Best Irons 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

With the option of three intensive Ultimate380 steam boost options, you can tackle any stubborn wrinkles with just the right amount of power necessary. You can also tackle thick materials such as jumpers or furnishings.

A comfort indicator lets you know when the water tank is empty, which is perfect for those who are often too in the zone to keep checking off their own accord. It also tells you when the steam is ready so that you can get to work quickly and with the correct power.

The CeraniumGlissee Pro plate makes gliding over any fabric a breeze, as well as a three-phase layout to enjoy ideal steam distribution over any textiles.

You can also maintain the iron for longevity, using the Calc ‘n’ Clean Perfect cleaning programme at the click of a button; all the work is done for you.

All of the buttons on the back of the iron are really easy to operate, including the Eco mode and power button. You also have the benefit of the secure lock system, which locks the iron in place when it is stored on the base or being transported to keep your environment safe.

If you’ve ever had an iron which has quickly become defunct or lost power, there is a good chance that it is because of the limescale which has built up inside. This happens when water is left in the iron for too long, especially if you live in a hard water area.

TEFAL have developed a unique system to deal with this. A twist-in spoon collects 10x more limescale particles than ordinary iron collection systems, directly from the irons sizeable water tank. Simply pull the spoon out and empty the scale into the bin.

There is added steam power too, with holes not only at the base of the plate but also at the side and tip. This distributes the steam to places which traditional irons simply can’t reach.

Durilium Airglide Autoclean technology allows the plate to glide over any surface effortlessly, and you don’t have to worry about it becoming scratched should you go over a zip or fastening.

Smart Technology will also provide the perfect heat and steam production for every fabric, adjusting all of the settings for you with a press of a button. The 7 bars of pressure will also mean you get through any material quickly, even the thickest of curtains and jackets.

If you feel like a bog-standard steam iron frankly doesn’t do the job for your busy household, then a steam generator iron could be the answer.

With 6.7 bars of pressure, there is a continuous powerful steam flow rate of 135g/min which will tackle the majority of creases and crinkles in your clothing. Should you still want more, there is a steam shot button which offers a brief boost of 470g.

OptimalTEMP technology allows you to quickly switch between fabric types without having to change the temperature settings, protecting even the most delicate of clothing. You can go from jeans to wool to silk, without having to wait for the temperature to adjust or pre-sorting the piles of clothes separately. The constant powerful production of steam will also protect clothes from burns and the plate sticking.

This, combined with the Automatic shut-off, means you can leave the iron and soleplate on the fabric ironing board without risk of burning, as it will shut off after a certain amount of time when not in use – perfect if you find yourself forgetting to unplug or switch off your electricals after use.

The 1.8L tank should get you through your ironing pile without having to top it up, but when the time does come, the container can be detached from the rest of the stand and filled up under your mains tap. No need for one of those little jugs which refill your iron but always get lost within a week anyway.

A safety carry lock also means you can transport your iron and base together without worrying about dropping or damaging either part. ECO mode will also allow you to iron your clothes with less steam but no reduced power.

As a bonus, the life of your iron is prolonged with the De-Calc function. Simply remove the Easy De-Calc knob when the product is cold and discard the dirty water and scale. The iron will remind you of when to do this with both a light and sound, so half the job is already done.

If you want a top-of-the-range travel iron, then this Go Travel is for you.

When you are on holiday, ironing is not going to be the top of your priority list. Therefore you’ll just want something which can quickly go over the creases in your clothes to smarten them up. Your clothes are probably pretty lightweight anyway, especially if you are in a hot climate.

Ergonomically designed, the soleplate glides effortlessly over all fabrics and tackles any creases efficiently without taking much time out of your day.

Helping you look your best when you are away from home. This Russell Hobbs travel iron is perfect for taking away with you in your case.

The stainless-steel hotplate will make light work of any material. There are water spray and variable steam features to give you an extra boost if needed, too. You can also choose the best temperature for maximum control.

To give it a slight edge, there is a larger water tank than with other travel iron models. This means you can take care of several pieces of clothing in one sitting – handy if you are away with the full family.

Super light and compact, this Steamworks travel iron is perfect for taking on the move. It could even work as a backup in the comfort of your own home. With dual voltage, you aren’t limited to where you use it.

This iron is perfect for quickly going over your clothes to neaten them up after they’ve been in your suitcase, with 800W power and 30g/min steam shot – good for such a compact design.

There is a steam tip as well as a button groove, meaning that even the hardest to reach places are easily taken care of. It comes with a water beaker too, so you can easily refill it from anywhere.

The folding handle makes it easy to pack and transport, saving space when you are restricted. The cord is also really long for a travel iron, so you aren’t as limited as with other models.

With its compact smart storage base, this Philips iron is perfect if you hate the restrictions of corded irons.

You may think that a cord isn’t a massive deal when it comes to your iron, especially if you can stand near a plug socket. However, we can guarantee that investing in a cordless model will make your ironing chore much more manageable. There will be no cords getting in the way or restrictions in the movement.

A yellow/orange light will let you know when the iron needs charging, and a blue light lets you know when you are good to go. Concerned about long charging times? Don’t be – it takes just six seconds. This means it is good to go as soon as you’ve arranged your garment on your ironing board.

The soleplate is scratch resistant so that it can encounter the harshest of fabrics and fastenings without any concerns. The water refill hole is also on the large size, so you won’t risk spilling water everywhere when refilling.

There is a steam rate of 35g/min, and the boost rate is 150g, so more stubborn crinkles are also defeated. The lock function means you can store and transport your iron with ease, as well as there being a heel on the base which you can wrap the cord around for easy storage.

If you hate having to store your iron away with the long cord getting tangled, bent and wrapped around everything else, then this easy store model is perfect.

Simply wrap the cord around the specially designed base, and then tuck the plug away in the designated holder. Perfect if you are short on storage space or are worried about the wire becoming damaged when stowed away.

Keeping the iron well maintained is also easy; with a burst of steam, all lime scale is forced out through the holes with the residual water.

The 45g/min steam shot rate is powerful enough to get rid of the creases and folds of any material, with little need to constantly change other settings such as ramping up the temperature or going over the same spot two or three times.

The power and water tank capacity aren’t quite as high as the Morphy Richards Breeze, but the dedicated storage method could give it an edge if that is one of your biggest concerns.

With a smooth ceramic soleplate, this Morphy Richards Breeze will glide over any material effortlessly, making light work of your ironing pile.

The 350ml water tank is on the generous side for the price, meaning you won’t have to keep refilling it and interrupting your flow.

Any stubborn wrinkles can be addressed easily with the 45g/minute steam shot rate, and you can even tackle any garments which are hanging up thanks to the vertical steam option.

You don’t have to worry about the build-up of lime scale, as the anti-scale technology will take care of all the internal cleaning no matter what your water type.