Iron & board recommendations

[NotDonna]

I seem to need a new iron every year as despite how often I clean it it gets scaled up and just drips rusty water everywhere. My board has also seen better days. I was wondering about one of those irons with a huge water thing separate. Any good? Recommendations? Thank you?

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MNHQ Update: If you're short on time, here's a summary of the irons and ironing boards recommended on this thread:

• Minky Ergo Plus Ironing Board, £65
• Brabantia Titan Oval Ironing Board, £90
• Boardmann XL Ironing Board, £106
• Tefal's range of steam generator irons, from £80

For more inspiration, check out our guides to the best steam irons, best steam generator irons and best ironing boards, all featuring recommendations by Mumsnetters.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5421653?cmpid=APP003

I have this ironing board as I have a steam generator iron so the water tank bit sits on the low down shelf and the iron goes on the iron rest up top.

@dementedpixie is your steam generator better than a regular iron?

I like it for doing dhs shirts as it seems to get the creases out better. I dont really iron much tbh

I have a tefal steam generator op. It's excellent. The bit you hold is really light, I'm not constantly filling it up as the tank is huge, and it powers through anything. I iron most things on one side so it's much faster. I don't need to change the temperature as it does everything on the same setting. I would never go back to a regular iron now. Two friends have asked to try it when they needed a new iron, and both bought one straight away.
My ironing board is a Brabantia. I think it's called Titan. That has been great too. I put the steam generator on a unit beside the board.
Both are around 5 years old and still great.

Thank you! I’ve ordered the Tefal pro steam generator. A bit spendy but given I get a new iron on an annual basis this should be a saving! Also bought the big brabantia board. Thanks all!

Boardman ironing board. Changed my life (I have many duvet covers to iron for an Air B&B)

Definitely use only distilled water in your new steam generator to avoid having to throw one away every year. I have had only two in the past 30 years.
Both of them a Swiss brand I believe, Astoria .

@Whataretalkingabout distilled water? As in bottled? There’s a ‘calc’ collector that I need to pull out every 6months and clean according to the instructions. Will that be sufficient?

I just use tap water in my tefal op, as you say it has a filter. I live in a soft water area though. Just check your instructions, it should tell you the best type of water to use. I'm almost certain the instructions for my SG specified tap water.

Teal Steam Generator irons are fantastic. You won't look back. Couldn't imagine ironing without mine. I also have a large Brabantia ironing board which is great for big items like sheets and duvet covers. Enjoy your new iron!

Oops! Tefal!

I’ve googled and it says that you shouldn’t use distilled water as a higher temp is required to get it to steam and it will drip and make a mess. It says to use tap water but if in a hard water area (we are) to use 50/50 distilled and tap. Maybe your Swiss brand is different @Whataretalkingabout

Actually @NotDonna I have just reread the instructions for my Astoria and it states that distilled water should be used 50/50 in hard water areas (like mine)! So it does depend on the quality of your tap water. I used to use only distilled bottled water on my first Astoria and it lasted 15 years. But it never dripped. Maybe that was a mistake! I now use a local bottled water recommended by Astoria!

Best to check your water hardness! Happy ironing! ;)

You'll love the brabantia board, they're so sturdy! I love mine

I like my Braun steam generator. Before that I used to have a Rowenta iron and they were good too.

I have a Brabantia board that’s well over 20 years old and still going. It’s had several new covers but still solid.

If you have very hard water the typical de-scaling/de-kalking the manufacturer suggests usually won't be enough. Best to use distilled water, which you can buy in bottles from any supermarket or hardware store. I quite like the scented ironing water though I'm sure half of MN will be horrified by the very idea

If you have a tumble dryer with a water tank, I have heard you can use the collected water from this in irons as it is distilled. But I have never tried it myself.

Oooh @BertieBotts I’ll research the tumble drier water!