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We’re making the Chi Electronic 13102 iron our new top choice, moving it out of the competition section to replace our previously discontinued Maytag M400 iron.
A steam iron is an indispensable tool in your laundry arsenal. The steam iron works well on fabrics, but cannot match the iron for sharp creases or stubborn creases. We’ve tested over two dozen irons and done countless research, and we recommend the Chi Electric Iron 13102 with retractable cord for its powerful steam, durability and useful features for frequent ironing.
We are looking for irons with a strong crackle and a visible cloud of steam. The more puff, the better the iron.
Ideally, the cord should be at least 8 feet long so that you can comfortably work around the ironing board.
This durable iron removes creases instantly and stays hot longer than any other iron we’ve tested, making it ideal for marathon laundry sessions and craft projects that require repeated use of the ironing board.
The Chi Electronics Iron 13102 with retractable cord is one of the best irons I’ve tested and has been reliable for three years of regular use for clothing, bedding, sewing and crafts (where it really shines). Its steam burst is almost as powerful as our Rowenta DW9280 upgrade, but smoother. It’s also lighter and has a slightly larger reservoir, so it can produce a few minutes more steam. This is the only iron we have with a retractable cord and it has a 30 minute auto shut off when you hold it upright, the longest iron I have tried; Useful for seamstresses and craftsmen who maintain high temperatures from time to time.
This inexpensive iron produces more powerful steam than many other models we’ve tried (and even more expensive ones), so it gets rid of wrinkles quickly. The company also has a strong customer support team. However, heating elements are prone to cracking.
The Black+Decker Allure D3030 professional steam iron produces intense steam, its stainless steel plate glides smoothly over a variety of fabrics, and its handle is comfortable to hold and use. As long as it works, it’s a great and affordable iron. This iron used to be our top choice, but a year later, the heating element failed in our test unit. Thanks to the two year warranty I can easily exchange it for a new one and I have been using it since the end of 2016 without a single problem. We have seen similar reports of mixed reliability in reviews. If you don’t mind replacing this iron often, it’s still the highest performing iron and is almost half the price of the Chi 13102.
The SteamForce DW9280 is the most reliable general purpose iron we’ve tested, with the strongest steam output, but it costs almost three times as much as many irons we’ve tried and has the shortest warranty of just one year. in our selection.
The Rowenta SteamForce DW9280 works better than any other iron I’ve tested. It removes creases from wrinkled button-down shirts and smoothes the seams of quilts almost effortlessly. I have never seen more steam from an iron. I’ve been using our original test model since 2015 and it still produces powerful steam with little water seepage onto the fabric. It’s heavier and more expensive than the Chi and Black+Decker irons, but if you’re crafting or sewing (weight helps crimp seams), do a lot of laundry, or want the iron to have the best chance of surviving, it’s worth the upgrade. it’s more than a few years.
This durable iron removes creases instantly and stays hot longer than any other iron we’ve tested, making it ideal for marathon laundry sessions and craft projects that require repeated use of the ironing board.
This inexpensive iron produces more powerful steam than many other models we’ve tried (and even more expensive ones), so it gets rid of wrinkles quickly. The company also has a strong customer support team. However, heating elements are prone to cracking.
The SteamForce DW9280 is the most reliable general purpose iron we’ve tested, with the strongest steam output, but it costs almost three times as much as many irons we’ve tried and has the shortest warranty of just one year. in our selection.
I am a senior writer at Wirecutter and have been working with iron since 2015. I have also written manuals for ironing boards, sheets, duvets and robes (among many other products) and I have been a quilt designer with over a decade of experience. I watch almost every day. I spoke with Ingrid Johnson, professor of textile design and marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Tod Greenfield, co-owner of New York tailor Martin Greenfield Clothiers, and Kimberly Chaveco during our interview, Senior Product Specialist. Rowenta manager and member of the Modern Quilting Society of New York (himself a former member but moved to the Seattle area).
Nothing I’ve tried (using a steamer, hanging things up in the shower, or taking clothes straight out of the dryer) can get rid of stubborn creases like an iron. An iron is the most effective tool for smoothing wrinkles, creating sharp folds, as well as for sewing and needlework. However, if you hate ironing and most of your clothes and sheets are a little wrinkled, opt for a steam iron – it’s our favorite steamer.
In addition to testing out Wirecutter irons, I have been an active iron quilter for many years. I also read hundreds of blacksmith reviews on major retailer sites like Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, and Walmart, and I looked at review sites like The Strategist and Good Housekeeping and noted how they compare. From my own testing experience. . Here are the qualities of the best irons I have found:
Intense steam boost: The amount of steam coming out of the soleplate of the iron can affect the speed of ironing, especially when ironing heavy fabrics. I’m looking for powerful pops and a visible cloud of steam when ironing – the more puff, the better the iron. I’m also looking for irons that strike a good balance between plenty of steam and a water tank that doesn’t need to be constantly refilled.
Enough Power: Each iron we recommend has at least 1500W of power, which is more than enough to get the job done. In testing, I found that low power irons did not generate enough heat and steam to combat stubborn wrinkles. More expensive and more powerful irons, such as the 1800W Rowenta SteamForce DW9280, create bigger clouds of steam and get tasks done faster.
Comfort: Irons that are too heavy, or irons with uncomfortable handles, can make hand and hand work more difficult. A certain amount of weight helps to get rid of wrinkles in the fabric, but the right combination of weight, ergonomic handles and powerful steam can make ironing much easier.
Good warranty and responsive customer service: Testing the irons in this guide was particularly frustrating as we found many irons (even the most efficient ones) to have reliability issues. We have been working with irons since 2013 and change our choice almost every year after extensive testing and issues identified through reader feedback. The best irons we’ve tried work well, but we can’t guarantee they’ll last. If the hardware fails, it seems to happen within two years of purchase (based on my experience and all the reviews I’ve read), which is the typical warranty period I’ve seen. If you need to replace your iron under warranty, you need good customer service to make the whole process as painless as possible.
Long cord: A cord that is at least 8 feet long will give you more flexibility to work the entire length of the ironing board and, if you are tall, will make it easier to access the iron. Long power cords are also useful if the outlet is in an awkward position.
After evaluating models against the above criteria, reading owner reviews, and researching our own reader reviews, I’ve come up with a list of the 16 best irons for 2019. We’ve narrowed down the list to 13 irons we’ve brought in for testing, including brand new irons, three retested examples of our current pick, new irons, and some options we’ve tested and abandoned a few years ago. (These are models recommended by other publications, including The Strategist and Good Housekeeping – I wanted to take a fresh look at them.)
In 2019, I installed an iron and our favorite Brabantia Ironing Board B at home and ran a series of tests with them. I calculated how long it took each iron to heat up and automatically shut off (this is a standard safety feature on every iron I’ve seen). I measured the filling line of the tank, calculated how long the steam would last before the tank needed to be refilled, and recorded the force of the explosion. I also measured the length of the wires.
I tested the ability of each iron to smooth out wrinkles on various materials that I kept in my laundry basket for a week to make sure they were good and wrinkle resistant: button-down shirts, cotton pillowcases, silk tops, cotton polyester. t-shirts and jeans. I have noticed which irons produce low steam or let water through holes in the soleplate causing wet spots. I also noted how comfortable each iron was to hold and use, and hired another tester (my mom) to rate the comfort. In 2019, the three irons that we have recommended and tested for many years were the most efficient: the Maytag M400 (now discontinued), the Rowenta DW9280 and the Black+Decker D3030. In 2023, we replaced the discontinued Maytag model with the Chi 13102, which we have been testing for the long term since 2019.
This durable iron removes creases instantly and stays hot longer than any other iron we’ve tested, making it ideal for marathon laundry sessions and craft projects that require repeated use of the ironing board.
The Chi Electronics 1700W Retractable Cord Iron 13102 is a superior steam iron that has been consistently tested for reliable performance over three years. This is the new top pick for 2023, but I first tested it in 2019 and have been using it regularly ever since. We have had several popular irons over the years, and this Chi model is the most expensive of our popular irons to recommend, but compared to our past irons, they are pleasant to use and very durable, we conclude. Conclusion is a profitable investment. It’s an effective everyday crease iron, our pick for the most comfortable iron to use, and it’s packed with smart features that make it my favorite seamstress and crafts iron. It has been available since its release in 2017 and comes with a two-year limited manufacturer’s warranty (PDF).
The Chi 13102′s steam boost is almost as powerful as our longtime upgrade choice, the Rowenta SteamForce DW9280. The short, powerful burst of steam on the Rowenta iron is great for removing the most stubborn creases, but the steam burst on the Chi iron is long and smooth, so in our 2019 tests, a more constant amount of steam is delivered to the surface of our test fabrics. The Chi iron also has a larger water tank than the Rowenta model (12 oz vs. 10 oz), so it can generate steam for a few minutes longer before it needs to be refilled. In three years of semi-regular use of the Chi 13102, I’ve never had a problem with dripping from the plate hole, a chronic problem with most irons I’ve tested, including the Rowenta DW9280 and our budget Black & Decker D3030.
Since 2019, I prefer the Chi 13102 iron because it is very comfortable to use. At 3.3 pounds, it is heavier than Black+Decker irons but lighter than Rowenta models. It feels well balanced and its heaviness helps put pressure on the fabric so I don’t have to press hard on wrinkles to get rid of them. Thanks to the long, smooth burst of steam, I also don’t have to press the steam button as often, which saves my thumb during heavy use or long board ironing. The ceramic soleplate (Chi marketing calls it “titanium,” whatever that means) glides more easily over most fabrics than the stainless steel plates on Black+Decker and Rowenta irons. Even small details like the tank lid (it has a sliding latch instead of a valve on most irons) and retractable cord (the only one we chose) are less tiring to use, and they make the whole ironing process less of a hassle. .
As someone with over 15 years of quilting and sewing experience, I love this iron for just about every craft project, from quilts to Halloween costumes. (However, for messy projects that might melt on the soleplate, I’d go for the cheaper, easy-to-replace Black+Decker model.) My favorite feature on this Chi iron is its 30-minute auto-off. time that is the longest ever. Any hardware I’ve tried (most around eight minutes). If you’re working on a project and walking back and forth on the ironing board a lot, this feature saves time and keeps the iron warm longer so you’re always ready to go – this is especially helpful with the Chi 13102 because it’s our chosen heat and is the slowest to produce pair. This Chi model also features our selection of the longest, narrowest tips to help it get into those pesky tight spots if you’re ironing intricate quilt blocks or dealing with crooked garment seams.
Chi 13102 looks almost like new when I opened the box in 2019. The buttons and mechanism still operate smoothly, with no signs of worn springs or screws. It heats up just as well as it did on the first day, and the auto-off seems to last just as long as it did before.
If you forget to turn off the iron when you’re done, or if you have small children or curious pets, Chi 13102′s 30-minute auto-off time may not be right for you. Our other two choices were closed in less than 10 minutes. And as we mentioned, these Chi irons are the most expensive in this guide. We don’t want to recommend it in 2019 due to the price, but after years of great performance and consistent usability, we feel it’s an investment that should pay off over time.
This inexpensive iron produces more powerful steam than many other models we’ve tried (and even more expensive ones), so it gets rid of wrinkles quickly. The company also has a strong customer support team. However, heating elements are prone to cracking.
The Black+Decker Allure Professional Steam Iron D3030 is the best iron I’ve found for around $50. This used to be one of the most powerful irons I have tried. However, it has the most unpredictable reliability of any of our picks, which is why we no longer consider it our top choice. This Black+Decker iron consistently produces more steam than most other irons I have tested, although it is not as powerful as our other irons, only 1600 watts. At 3.1 pounds, it’s the lightest of our picks (3.3 pounds for the Chi 13102 and 3.9 pounds for the Rowenta DW9280), and it has a 14-ounce water tank, the largest we’ve picked. As a result, it produces steam longer than the Chi and Rowenta models, lasting around 22 minutes before it needs to be refilled. In addition, the D3030 iron is the fastest iron we recommend, producing steam in just 30 seconds. I also tried the Allure D3040, which is very similar to a digital display iron, but I found the cheaper D3030 worked better.
The reliability issues with this Black+Decker model are well documented in owner reviews. I also had to replace our original review unit when the heating element suddenly stopped working after a year (I use the iron two or three times a week). It does, however, come with a two-year warranty, and the Black+Decker replacement process is simple—I don’t have to return the whole iron, just the plug. I have been using its replacement since 2016 with no problems. It’s been over six years of consistent semi-regular use since it was replaced, though over time the Chi 13102 has overtaken the D3030 as my favorite everyday iron because it’s more comfortable to use. This long life would have made the D3030 more reliable than almost any other piece of hardware I’ve tested were it not for a breakdown that occurred on our original test model. Irons, especially cheap ones, are unpredictable, and the D3030 is a perfect example of this – an iron can break quickly or last a long time. Given the price and performance, we recommend it if you don’t mind changing your iron frequently. It’s pretty good – so far it’s not.
Today, the Black+Decker D3030 looks and feels like a six-year-old iron. It doesn’t look as new and shiny as it did right out of the box, and some buttons squeak more than before. The iron still worked fine and I managed not to melt anything on the soleplate and stain it.
The SteamForce DW9280 is the most reliable general purpose iron we’ve tested, with the strongest steam output, but it costs almost three times as much as many irons we’ve tried and has the shortest warranty of just one year. in our selection.
If an iron can be fantastic, it’s the Rowenta SteamForce DW9280. Since I first used this German-made flat iron in 2015, it has performed the best in our tests, smoothing out every wrinkle I’ve tried. The stainless steel base has about 400 holes (I didn’t count, that’s what the manufacturer listed), the same number as advertised for the Chi 13102, so it releases a lot of steam to melt the creases. Its Steam Burst feature, which releases additional steam at the touch of a button to eliminate problematic creases, is more effective than Chi irons. When I’m ironing something I’m stitching, I keep pressing the purge button to smooth out new seams, and that extra power does wonders for smoothing everything in place. However, it is not as comfortable to press as the Chi model’s steam burst button, so over time your fingers may become stiff from using it. The tip of this iron features Rowenta’s Precision Shot technology, a set of holes that provide more targeted steam for tighter creases. The DW9280 has a large water tank (10 ounces) compared to several other irons I’ve tested, but it’s the smallest we’ve chosen and only produces steam for 12 minutes before it needs to be filled. However, because this Rowenta model is so powerful, it can compensate for thirsty water by getting the job done faster.
The Rowenta DW9280 is also the most reliable of our options. Our original test iron lasted four years of regular or heavy use on quilts and various other fabrics before the steam function stopped working at the end of 2019. While my current Black+Decker D3030 long-term test has been over six years, the iron isn’t as strict for everyday use as our original DW9280 test set, which I use on the floor (ironing has become less important during the pandemic). I’ve been testing our replacement DW9280 test hardware since Fall 2019 and haven’t had any issues over three years later (although, again, it’s been used less frequently). Rowenta offers a one-year warranty on the DW9280 in the US, which is more generous than the two-year warranty on our Chi and Black+Decker models, but since our test units have performed well over time, the warranty may not be valid. be the same for DW9280 and other irons, which is an important consideration.
The DW9280 also drips slightly more from the steam holes than our other pickups, so it may not be suitable for water-dyed delicate fabrics. I have read enough reviews to know that leaks are a common problem with all Rowenta irons, but I tested six models from this company and the DW9280 proved to be the best when it comes to leaks. This iron is also heavier than our other irons (3.9 lbs compared to 3.3 lbs for the Chi 13102 and 3.1 lbs for the Black+Decker D3030), helping to smooth out the toughest wrinkles. For some, it may be too heavy for comfortable use, but since it produces a lot of steam, I find that using it reduces the overall ironing time, which is useful if you have a whole mountain of laundry. The power cord is a bit miserable, only 7 feet long, and the DW9280 is expensive, often almost three times as long as the D3030. But I know it will last you for many years, so if you want the most powerful and reliable iron, I think this is the one for you.
I still love the feeling when I pick up the Rowenta DW9280 and use it to smooth out wrinkles. Our current test model is the same age as the Chi irons I’ve tested, and the Chi seems smoother and less noisy over time. But the soleplate of this Rowenta iron looks like new, everything about its steam function works just as well as before, and it still heats up as I would expect.
We will be testing several new irons under $100 in early 2023, including the Conair ExtremeSteam Pro Steam Iron GI300, Rowenta Access Steam DW2459, and Singer SteamCraft Plus. We also review some cordless irons (a category we haven’t tested in years) as well as newer Chi irons. We will update this guide with new test results soon.
The Black+Decker Allure Digital D3040 stainless steel iron is a slightly upgraded version of the budget Black+Decker D3030 iron. The main difference is this model’s digital display, which is a bright and fun addition, but a little less intuitive than the D3030′s controls. The main reason we didn’t pick this iron is because it doesn’t perform as well as the D3030 or Chi 13102. It also seems to be discontinued now.
I hate the Black+Decker Vitessa Premium ICR2020 steam iron. It’s hard to fill, awkward to hold, and the steam is flimsy and inefficient. It draws just 1200 watts, which is less than our recommended power, and in our tests it was a good reminder of the importance of more powerful irons.
We brought a PurSteam Professional 1700W steam iron for testing and found that it had been discontinued.
Water leaked immediately during our testing of the Rowenta Everlast Anticalc DW7180, while $100+ irons have no reason to leak straight out of the box. It was also the least effective iron in our 2017 wrinkle removal test.
I used to have a Rowenta Professional DW8061 and had a major water leak problem. The device we tested in 2017 was no different: it put out a lot of steam, but leaks were too much of a problem for delicate quilts or favorite clothes.
The Shark Lightweight Professional GI435 (now discontinued) was terrible, which isn’t much of a surprise for such an inexpensive piece of hardware ($25 when we researched). Once I started testing it, it didn’t put much pressure on the T-shirts.
The Sunbeam Turbo Steam Iron GCSBCL-202-000 comes with a retractable cord which is very handy if you need easy storage. This is one of the least powerful irons I’ve tested, but if you can find one for less than $20, that’s not bad.
Over the past few years, we have also tested the Black+Decker Digital Advantage Professional D2030 steam iron, as well as the following discontinued models:
Post time: Aug-21-2023