10 Best Steam Irons Reviews and Buying Guide
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Steam Iron?
Right from the introduction, steam iron has evolved a lot. They come with a wide range of features. Some models are designed just to keep your clothes neat by pressing them. Even though most of us have an iron box in our homes for pressing our daily clothes, if you plan to shop for a new one, you will have to consider different factors. You might have shopped for the device that you presently use in your home very long ago. Now, with many features introduced in the market, here are the top factors you will have to consider in shopping for the right steam iron for your requirement:
Quick Summary
1. Best Overall – Rowenta Professional DW5280 Steam Iron
2. Best High Capacity Iron– PurSteam Professional Grade Steam Iron
3. Best Fast Heating– Mueller Professional Grade Steam Iron
4. Best Efficient– BEAUTURAL Steam Iron
5. Best Classic– BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
6. Most Budget-Friendly – Sunbeam Classic Steam Iron
7. Best Heavy Duty Iron– Hamilton Beach Steam Iron
8. Best Travel Iron – Steamfast SF-717 Mini Steam Iron
9. Best Steam For Professionals – Maytag Speed Heat Steam Iron
10. Best Modern– CHI Steam Iron
Top Rated Steam Irons Reeviews
1. Best Overall – Rowenta Professional DW5280 Steam Iron
One of the features you benefit from buying the newest models of electronics is that you get a better-performing appliance. The Rowenta DW5280 steam iron is a combination of powerful performance and impressive design. This German-made iron comes with a premium soleplate that will guide effortlessly and is also scratch-resistant. It is uniquely shaped with steam holes that will circulate the steam around your fabric and will remove crease very easily. The micro steam holes also included in the pointed tip of the soleplate allow the steam to reach around tight areas like in between your buttons. The Rowenta steam iron also comes with a transparent water-tank window, so know the tank’s water level.
The steam iron also has an automatic feature that adjusts the steam released, matching the right temperature for the fabric. Also, you can opt to turn off the steam function if you only intend to do dry ironing. If you have stubborn wrinkles on your clothes, you can switch to the burst of the steam feature that will quickly smooth out those fabrics.
2. Best High Capacity Iron – PurSteam Professional Grade 1700W Steam Iron
This professional-grade steam iron by PurSteam is another great quality appliance you may want to consider looking at. Its high-quality ultra-press stainless sets soleplate is scratch-resistant and very durable. It offers a smooth glide and evenly distributes the steam over your garments. This model has impressive features like its thermostat control and axial steam holes. You can control the temperature of the iron and select the steam output you feel comfortable with. This PurSteam iron will save time and effort with its 1700Watts power. It can be used on all types of fabrics including cotton, wool, nylon, polyester, linen, sleek, and others.
The steam iron also has safety features like its automatic shut-off feature that prevents your fabrics from burning. Its anti-drip feature prevents the water in the tank from leaking our and it also has an anti-calc feature to prevent mineral build-up.
3. Best Fast Heating – Mueller Professional Grade Steam Iron
If you are pressed for time and need a steam iron that will save half your time, the Mueller Steam iron is what you need. It comes with very fast heating and will take about three seconds to produce steam and even less than a minute for the iron to reach its maximum temperature. This model comes with a durable stainless steel soleplate that glides easily over your clothes and will smoothen very tight corners. Also, you would find it more convenient ironing your clothes with its 8ft retractable cord. The cord winds up quickly when you press the button.
Even if you leave your iron face down, it won’t burn your fabrics or the ironing board. The steam iron also works for hanging clothes and it is easy to do vertical ironing conveniently. The Mueller Steam iron will automatically adjust the water density to match the temperature of the iron and its anti-drip feature protects the tank from leaking.
4. Best Efficient – BEAUTURAL Steam Iron
The Beautural Steam Iron is made with premium quality materials that are durable. This steam iron is the perfect wrinkle remover as it comes with a ceramic coated soleplate. It is non-stick and will easily move over your fabrics with ease. The ceramic is much harder stan stainless steel and is scratch resistant. The Beautural iron is fast heating it will take less than one minute to get to the maximum temperature. This steam iron is faster than most conventional irons.
You can easily control the temperature with its thermostat dial and use it on all types of fabrics. The iron also features a three-way automatic shut-off system that turns off the iron when it is idle for 8 minutes in a vertical position. If you leave the iron in a horizontal position, it will turn off after 30 seconds. The iron has a 1500 Watt capacity and comes in a classic design. The steam spreads evenly around your garments and will smoothen out the wrinkles fast. It has a self-cleaning feature that filters out calcium build-up and an anti-drip feature to protect the water from leaking. The 8ft long power cord allows you conveniently iron in any location around your home
5. Best Classic – BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
Black+Decker is a very popular brand when it comes to home appliances. This company makes high-quality products and we can say so about this classic steam iron model from Black+Decker. The steam iron easily removes tough wrinkles and you conveniently control the iron by switching modes. The steam feature can also be switched off when dry ironing delicate fabrics. The Black+Decker iron has an anti-drip that is built to regulate the water temperature. It has up to 7 temperature settings and a fabric guide to help you when ironing.
Even though the iron has a functional automatic shut-off feature, there is also a dedicated OFF button that allows you to switch the iron off yourself. This model comes in a very simple design which makes it great for family use.
6. Most Budget Friendly – Sunbeam Classic Steam Iron
The Sunbeam steam iron is perfect for both horizontal and vertical ironing. You can conveniently iron your clothes while they’re still hanging or your drapes. It comes with a lot of features including an anti-drip system that prevents water leakage and will also regulate the water to match the temperature setting. The iron has a safety function that automatically turns it off when it is idle. The iron has a 1200Watt capacity and is designed with a non-stick soleplate. It will produce a burst of steam to smooth out the wrinkles on your fabrics.
This iron is efficient and very easy to use. You can use it on any type of fabric including quilts and drapes. The Sunbeam steam iron has a self-cleaning system that removes mineral build-up. It has an 8ft swivel cord that rotates at 360°.
7. Best Heavy Duty Iron – Hamilton Beach Steam Iron
This steam iron is made with a premium quality durable non-stick soleplate and will last longer than any conventional non-stick material you know. The Hamilton Beach steam iron produces over 60% more steam which will effectively remove all stubborn wrinkles on your fabrics. The design is sleek and it comes with an 8-foot long retractable cord that makes it easy to store after use. These ironworks are for both flat ironing and vertical ironing. The Hamilton Beach iron features a three-way automatic shut-off system to ensure safety. It will turn itself off after 30 seconds if the iron is placed flat and at 15 minutes if the iron is left in a vertical position.
This steam iron can handle heavy-duty ironing so it is recommended for sewers. It has a 1500watts capacity and can handle tough ironing jobs. The Hamilton Beach iron also has an anti-drip system and a self-cleaning feature to remove mineral build-up. It is very efficient and will help you complete your ironing at a very fast pace.
8. Best Travel Iron – Steamfast SF-717 Mini Steam Iron
This compact steam iron comes in a very sleek design and comes with very impressive features. It has a fast heating feature and its 1.4 ounces water tank will heat up in less than 15 seconds. The Steamfast iron has. 3 settings temperature control feature that accommodates all fabric types. Despite its very compact size, the 420watts iron can remove wrinkles from fabrics and it even has an ergonomic grip handle that is anti-slip. The iron has 7.5-foot power cord that makes your ironing easy.
One of the perks of using this steam iron is its convenience. It is designed for travel and you can easily fit it in your luggage during your trips. One can safely say it falls in the category of the world’s smallest steam iron. Also, the Steamfast iron has a dual voltage system which makes it easy to use in any part of the world you travel to. You can switch between its 100 and 240 volts of power.
9. Best Steam for Professionals – Maytag Speed Heat Steam Iron
The Maytag steam iron does the job in half the time. Its fast heating feature will have the iron at its maximum temperature in less than a minute. The steam iron is designed with a non-stick stainless steel soleplate which will glide easily over your garments. You can use it to iron on a flat surface and also vertically on hanging clothes. It has an excellent grip which is soft to touch and will make it easier to iron.
The thermostat of the iron can be controlled to match the right temperature for all fabric types. The Maytag steam iron’s soleplate has a very impressive steam distribution and it will smooth even the toughest of wrinkles. The iron is designed with a new heating technology that increases performance and reduces the cost of your electricity bills.
10. Best Modern – CHI Steam Iron
This Chi steam iron comes with the latest Chi Flat Iron Technology which includes a titanium-infused ceramic soleplate found in most of these brands’ hair styling tools. The powerful iron comes with over 400 steam holes that distribute the steam over a wide area of your clothes. You can trust that it will smoothen tough wrinkles fast. You can easily access the temperature control feature which gives you access to the water tank.
The Chi iron comes with a retractable cord measuring 8ft and you can easily store it. Chi offers a fabric guide so it’s easy to know which is the right temperature for each fabric. The sleek and modern iron comes with a 1700watts capacity which can handle tough jobs.
10 Things to Know When Choosing a Steam Iron
1. The Plate Used in the Steam Iron
The plate, as you can judge, is the place that presses against your cloth when you press the cloth with a steam iron. It is this plate that will determine the outcomes of your ironing and also how long the iron will last. You should ensure that the plate is easy to clean after use. Most importantly, look at whether it is scratch-resistant. When you choose the steam iron unit with non-stick coating on the plate, you can reduce the chances of scorching the clothes and it will also be easier to clean as well.
When talking about the plates, you can go for the one with a ceramic plate. The reason is that in addition to offering a superior glide, the steam iron with this type of plate will also heat up evenly. However, the cost of the system with a ceramic plate will be more as compared to other models. You can also choose the unit with an SS soleplate. This will be resistant to rust. Another viable option is an aluminum soleplate. It will be scratch-resistant and will last longer as well.
2. Variable Settings
Once you have decided on the soleplate material, the next thing you will have to consider is whether the steam iron offers different temperature settings. As you know, all cloth is not equally made. One cloth might withstand heavy steam, while one will not. So, you should be able to manually adjust the setting based on the cloth that you presently iron. This will ensure the safety of your cloth from burns. In some models, you can precisely control the amount of steam released.
3. Consider the Number of Holes in the Soleplate
When you have used a steam iron earlier, but without any holes in the soleplate, you might have had trouble in even distribution of steam. When there are holes in the surface that you use for ironing the clothes, the steam will be released evenly on the fabric. However, you might have to spend time cleaning this type of surface. Nevertheless, this feature will save you effort and time in ironing and will prevent water condense on the clothes.
4. Steam Pressure
When the steam pressure generated by a steam iron is higher, the output power will also be higher. For instance, when the value of the steam pressure bar is more than 5, it will be easier for you to beat the wrinkles in any kind of cloth material you iron. When considering the steam pressure, here are the following types you should know about:
- Non-pressurized: This type of pressure will work similarly to that of regular steam irons. However, the difference is that it can produce double the amount of steam produced by a regular steam iron. Also, this type of iron will have a considerable and separate water department that is provided with a heating element.
- Pressurized: This will cost you more as compared to the non-pressurized models. However, it is known for its wrinkle-free ironing. The vast steam produced by this type will be coming out of the device with high pressure. This type of pressure can cause a considerable effect on quickly getting rid of even the most stubborn crease just with a small amount of effort from the end of the user.
5. Durability
Undoubtedly, you will be intending to use the new steam iron for a long similar to the one that you presently use. But, your question here will be how to identify the durability of an iron box? All that you will have to do is just a little research. Just look for materials that are capable enough to last longer. Just talking to the people who have been using a specific model from a particular brand will help you judge the durability.
6. Cordless or Corded Variants
Naturally, all of us will opt for cordless steam iron when we are provided with both of these options. However, cordless units are just in the infancy phase when it comes to the adorable steam iron market. Studies show that cordless units still lack quality and durability. Of course, you will like the convenience of not having the cord.
However, cordless units tend to lose heat quickly and need constant reheating. In turn, the time taken for ironing will be more for you than going for a corded unit. So, compare and make the right choice.
7. Special Features
When talking about the points to consider in shopping for a steam iron, you should consider the essential features that will make your steam ironing process easy undoubtedly. Here are some features:
- Auto shut-off: This feature will help to prevent overheating of the ironing plate. It will automatically cut-off, once the heat reaches the pre-set temperature. Then, once you start ironing, the power will automatically switch-on to heat the plate to the desired temperature. It is also a safety feature to consider.
- Self-cleaning: In the steam heads and the tank, the build-up can gather not just in the tank, but also in the steam heads. When the steam iron has a self-cleaning feature, it will automatically clean the build-up using a strong blast of steam with just a push of a button.
- Water filters: Some steam irons require the user to use distilled water. You know that it will cost you more. So, to help you, nowadays, some models do not need distilled water. You can just use tap water. With a resin filter and with anti-calcium valve, pure water will reach the steamer.
- Eco-friendliness: If you are concerned about high power consumption, you can go for a steam iron that is rated to consume less power. Also, some units consume less water for generating steam as well, thereby making it eco-friendly.
- Iron lock: This feature will help with locking the unit with the base. It means that it will be easier and safe to handle and carry.
- Anti-scale: In general, when you buy steam iron, you will have a lime-scale build-up. But, with a unit with an anti-scale function, it will prevent and even it will remove lime-scale. It means that you can save on the cost of buying anti-scale products.
- Anti-dip: This feature will prevent water from dripping via steam vents. Also, it will avert heat hazards as spilling and leaking are prevented.
- Vertical steam: When the steam iron has a vertical steaming feature, you can easily iron hanging garments and even garments like curtains. Some units will help you iron both horizontally and vertically. If you have the requirement of ironing horizontal clothes, you can consider this feature. Otherwise, it might not help.
8. Water Tank
As a steam iron works with the help of water to produce steam, you should check the water department before deciding on a model. It is better to check whether the unit can produce steam continuously for at least 30 minutes without requiring water re-filling. It would be better to choose a unit with a water-level indicator or a unit with a transparent water tank. These things will ensure that you can monitor the water level before it drains completely. Also, check whether the tank is detachable to refill the water easily.
9. Consider Spraying Mechanism
Many steam irons these days come with a spray feature. The important benefit associated with the spray feature is that it can make your cloth wet before ironing. In turn, you can get crease-free ironing and even it will help with making your clothes crisper too. Easy and quick ironing will also be possible with this feature.
10. Wattage
The wattage level of the steam iron will indicate how fast the unit will heat up and how long it can retain the heat. Of course, there is no guarantee that higher wattage irons will bring better performance as compared to the units with lower wattage. To get better results, you can consider irons with more than 1500 watts to make your ironing job easier and quicker.
Wrapping It Up
If you are looking for a good quality steam iron that will instantly remove all wrinkles from your clothes, we recommend you get one from a reliable and trusted brand. We have compiled the best you can find today and these products have been tested. If you want a high-quality steam iron that can iron tight corners like between your buttonholes, we recommend the Rowenta Professional DW5280 Steam Iron. The PurSteam Professional Grade 1700W Steam Iron, our second-best has a whopping 1700watts capacity that can handle the job. If you are looking for a burst of steam, we recommend you get it. Our third best, Mueller Professional Grade Steam Iron will help you get your ironing done in half the time. It is a very efficient and high-performance steam iron.
Steam ironing has many benefits as compared to dry ironing. Selecting the right steam iron will make the process easier, hassle-free, and even enjoyable. You can consider the factors discussed above when deciding on the right steam iron for your home use. In addition to the features discussed above, make sure that the handles are ergonomic and user-friendly when shopping.
Rate This Article
