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Can You Recommend a Steam Iron?

11 years ago

I had great luck with my first Rowenta steam iron - lasted for years of daily use. My second, and now my third have only worked well for about a year or so.

Still reluctant to give up on the brand, I bought a new one last week. It cycled on & off all the time I was ironing one shirt - wouldn't hold enough heat on the cotton setting to keep steaming and began to drip. I called their customer service to make sure I was using it properly and I was. Rep could not determine what might be wrong. Thought I had a "lemon" so I exchanged it for another (same model) & it did the same thing.

I'm ready to move on to another brand. All I want is a reliable iron that has enough power to iron cotton/linen with good steam and no dripping.

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Comments (12)

mydreamhome
11 years ago
My DM swears by the tried & true classic Black & Decker. I thought it was the metal plate that made the difference (no coating on it) and found a great deal on a Shark on closeout. While the Shark does a good job, DM's B&D still does a better job.

Hope this helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: Black & Decker Classic Steam Iron
writersblock (9b/10a)
11 years ago
Another B&D Classic fan here. However, it's very heavy compared to the Rowenta, so if you have any kind of wrist problems, maybe not the best choice.
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@georgect - I'd be willing to bet the ranch that Elux iron is made by Rowenta. @dragonesse - The B&D Digital Advantage D2030, linked below, is a great iron for the money and has served me as well or better than any Rowenta I have ever owned. And I iron. A lot. I have tailored jackets with this iron and swear by it. Amazon.com sells it too, although the 20% BB&B coupon might be a better deal, so price shop. I am not all that keen on Rowenta irons anymore, as very few models are made in Europe anymore. The ones made in Mexico seem to not hold up or last long. 20 years ago, I had a TOL Rowenta and the water tank leaked, like everyone else's. After that, I refused to spend $$$ and only bought the $50 Rowenta models at JoAnn's when on sale or with a 40% coupon. They've been great irons, too. The Rowenta steam generator iron puts out an amazing amount of steam, but the iron itself doesn't get very hot. I'm not in love with mine. I'll take my B&D #D2030 any day, as it does well in the steam department. As for ironing boards, the Reliable brand is very good but overpriced for a family that does not iron very much. I cannot speak for the other brands at BB&B, as I have not seen them in person and the online ratings are not encouraging. Polder is a good brand, if you can find one. Here is a link that might be useful: B&D Digital Advantage D2030 steam iron
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I have a Sapporo gravity feed iron. The tank is roughly 1/2 gallon capacity and the filtration crystals sit in the bottom in a filter. I open a valve to permit water to pass down the clear plastic tube to the iron. The iron has a temperature setting and rests flat on a heat-proof pad. There is a button that operates a solenoid and allows water to be introduced to produce steam. When I'm working I turn the iron on in the morning and leave it on all day. At the end of a day, I turn off the valve on the tank, depress the steam button and flush all water out of the tube and body of the iron (prevents corrosion). Simple! I've had the iron for over 12 yrs. now and it still performs flawlessly. Names to look for in gravity feed irons: Naomoto (high end, but worth every dime), Sussman, Sapporo (lower end). I worked for a dry cleaner for several years... Rowenta was not a "player" in commercial grade pressing equipment, neither was Sapporo.
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I have had Rowenta, which was a very good iron. I may be the only one with this complaint, but my reality was that somehow, this iron would fall . I guess it wasn't balanced properly but I can't tell how many times it dropped (from the ironing board) and fell. I used it for several years and it still functioned fine, but ultimately replaced it. I got a cheapy Sunbeam and it has never been good. I don't iron often but reading this thread has made me determined to check out the Black and Decker 2030 next time I at BBB.
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amck2
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you for the replies. So far, no wrist problems, so a heavier iron isn't an issue.

Except that her's had a fabric cord, the photo of the B&D Classic reminds me of the iron my mother used for most all the years I lived at home. Amazing how well things were made back then. My mom was fastidious about clothes - and even bedding - being nicely pressed and she ironed cotton dress shirts for my dad and her white nurse's uniforms for decades with that iron!
athomesewing
10 years ago
I'm a daily iron user, being a quilter. All steam irons have one thing in common, they all become incontinent! LOL, eventually they all begin to leak, and it doesn't matter how expensive they are. That's why I don't spend a lot on any one, and simply plan on replacing every once in awhile. You may have better results at keeping your iron working if you use distilled or purified water.

I have a Rowenta that I like, mostly because it heats quickly, and because the cord retracts into the case which makes storing it neat and tidy.

If you want a lot of feedback on irons, post your question in one of the sewing or quilting forums here.
writersblock (9b/10a)
10 years ago
Another vote for the B&D classic.
krwt28
10 years ago
I have a Panasonic Steam/Dry iron NI-C78SR that I absolutely love. I purchased it after years of using the $10-12 irons. It has excellent steam function. I haven't noticed any leaking. We use distilled water. The cord also retracts. It's a little heavy depending on what you're used to. I couldn't bring myself to pay the cost of a Rowenta, so this was the compromise. I don't regret it at all. So far it's been 3 years and going strong.
rococogurl
10 years ago
B&D classic, no question. The Rowenta I had didn't hold up as long, or do as good a job and it was 3 times the cost.
gigelus2k13
10 years ago
My Rowenta of 7 years is still running strong and without leaks.

However, early on I had to do a little surgery on it and removed the crappy motion/attitude sensor module, as it kept turning off the iron for no reason. I'm still convinced that manufacturers add useless features just to annoy their customers, my Rowenta works so much better without that stupid module!
mjocean
10 years ago
Love my Rowenta; 8+ years and still going strong.
MJ
herring_maven
10 years ago
It will change your muscle memory -- in a good way. (see link)

Here is a link that might be useful: Even better than its reviews
lee676
10 years ago
Does Panasonic still make the ones with a removable water container? Between that and the retractable cord, my 15-year-old Panasonic is very convenient, and the spray/mist button works better than most as well. Some of the new ones have a diamond-shaped soleplate rather than a triangular one that works well in both directions.
southboundtrain
10 years ago
I really like my t-fal. Very inexpensive, gets pretty hot and has great steam.

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