Our verdict
Powerful and effective, the Philips PerfectCare Elite Plus Steam Generator Iron can really knock the socks off even the best steam irons when it comes to performance. With a large water tank and impressive 8 bar steam pressure, the iron makes light work of even heavily creased garments.
However, the first thing that struck our tester Tamsin about the iron was definitely its size: "It's really large and heavy, I found it difficult to store because of its size."
Due to its hefty size, the Philips PerfectCare Elite Plus Steam Generator Iron is best for those tackling a lot of laundry every week, who also have space to store it. An extra-large ironing board like the Lauraboard Comfortboard suits a steam generator iron due to its generous iron rest.
How we tested
Our tester Tamsin put the Philips PerfectCare Elite Plus Steam Generator Iron through its paces at home, on a regular week's worth of work clothes in need of ironing.
Tackling seven shirts and one dress, freshly crinkled from the washing machine and dried on a clothes airer, Tamsin tested out all the features of the steam generator iron, comparing it to her Russell Hobbs steam iron and taking detailed notes on ease of use, effectiveness and value for money.
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Is the Philips PerfectCare Elite Plus Steam Generator Iron easy to set up?
The iron was very easy to set up, with simple instructions and clear functions. A steam generator iron looks and works a bit differently to a conventional iron, due to their separate water tanks, but Tamsin found the iron straightforward to start using.
The size of the iron was hard to get used to, and didn't fit comfortably on Tamsin's ironing board, which made things a little challenging to get going. She also noted the noise the steam makes - you can really hear how powerful the iron is.
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