Steam Irons

The latest versions of this laundry-room mainstay include some labor-saving wrinkles

The newest steam irons could make you reconsider paying an arm and a leg (or even a sleeve) for pressed clothes from your local dry cleaner. Manufacturers are doing their part to make ironing seem less like a chore, loading their machines with features like retractable cords, digital displays, and more-efficient, more-abundant, drip-free steaming. Those features come at a price--in some cases, more than $100 for the most features-laden irons. But one iron, the Black & Decker D2030, has a digital display and antidrip steaming, and is a CR Best Buy at $60. Our latest tests show that even budget models can make your casual-Friday chinos look their best while saving you lots of money at the dry cleaners.


WHAT'S AVAILABLE



Familiar names such as Black & Decker, Hamilton Beach, and Sunbeam still sell a lot of irons but you can also find models from Bosch, Conair, Panasonic, and Rowenta.

Features that were once available only on fairly pricey irons are now standard on less-expensive models. For example, auto shutoff--a safety advantage that turns the iron off if you have not moved it for a preset period of time--comes on models that sell for as little as $25. Other features trickling down include self-cleaning (now on nearly all new irons), separate controls that let you set the amount of steaming, and vertical steaming. Another plus: You don't need to buy distilled water for the iron--most new models can use water from the tap, thanks to an anticalcium valve or a resin filter, effective on all but the hardest water. This proliferation of features points to an attempt by manufacturers to get the 90 percent of U.S. households that have an iron to buy a new one.

Price range: $25 for a basic unit to $130 for a top-of-the-line model.


HOW TO CHOOSE



We recently tested 15 models from 10 different companies, with prices ranging from $25 to $130. (We also tested one steam-generator iron from Rowenta, which runs $250 and removes wrinkles by producing prodigious amounts of steam.) We judged most good or very good at wrinkle removal and overall. As in past tests, we found that you don't have to spend a lot to get good results; the $35 Hamilton Beach Professional 14970 outperformed others that cost more than $100.

While all the irons we tested eliminated creases eventually, the amount of effort required varied from model to model on three different fabrics: linen, cotton, and a wool-polyester blend. The less time it took to complete the job without needing to apply additional steam or spray, the higher an iron scored.

Irons differ in a number of ways, including soleplate material, size, weight, and features. Here's what to consider before you buy:

Factor in durability. Irons judged very good or excellent in durability are more likely to keep supplying a full measure of steam and heat after many hours of use than those whose performance was cut short by scaling, which occurs when the sole plate gets clogged from mineral deposits in the water.

Determine what you iron most. You'll want plenty of steam if you iron mostly natural fibers, like linen, or heavyweight items, such as jeans. Burst-of-steam and spray features l also help smooth out wrinkles in natural-fiber materials. But for mostly synthetic fabrics and blends, a less-powerful steamer should be fine.

Don't cut the cord. The cordless Maytag MLI-7000 we tested was only fair overall and poor in durability. Its cordless convenience is offset by the need to reheat the iron in the base every few minutes for a minute or more, which can be tedious, especially when you're ironing large items like tablecloths.

Match the appliance to your hand. The feel of an iron is a personal preference, so be sure to test-drive before buying. Some handles, for instance, don't allow enough clearance for bigger hands. Weight is another factor. The tested irons weighed 2 3/4 to 4 1/2 pounds with a full tank of water. While you might prefer a bit of heft, make sure you can comfortably manage the iron.

Find controls you like. Many new irons have dial controls while some have slide or even digital controls. Base your decision mainly on how easy it is to see and access controls, and whether fabric settings are clearly marked.