should be easy to fill up the tank.
Most irons have self-cleaning systems and anti-calc functions to stop limescale being a problem – make sure
these work well, especially if you live in an area with hard water. The cord should be long enough to reach
the premium ironing spot in the house and ideally, there will be an auto-shutoff. If you’re always running
late, check how quickly it heats up and if you like ironing curtains or hanging clothes, consider a vertical
steam feature.
We took all these, and more, into consideration when testing but, most importantly, we assessed how
quickly it got our ironing – including those tricky linens and denims – out of the way so we could get on
with more exciting things.
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Philips performer plus GC4526/87 steam iron: £60, Amazon
Weight: 1.57kg
Tank capacity: 300ml
Cord length: 2.5m
Steam output: 50g/min
Power: 2600W
This transforms crumpled clothes into super-smooth fabrics that stay crease-free even when you’ve hung
them up, all without the need for any real elbow grease or (importantly) the need to go over the same spot
again. You don’t even have to use the boost button very often, if at all. There’s no need to worry about
limescale either, as the filter is effective and it’s easy to see when it needs filling up with water. It’s on the
heavy side, but because it does its job so quickly, you notice it less.
Tefal FV9830 ultimate pure steam iron: £129.99, Amazon