Tell me about pressurised steam generators (aka irons)

[maggiethecat]

After nearly being electrocuted last night by my frayed-cord iron I've decided it's time to replace it. Think that it might be worth investing in something better than the cheapo irons that I usually get - but are these pressurised steam things going to do a much better job?

Which one do you swear by?

[Fayrazzled]

I've got a Phillips one I love- it was a Which best buy. I do think steam generators really help with the ironing: they're more powerful and quite often I only need to iron one side of a garment (e.g. t-shirt or sheet). They also need filling with water much less frequently than a normal iron so that cuts down on faff time too. I wouldn't go back to a normal iron now.

Some research I read suggested a steam generator can cut ironing time in half. I don't think it is quite as much as this, but it does certainly help reduce the time doing it.

[crockydoodle]

I love my tefal which I've had for over 4 years. If it died I would go straight out and buy another. Wouldn't go back to a standard iron.

[maggiethecat]

I am quite tempted although the prices seem ridiculous. Have only started looking at them (since was nearly electrocuted only last night!) but there seems to be pressurised and non-pressurised ones - the former being more expensive.

Do they steam up the whole room? - having visions of me disappearing behind clouds of steam.

Also, do they work well on small kids' clothes or is their effect really on larger items (I'm not one for ironing sheets but do like to give kids' clothes a lick).

By any chance, would you have your model to hand - since there are so many out there it would be a starting point.

[maggiethecat]

msg crossed with crocky's so was asking fay -but question now directed at crocky too

[vinblanc]

I have a Tefal one. I couldn't go back to an ordinary iron. The steam generator version is just so much quicker.

[maggiethecat]

back to question of volume of steam - do you not feel as if you're going to evaporate after 5 mins of ironing?

[SofaQueen]

I bought one of these last month. I despise(d) ironing, but this gadget makes it soooo much more appealing. You control the steam, and it is directed down, so no steam bath is created.

I highly recommend one!

[merryberry]

love mine, muchly. not to steamy now, as all directed into the clothes on button push, it doesn't chug around steaming automatically all the time. you're not standingin clouds of the stuff. you get through so much ironing so quickly you do need a window open though, to keep cool.

[vinblanc]

You do not get a facial when ironing. The steam is directed into the ironing board, which will get wet after maybe an hour of constant ironing. It is a message to stop!

[merryberry]

the footplate of the iron is just as normal. kids clothes go well with this, just a quick blast one side and they're done. last longer too, as you barely iron at all - just kind of apply the iron on really small bits.

get pressurised. truly, makes all the diff to the job. mine's now 3 years old, lasting well. tefal.

[maggiethecat]

Sofa, that's a nice looking one, sounds like it does a good job too.

Almost converted - need to get head round the prices and out of 19.99 mindset.

[Fayrazzled]

Not too steamy and mine doesn't make the ironing board wet either- it is a very dry steam somehow. No problem ironing children's clothes- the iron itself is the same as a normal one. In actual fact, I've thought of another advantage- the iron is much lighter than a regular iron because there's no water in it- so the ironing is less tiring.

yes, pressurised ones are expensive, but mine is worth it's weight in gold.

Mine is similar to this. Think mine must be the previous model: www.consumer.philips.com/c/irons/gc8220_02/prd/gb/

[maggiethecat]

will have a look (...weight in gold - keeps ringing in my head)

[maggiethecat]

meshing ironing board - this is a whole new world...............