Steam generator irons. Who has one - what should i look for?

[ja9]

Going to buy one later today.

Is a ceramic plate better than a stainless steel one?

What does yours do that you are happy with?

What does your model lack?

Basically, please help me figure out the difference between the so many on offer and know which type to go for...

I have the Tefal Pro Express Turbo - tefal
And it is great. It lacks nothing. Apart from being a bit big/heavy/cumbersome, but I think they alll are.
I would change NOTHING about it, it is FAB.

Thanks for that.. and thanks for the link too...

anyone else?

I have the same one as oblomov and am v. pleased with it. My cleaning lady's husband has a Costco card and he gotr it there for me. can't quite remember how much, probably approx £110 ? But it zooms through even the driest stiffest denim, the knottiest most stubborn of dh's work shirts with out any trouble and at great speed. So it saves time !

Mrspanic, I got mine from Costco fro £110 aswell.
It makes such a difference. I could never go back to an ordinary one now.

oblomov and mrspanic.

my head is positively spinning with all the online reviews and product guides etc.

i have decided to go for your one if you can confirm 3 things for me:

1. it doesn't use those de-scaling unit things
2. it has a continuous steam mode so you can use it as a normal steam iron without having to press the button for steam.
3. you can refill it when it runs out of water whilst you are ironing, ie you don't have to wait for it to cool down..

thank you!

I am afraid I am not sure about 1
The answer to 2 is no. you do need to press a button, but you can keep your finger on it , like continuously, whilst ironing, say the whole part of something, then you obviously let go and move the item onto an unironed bit.
3)yes, you can refill it , at any time.

the de-scaling unit thing needs replaced, so if yours has it you would probably know about it...

in which case no, we had one before, then got this updated version, and thus, the answer is no.
It needs a flush through every so often, which fortunately dh does

Have you already bought one? We had a tefal one, but it kept blowing the electrics in our whole house when we plugged it in. We got it fixed under warranty, but it broke again.

We decided to buy a different one, and checked out the Which? report first. It seems that the tefal ones didn't do well for longevity when they tested them either, so I wouldn't buy again.

We got a Phillips one in the end, which did very well in the Which? report, and are happy with it so far.

haven't bought one yet. can i access which report without paying?

want to know about this one

No, you need a subscription. I'd look it up for you, but it is my dh who has the membership, and he is on a plane to the US!

This is the one that we now have, with Which recommendation.

oh funny as i was just looking at this one must be the older model of yours?

re the dscaling - not really a problem. We are in a vey hard water area (london) but it's very occasionally it needs as Oblomov says a flushing through. this involves a short length of pipe and some running water . Agree with oblomov on refilling - the tank itself is easily detachable whether the iron is hot or cold, so it's easy to do. I also like the cover, so when you're done it just goes over the iron as it cools to protect nosy small children from being injured.

mrspanic, it's just that the electrolux one i was looking at in comet comes with 3 de-scaling units which you then have to source and buy once they have run out. it says it will damage iron to use with an empty unit... but i don't think all the irons have these so i preferably want one without.

anyone else got the philips one i linked to earlier?

pse?

hello ja9

did you know that you can sign up to 3 months free subscription of which (you just need to remember to cancel it at the end)?

we've done this several times (and mostly remembered to cancel!)

not sure if this means you can access reports online or not, but thought i'd mention it

also Good Housekeeping reviewed steam irons recently (i think) and i'd guess you could view their findings online?

happy shopping!

With the tefal ther's nothing extra to buy; the descaling is done via your tap and a length of tubing (supplied). A bit like a colonic - not that I've had one ! - in that it's simply the force of the running water that de-gunks the appliance. i suppose it would also take proprietary descaling products mixed with water, but the manual isn't to hand so am not sure they recommend this.

I have the same one as Oblomov and everyone else, am also spoilt and unable to manage with an ordinary iron now..

Everyone has mine ?
See, I knew I was a woman of good taste
Like Flowery, I could never lower myself to go back to a COMMONERS iron now.

well you see, i'm not so impressed by having to keep my finger on a button for constant steam when there are others that give continuous steam... otherwise i'd have been going for your tefal one.

tassis - have been stung by the which free trial before so don't want to go there again . have read the GH guide but they only review a few when there are many many more available.

i'm dithering i know, i just need to plump for one and get it.

ja9 just go for the Tefal, you know it makes sense...

Flowery, I did a rhyme about you :
here :
rhyme

ooh!

That's lovely, and tricky to get flowerybeanbag in a rhyme!