Steam Iron Buying Guide

Steam and heat are important for banishing wrinkles. And while any of the irons tested will remove wrinkles, eventually, irons that produce little steam take longer to get the job done. You'll see steaming-rate scores in our ratings, along with scores for ironing quality and ease of use.

Soleplates
Choose from stainless steel, anodized aluminum, ceramic, and nonstick. The best gliders are often stainless steel or ceramic—our tests found that nonstick soleplates didn't glide as well.

Controls
Irons have dials, slides, or digital controls. Make sure the controls are easy to see and adjust and that fabric settings are clearly marked.

Comfort
Even an iron that's excellent at ironing may feel heavy or awkward in your hand, so hold it before you buy. 

Clean the Surface Occasionally
To remove residue clean the iron's soleplate—following the manufacturer's instructions—and especially if you use starch.

Minimize Leaking
Leaking can occur when you press at lower temperatures. To prevent dribbles press delicate fabrics first and before you add water. After ironing items requiring steam, empty the water. This reduces drips the next time and the heat can evaporate remaining moisture. It can also reduce mineral deposits on the soleplate.

Use Tap Water
Nearly all irons work fine with tap water, unless your water is very hard. Your manual will indicate what's best.

Irons vary by soleplate material, size, weight, and features. All tested irons removed wrinkles, but some produced more steam, making the job faster, and have a soleplate that glides more easily. The best gliding soleplates are often stainless steel or ceramic. Here are the types of steam irons to consider.

Conventional Steam Irons
These allow small amounts of hot steam to be applied to the fabric when ironing, making creases disappear faster. Features once found on pricier irons only are now standard on less expensive irons. Most new irons can be used with tap water, thanks to anti-calcium valves or resin filters.

Steam Ironing Systems
An iron allows you to apply a constant flow of high-pressure steam. A system takes up a lot more space than a conventional iron and can be placed on a chair or on a rack at the end of the ironing board. These systems take longer to heat up and some don't automatically turn off if you leave them unattended—the same is true for some irons. The steam production speeds up ironing and can easily remove wrinkles from even dry linen. The systems usually lack a spray function, but that's irrelevant if the steam flow is high enough. Past tests found systems that scored excellent overall in our tests. Currently there are none in our ratings.

Cordless Irons
These resemble conventional steam irons but do not have a power cord. While more maneuverable, the models we've tested have been unimpressive and no longer appear in our steam iron ratings (available to subscribers). 

Features that were once only on pricier irons are now standard on less expensive models. Consider these features.

Auto Shut-Off
Most new irons have this feature. It turns off the power if the iron is motionless for a number of seconds or minutes, whether laid flat or propped up. Some irons will also shut off when left on their side. Auto shutoff can prevent a fire, but stored heat can still scorch fabric if the iron is left face down.

Burst-of-Steam or Surge Button
Delivers an extra blast of steam to subdue stubborn wrinkles, especially handy if you often press linen or heavy fabrics such as denim.

Convenient Controls
The list of fabric settings should be easy to see. A temperature control that's clearly marked and easily accessible, preferably on the front of the handle, is a plus. Most irons have an indicator light to show that the power is on.

Retractable cord
It can keep the cord out of the way when you're using the iron or when storing it, but make sure the cord doesn't whip when it retracts.

Self-Cleaning System
Flushes mineral deposits from vents, but not always effective with prolonged use or with very hard water. Try the burst-of-steam feature to clean vents.

Steam Gauge or Adjustable Steam
Adjust the amount of steam or shut the steam off, as needed. An anti-drip feature, found on most irons, is designed to prevent leaks when you steam at lower settings.

Transparent Water Reservoir
Some reservoirs are a small, vertical tube; others are a large chamber under the handle. A transparent chamber makes it easy to see the water level. Check that the water tank is marked with the water level. 

Vertical Steaming
Use the iron in an upright position to remove wrinkles from hanging garments and freshen drapes.

Water Fill-Hole Cover
A hinged or sliding cover over the water-fill hole is supposed to prevent leaking, but it doesn't always work.