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There’s nothing quite like clean, crisp laundry but when you’re staring down the barrel of a pile of clothes waiting to be ironed, it can feel like an impossible dream. However, the best steam iron will take this domestic chore from a headache to a breeze.
Whether you’re a dedicated ironer who gets to work on everything from underwear to tea towels (hi, Mum), or someone who tries their best to avoid this chore at all costs, every household needs a good steam iron. Even the most die-hard of iron deniers will have a few items in their wardrobe that are prone to wrinkling.
The best steam irons are lightweight and blast creases out of clothes with very little effort on your part. They’re comfortable to hold, have a decent reservoir, so you don’t have to keep refilling, and glide easily over clothes.
As well as the traditional steam irons, there are also steam-generating irons. The former are more compact, affordable and great for a quick iron. The next tier-up steam-generating machines are considered the pinnacle for ironing performance. They sit on a base unit (the steam generator) and can deliver higher-power jets of steam, which enable you to iron both sides of your clothes at once. A game changer for those who iron a lot of items – especially bed sheets. The downside is they’re pretty bulky and definitely pricier.
So, which steam iron should you go for? We’ve been steaming our way through piles of laundry to test out a range of machines – from simple budget-friendly models to hi-tech ones – to bring you the best steam irons that take the hard work out of ironing.
How we tested the best steam irons
We conquered piles and piles of laundry during testing, which went on in a very busy house of five, with school shirts, dresses, bed linen and trousers being on regular laundry rotation. We also recruited a true ironing expert, who is the most discerning ironer in the UK (potentially), who put the machines to the test in their home, too.
An array of textiles were pressed to give us a feel for how decent the steam irons were – cotton, polycotton, linen and nylon all came under scrutiny. We looked at how heavy the irons were, and how easily they glided over the fabric; how easy to use they were and how often they needed refilling. Other factors were how easy they were to store, while value for money was never far from our minds.
The best steam irons for 2024 are:
- Best steam iron overall – Russell Hobbs power steam ultra iron: £38.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget steam iron – Russell Hobbs plug and wrap steam iron: £34, Amazon.co.uk
- Best premium steam iron – Tefal GV9820G0 high pressure steam generator iron: £336.88, Amazon.co.uk
- Best cordless steam iron – Tower T22008 ceraglide cordless steam iron: £24, Amazon.co.uk
