Power and modes

Wattage affects how quickly the iron heats up, how long it can hold the temperature and how quickly it produces steam. Optimal power:

• With steam and wireless. From 2000 to 2800 W;
• Road. Here it is enough to choose an iron from 700 to 1100 W;
• With a steam generator. Not less than 2300 W.

Usually the device has 3 modes so that you can handle any type of fabric. And there is a wheel with modes and temperatures:

1. ⚫ (up to 110 °C).
2. ⚫⚫ (up to 150 °C).
3. ⚫⚫⚫ (up to 200 °C).

Spray and steam

The quality of fabric moisture affects the efficiency of ironing, and in some cases, for example with linen, this function is completely indispensable. When choosing a good iron for your home, keep in mind that there are several ways to humidify:

• Spray. There is a hole under the spout through which water is sprayed onto the fabric;
• Constant steam supply. In conventional devices it is uniform, but in steam generators it is truly continuous;
• Steam boost. A button with which you can get a single portion of steam. It is distinguished by its power compared to continuous steam supply;
• Vertical steaming. The ability of the device to steam things that hang on a hanger.

Steam output is calculated in g/min. For continuous feeding, 50 g/min is sufficient, and for a burst of steam – 100 g/min.

The reservoir should hold from 250 to 400 ml of liquid; if the volume is smaller, you will have to add it several times during one ironing.

Rating of irons and steam generators

The buyer is always interested in what brand of equipment it is. Nowadays popular manufacturers offer equipment with reliable assembly at an affordable price. Among the well-known companies are: Tefal, Braun, Rowenta, Bosch, Polaris, Gorenje and others.

Philips GC3803/30 Azur Performer

This iron has steam control and a temperature regulator, which will allow you to iron clothes more efficiently. If you need to process complex folds, the steam boost function is suitable. Even the most wrinkled and overdried items will be smoothed thanks to continuous steaming with a capacity of up to 40 g/min. The innovative SteamGlide outsole, made of ceramic, is durable and moves easily on any fabric. There is an interesting Calc Clean function, necessary for removing scale from the holes. If you additionally use anti-lime capsules, the iron will last for many years. The spout has a special shape for ironing buttons and hard-to-reach areas.

Polaris PIR 2695AK

A distinctive feature of this model in the rating of irons is its power (2600 W). The PRO 5 Ceramic sole glides effortlessly across a variety of fabrics. Thanks to the innovative SMART HEAT technology, even thin creases can be ironed out easily. It distributes thermal energy over the entire surface of the sole. You can switch smoothing modes (dry, with steaming at a feed rate of 50 g/min). The steaming mode can operate in a vertical position, which is convenient for processing items directly on the hanger.

REDMOND RI-C273S

An interesting model that can be controlled from your own smartphone, just install the Ready for Sky application. The user, while away from home, has the opportunity to turn off the iron or block the heating of the sole (for example, if someone tries to turn it on). It’s convenient that you can select heating levels (four modes in total), which will allow you to iron different fabrics. Ceramic sole retains its integrity for a long time. Another feature is the “stop drop”. By turning it on, you can be sure that condensation will not start dripping from the holes.

Braun SI 3041 GR

The sole of this model is made of ceramic, the name of the coating is FreeGlide 3D. Glides well on any fabric and is durable. The working nozzles are located non-standardly, and in the area of ​​the spout the steam supply is increased, which will allow you to effectively iron any items. There is a water tank that holds 270 ml - enough to iron several trousers and shirts. There is a “Steam boost” function with a capacity of 150 g/min. By choosing this mode, you can easily deal with even stubborn creases. A lot of attention was paid to the ergonomics of this model, so even during long-term work you don’t feel tired.

Now let's look at models with steam generators.

Philips GC8735 PerfectCare Performer

Innovative OptimalTEMP technology will allow you to forget about complex settings for a specific type of fabric. The iron will independently determine what the steam supply and temperature should be. To iron products, a couple of movements are enough - steam is supplied continuously, there is a steam function, which not a single wrinkle can resist. Thanks to the automatic temperature control system, you can even leave the iron directly on the board without fear of burning the fabric. If too much scale has accumulated, an alarm will sound. By placing the iron on the base, the Smart Calc-Clean system will remove plaque in a few minutes. The ceramic sole, complemented by an internal titanium layer, is not only strong, but also durable.

Bosch TDS 6041

A functional model with high-quality assembly and good power (2400 W). It is enough to select the type of fabric, after which the device itself will determine the required steam power. If you turn on the steam boost, the productivity rises to 380 g/min. The equipment will last a long time, as it is equipped with a highly effective Calc'n'Clean Perfect descaling system. The iron will beep when cleaning is required. The Ceranium Glissee Pro ceramic soleplate heats up quickly and evenly, glides easily and is suitable for ironing any fabric. The security of the device was also taken seriously. The device will turn itself off after 30 seconds if there is no movement in a horizontal position. The only thing worth considering is the weight of the model, reaching 4.8 kg.

Braun IS 2043 CareStyle

This brand is a leader in the production of various household appliances in the world. The uniqueness of this ironing system is the special Eloxal FreeGlide 3D holes and DoubleStream technology, which produces twice as much steam. This will reduce the time spent ironing clothes. The steam supply is adjusted automatically (when working with delicate fabrics, the eco mode is activated). Another distinctive feature is the design. The iron is located on the steam generator in a vertical position, thereby saving free space.

Choosing the weight for the iron

Before buying, you should hold the iron in your hands.
One of the important characteristics when choosing an inexpensive iron for the home, because... No one wants their hands to hurt after ironing. The weight of the iron is largely influenced by the material of its sole. The lightest models have an aluminum base, followed by steel, then stainless steel and titanium-coated steel.

But an iron that is too light, like a travel iron, smooths things out worse. Therefore, it is important to find a balance between weight and power. The average weight of an iron with steam is 1.5. The steam generator has 1.3 kg. And the road one has only 0.5 kg.

Rating of the best irons

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Slip

The better the iron glides over the fabric, the easier it is for you to iron. At the same time, the sliding is almost the same for all surfaces, but according to user observations, Teflon increases friction.

Carefully choose the base relief and its shape:

• Narrow nose. Helps iron all difficult places in clothes (collars, pockets, etc.);
• Hole for buttons. Now all modern models have it, which makes it easy to iron the fabric near the fittings;
• Rounded edges. They will not wrinkle the fabric if you point the iron backwards;
• Steam hole. They are located on the base and the more there are, the higher the quality of ironing.

Anti-scale protection

Choosing an iron with anti-scale protection
If you have chosen the best iron for your home with a steam function, it is important that it has an anti-scale protection system. Plus, when ironing, we recommend following the following rules:

• Do not pour dirty water into the iron. Use boiled or drinking;
• After each ironing, pour out any water that has not been used from the appliance.

To protect against scale, manufacturers suggest choosing an iron that contains:

• Anti-lime rod. A mechanical system where the water inside the device passes along the length of the rod, leaving all harmful substances on it. The user does not need to change the refill, but it does need to be cleaned regularly. To do this, immerse the part in a soda solution for 30 minutes. Wait until the sediment dissolves, rinse the rod with plain water and place it in its original place;
• Anti-lime cassette. Purifies the water that gets into the iron; it needs to be changed once every 6 months;
• Built-in scale system. Softens water thanks to a permanent cassette of granules installed in the tank.

Iron care products

In order for your iron to please you with its performance for a long time, you need to know that there are care products that can extend the life of this household appliance.

• Silicone nozzle. This is a special attachment that protects fabrics from scorching and the fragile sole of the iron from scratches. This will come in handy if you have an iron with a Teflon or aluminum sole. And also when you need to iron things in a delicate mode, but you are afraid of ruining the clothes.
• Cleaning pencil. Used to clean the soles of scale, dirt and other contaminants. The drawback of the pencil is that it has a strong and unpleasant smell. You can buy a pencil in the household chemicals department, price from 10 rubles.
• Distilled water. Special purified water for pouring into the iron tank. With it, your iron will never become covered with scale. The main disadvantage of this product is its high cost. With proper care of the iron - regular self-cleaning, you can use regular tap water or filtered water.
• Tablets, anti-scale powder. If your iron is very dirty and cannot be self-cleaned, you can use a special solution. This product must be dissolved in water, poured into the tank and wait until the substance dissolves the difficult-to-remove scale. Then turn the iron into self-cleaning mode and you will see how much scale and dirt comes out. Usually, after this procedure, irons begin to work like new!
• Folk remedies for cleaning the iron - salt, soda, vinegar, wax. I do not recommend that you use unprofessional cleaning products, as there is a high risk of damaging the household appliance.

Conclusions, or how not to get confused about sole options

While it’s not so difficult to figure out the type of iron, you can easily get confused about the options for its sole. We have prepared a comparison table for you that will help you choose the best iron with the right soleplate.