Tower CeraGlide T22011 Ultra Speed Iron review: our verdict on this bargain steam iron

Price on writing: £18 | Buy now from Amazon

How we tested

Our steam iron tester, Alison, put this iron through its paces in her four-bedroom home, keeping up with laundry for her busy Airbnb. She used the iron on a range of fabrics, including cotton jersey, bedding and viscose, taking detailed notes on effectiveness, ease of use and quality.

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Our verdict

If you're looking for a sturdy, dependable steam iron for around £20, the Tower Ceraglide T22011 Ultra Speed Iron is certainly worth a look. Our tester, Alison, found it to be well-made, sturdy and effective against creases.

With a respectable 40g of continuous steam and an impressive 160g steam boost, the Ceraglide can hold its own against mid-range irons like the Beldray Precision1 when it comes to tackling creases. However, Alison found the iron sometimes spits water and steam, leaving wet spots on her clothes and bedding.

The Ceraglide as a 1.8m power cord, which is plenty to give you the freedom to move around your ironing board. It also has a good-sized water tank at 360ml, so you'll be able to get through a pile of ironing on one tank.

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What's the Tower CeraGlide T22011 Ultra Speed Iron like to use day-to-day?

Relatively powerful for a budget steam iron, the Tower Ceraglide T22011 Ultra Speed Iron does a good enough job ironing a range of fabrics. If you do a lot of ironing or have very high standards for your laundry, this probably isn't the iron for you.

However, if you're looking for a cheap iron for occasional use, it's a good option. Alison found that it did spit water and steam sometimes, which isn't ideal, as after several uses the water may contain limescale deposits, which end up on your clothes.

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Does the Tower CeraGlide T22011 Ultra Speed Iron offer good value for money?

With an RRP of £20, this iron is a great price. However, when compared to the similarly-priced Morphy Richards LightGlide (£21), the LightGlide came out on top, thanks to the LightGlide's lightweight handling and reliable performance.

The Ceraglide is sturdier and heavier than the LightGlide, plus it has a larger water tank and more powerful steam output. In conclusion, if power and speed is your priority, this is a great choice for a budget iron.

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She researches and reviews the products Mumsnetters swear by, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

With an MA in Creative Writing and a PGCert in Lifestyle Journalism, Poppy's written about parenting topics for The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The Mirror and The Sun. She's a best-selling, award-winning author, and her books for children and parents have been translated into 12 languages.