NOW CLOSED: Philips PerfectCare Xpress Iron Feedback review thread PLUS your chance to win your own one (RRP £120)

[AnnMumsnet]

This is the feedback thread for the 20 MNers recruited to take part in the product test for the new Philips PerfectCare Xpress - Philips say this is "the World's first pressurised steam iron, with "revolutionary OptimalTEMP technology and compact steam generator, it's built for powerful crease removal and is faster than any other steam iron, as tested by independent institute, DWI, June 2011".

"PerfectCare Xpress has no settings, just one perfect temperature that's safe on all ironable fabrics, even delicates. Iron from jeans to silk, to linen, to cotton, to cashmere...in any order, without having to adjust the temperature, it's 100% scorch proof! Plus with an automatic motion steam sensor inside ironing has never been easier. Compact and convenient for storage it's perfect for ironing small loads, every day"

Seeing as this was a very popular product test and so many of you applied - as well as it being nearly Christmas, we twisted the arm of the Philips team and are pleased to say we have another one up for grabs! if you're not a tester, all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning one is - on this thread - pass on your best ever ironing tip or share your worst ironing disaster. Everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a PerfectCare Xpress iron of their own (RRP £120).

If you are a tester, please answer the following questions and share with the MN community your thoughts on the iron.
Please also add a review here.

~ Firstly - what is your general opinion of ironing?
~ First impressions - what did you think? How easy to follow were the instructions?
~ First use - what did you try it on? A mountain or did you ease it in slowly? How did it handle the first few items?
~ Did you have to adjust how you iron at all? How did you find not changing the settings?
~ Any comments on ease of use? Including size, weight, storage etc?
~ Any one else in the family used it? What did they think?
~ Is this an iron you think you'd recommend to other people (should the conversation arise)?
~ How would you rate the value for money?
~ Any other comments on the product?

thanks
MNHQ

[turnipvontrapp]

Best tip - tumble dry = no ironing!

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I am not very good at ironing and am of the slapdash variety of ironing. I just want to get the job done in the quickest possible time. I can't say it is something I enjoy but I can't bring myself not to bother eitther.

I did read the instructions and do the water test but not much to it really. Very much a case of plug it in and off you go. I liked the look and feel of it though. I like a substantial iron!

I was a little peeved about the first use...I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up to find dh using it. Grrr! I used it the next day. I did a small pile of school uniform, PE kit and work stuff. I whipped through it much quicker than I usually do and was very impressed.

I have had to catch myself a couple of times when I have had a moment of panic thinking I have started to iron knitwear without adjusting the temp. I think that qull take a while. I have found I need to be careful on some small items as I burnt myself on the steam shooting out the side once when trying to adjust an item.

Ease of use is beyond simple. There is norhing to think about beyond ensuring it is topped up with water and plugged in. It does guzzle water but I love the powerful steam. It makes ironing much quicker. It is fairly heavy but that is a bonus to me, I prefer a weighty iron. When shopping for a new iron I always make my choice from the heaviest in my price range. I like the fact that it has powerful steam functions but is no harder to store than a regular iron.

Dh has used the iron. He is the exact opposite of me and is sn ironing perfectionist, hence why he does his own. He isn't so impressed. There has been much grumping and groaning but if I'm honest I found it hard to take seriously after his main complaint was that it wastes steam . I wasn't aware it needed preserving to be honest! Anyhow, it is tough as I had no hesitation in packing the old iron away!

I have already sung the irons praises as I told my mum and best friend about the product test (they were both jealous and said they were signing up to MN ). I have told them both I love and yes, I would recommend it if a friend was looking for a steam generator iron.

It is way above my usual iron budget. I think we spent £40 last time. However, I can see the difference in quality and performance so whilst I might not be able to afford it myself, that doesn't mean I think it is bad value.

Thankyou for giving me the chance to take part.

[Hopezibah]

Best ironing tip: Make sure the steam setting is on - otherwise you will struggle through your ironing and wonder why on earth the water level isn't going down! (just like i did - doh!)

Worst Ironing disaster: Ironing my trousers to wear for my very own dear mums funeral. The trousers kind of melted and stuck to the iron. Totally my own fault as I was (understandably) very distracted at the time.

[Ispywith]

Worst ironing experience was when I was about 12 years old & I thought I was being helping to my parents & I ironed my mums tan/thin tights - needless to say we had to get a new iron! The best ironing experience was ironing my first unborn child's baby grows, and folding them up all beautifully! All changed now have two kids!

[littlemonkeychops]

Top tip - only iron things that really really need it, like shirts , ie not bedding or underwear etc! That reduces the time spent ironing, that combined with a ironing whilst damp cuts down on the time spent.

I've been lucky and not had any disasters.

[moogdroog]

Best ever ironing tip, DM's wisdom - most of the work is done with your hands, take the time to position and smooth the garment properly before you bring out the steamy big guns!

[lottytheladybird]

My ironing tip is: Iron shirts whilst slightly damp. I find it easier to get creases out that way.

[mrscumberbatch]

I don't mind ironing, I like my clothes to look 'just so'. Unfortunately it's not always convenient!!

This wasn't always the case though. One of my first jobs as a teen was in a clothes shop that was in a disused railway tunnel.
It had no heating and was the snowiest winter that we'd had in a while. I would be hidden away in a changing room with a makeshift ironing board, ironing clothes to go out on the shop floor.
Due to the unfathomably cold weather I was glad to be ironing way- but I was TERRIBLE at at. I hate to think of the number of tops/coats etc with iron marks on them.

I left after Xmas season...never looked at an iron again for years

[tootssweet]

My ironing tip was from when I was pregnant & found it painful to stand (spd) I would lower my ironing board so I could sit & iron. I looked like Stevie Wonder at his keyboard but it was so much comfier.
Ironing disaster: my first job was ushering for a local theatre, during the run of the show the wardrobe mistress became ill & I had a rapid promotion to wardrobe assistant! After my first show I was ironing the costumes & accidentally ironed a massive iron shaped scorch mark into the hand-made silver lamè top that the lead 'princess' had to wear for the next two shows until I could repair it . They let me keep the job though (think they were desperate!)

[4349emma]

I was about 5 months pregnant with my son, and not really got used to having a bump yet. There I was, ironing away, wearing an ill-fitting top (not maternity) and I brought the iron back towards me, straight onto my bare bump. 1st time mum panic, on the phone to the midwife, worried I could have burnt/scared my baby!

[Mindingalongtime]

Bset ironing tip, pay someone else to do it!

[MaryBS]

My top tip is, my DH will do the ironing if I buy ironing water. So, I buy ironing water :o

The worst ironing disaster belongs to my gran, who tried to iron a plastic table cloth :o

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

My ironing tip = do it early on a Sunday morning when the dds are still in bed and I can have the room all to myself. I either put The Sundays on the CD player and sing along, or I stick Breakfast At Tiffany's or The Breakfast Club on - I know them both off by heart, so don't really need to actually look at them!

[SunshinePanda]

Best tip is to iron as you go along rather than letting it build up. Clothes then don't end up more creased than they need be from being in a pile and it is fairly quick to iron whilst the dinner is cooking.

[CindySherman]

Ironing disaster is when after working my way through some heavy duty linen on extra hot steam setting. I absent mindedly decided to iron the prettiest lacy tiny super expensive pants of mine - they literally disintegrated into a plastic ball!

Best tip is lavender water sprinkled on for super fresh smell!

[bohoec]

Best ironing tip: Lots of other Mnetters have already said this, but there are a lot of men that are better at ironing than us ladies, my partner included. My best ironing tip? Get him to do it (he's in the forces - his standards are WAY higher than mine when it comes to removing creases!)

Worst ironing disaster: Dropped the iron on the carpet, ruining carpet, iron and partner's little faith in my ironing capabilities

[lisad123]

Best tip, check the board is right height as otherwise your back will hurt :(

Worse thing was putting iron on my silk trousers on high setting. Results, melted trousers and ruined iron

[Doogle2]

I live in a very hard water area so my best tip is to buy a cheap water filter so that you don't have to keep replacing your iron because of water scale problems.
Biggest disaster was marking my husbands favourite shirt 10 minutes before we were due out because I was gas bagging on the phone and not paying attention. One thing at a time people...

[Punkatheart]

I still cringe - I had a job as an in-store demonstrator...in Knightsbridge. They set me up in the middle of the store with my ironing board and a crowd gathered. To watch the world's worst ironer....not get the creases out and then, when I turned it too high, leave a nice burn mark on it. I can feel the sweat on my forehead, just thinking about it....

[Punkatheart]

I still cringe - I had a job as an in-store demonstrator...in Knightsbridge. They set me up in the middle of the store with my ironing board and a crowd gathered. To watch the world's worst ironer....not get the creases out and then, when I turned it too high, leave a nice burn mark on it. I can feel the sweat on my forehead, just thinking about it....

[sickofincompetenceandbullshit]

Biggest disaster - had a mound of ironing to do, and was tackling it while watching TV with a friend. I was just raving about how good the iron was, and how my friend should get one, when it made a fizzing noise and stopped working. It never worked again...

[lorka]

Worst ironing experience was when I was ironing on a hot summers day (not many of those in Scotland!!) and I had a swimsuit on. I managed to burn the top of my leg which was very sore. Ouch!!

[thisthreadwilloutme]

My best ironing tip - use a reflective ironing board cover or sheet to halve ironing time as the heat is reflected and both sides are ironed at once.

Worst ironing disaster - the first time my mum asked me to do the ironing I ironed her shiny aerobics crop top on a high heat and left a comedy iron shaped hole right in the middle. She was gutted because it was her favourite one and she had matching cycling shorts. It was the 80s, but I still think my accident did her a massive favour !

[jes73]

Best ever ironing tip - I get it all done on a Sunday I don't have the task of doing it everyday and I have music on to make it go faster. Use ironing water to make the clothes smell fresh.
Worst ever ironing disaster - I was ironing and talking on the phone and forgot to change the settings. The result - a big hole in DH new suit trouser!!

[ladyWordy]

Ironing tips - safety first: get an auto shut-off iron if you can. It's too easy to leave the room for a second and forget the thing, risking injury to children, pets, furnishings, house, electricity bill! And always use an iron flex holder.

Ironing disaster - I was helping someone out by doing their ironing. A few moments in there was a sudden fizzing sound, and an unscheduled indoor firework display
There was no cable holder, and the cable had worn through, and shorted out.
So I was not much help that day! And hence my tip