Which steam generator iron would you recommend?

Respect

Hi all,

I have a budget of £300 maximum and I want to buy a steam generator iron. Which one would you recommend?

Thanks!

diable

The girlfriend works in the rag trade and at work uses a Svelta 2 steam generating iron and I believe it gives you enough steam for about two to three hours of ironing, she also has had the same model at home for the last 12 years.

I just checked and it's now the Svelta 3, sew europe have it on sale at £295 + vat, over budget but it is one of the best on the market.

HTH

Respect

diable wrote: »

The girlfriend works in the rag trade and at work uses a Svelta 2 steam generating iron and I believe it gives you enough steam for about two to three hours of ironing, she also has had the same model at home for the last 12 years.

I just checked and it's now the Svelta 3, sew europe have it on sale at £295 + vat, over budget but it is one of the best on the market.

HTH

Thanks diable

It looks like a scary product. How is this different to for example the most expensive one in Argos? http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9065118/Trail/searchtext%3ESTEAM+GENERATOR+IRON.htm

Tea_Pea_Dee

I have had 4 of these beasties in about 7 years. I have never had used the one diable is recommending, and not sure if I would. I think that one is better suited to a professional. I had one with the same sort of boiler thingy and I hated it. You had to wait an age for it to cool down before you could fill it, and it was like a pressure cooker waiting to explode when you undid the cap. I have had a John Lewis one (can't remember the make), Lidl's own one, Breville and my current one is a Hinari. Apart from the Lidl one (the boiler thingy one) I would recommend any of the 3. You need at least 100/120gms of steam per minute for it to be any good. Also make sure you get one that has a continuous fill, ie you can fill it without waiting for it to cool down. I would never ever go back to using a bog standard steam iron now. They are a godsend.

Respect

Thanks Tea Pee Dee.

I am trying to decide between this and this. The price difference is £100+ and the difference between them is mainly this:

Bosch at £279 has 2800 Watts and 130 Steam output
Philips at £150 (on sale) has 2400 Watts and 120 Steam output.

Will there be much difference between the two? Which one would you recommend I go for?

As I dry my clothes in the washer dryer they do come out very creasy.

sillygoose

Bosch make some superb ones. Fast heating, sole plates highly resistant to things getting stuck to them and excellent scale resistance (easy to descale) and well worth the money. They are not so noisy as some cheaper pump loaded ones. Negatives? large base unit can be a bit fiddly, we have a board designed for steam generators that has a large platform for it. Water tank doesn't hold a huge amount but its easy to top up on the go with a jug.
http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/9065077/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CKitchen+and+laundry%7C14418476/c_2/2%7C14418476%7CIrons%7C14418661/c_3/3%7Ccat_14418661%7CSteam+generator+irons%7C14418662.htm

Often available on offers, for example massively cheaper on Amazon currently, good price..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-Generator-Tds2511gb-Permanent/dp/B003G8P404

Respect

sillygoose wrote: »

Often available on offers, for example massively cheaper on Amazon currently, good price..
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-Generator-Tds2511gb-Permanent/dp/B003G8P404

Thank you Sillygoose. That is an excellent price too

I currently have a Philips that is 2200 Watt and 90g shot steam, and it is such a pain on strong creases. How quick would you say is yours?

Also, do you think it is worth forking out another £150 for 2400 Watts and 130g shot steam? Thanks!

Tea_Pea_Dee

Respect wrote: »

Thanks Tea Pee Dee.

I am trying to decide between this and this. The price difference is £100+ and the difference between them is mainly this:

Bosch at £279 has 2800 Watts and 130 Steam output
Philips at £150 (on sale) has 2400 Watts and 120 Steam output.

Will there be much difference between the two? Which one would you recommend I go for?

As I dry my clothes in the washer dryer they do come out very creasy.

I think I would go for the Philips. The Bosch looks a bit too techy for me. They have similar specs, but the Philips is coninuous fill. One other thing while I am here, some have the button underneath the handle and others have it on the top. I prefer a top pressing button, but it is a personal choice.

One last thing in case you are wondering why I have had so many, it's because I don't look after them. You are supposed to use a water filter cartridge in them, but I don't. Consequently the iron gets all furred up and the steam refuses to come through the tube no matter how much you kick it and swear at it

Good luck with your iron = you will love it whatever one you choose

sillygoose

Tea_Pea_Dee wrote: »

I think I would go for the Philips. The Bosch looks a bit too techy for me. They have similar specs, but the Philips is coninuous fill.

One last thing in case you are wondering why I have had so many, it's because I don't look after them. You are supposed to use a water filter cartridge in them, but I don't. Consequently the iron gets all furred up and the steam refuses to come through the tube no matter how much you kick it and swear at it

Good luck with your iron = you will love it whatever one you choose

Erm the Bosch is continous fill, you can top up any time without even turning it off, it has a perspex tank fill that is pumped into the boiler. Its not techy! two buttons - iron on, steam on and a knob - how much steam!

The Bosch has been designed to resist fur, the boiler is designed so it doesn't stick. Every now and then you just unscrew the cap underneath, repeat a few times you shake it out, fill the tank from the tap, shake it out and all the scale comes out job done.

OP I wouldn't bother with the more expensive versions, very little gain really this 'basic' one works brilliantly, things like the special plate coating help a lot.

We are on our second one because stupidly I left it in an unheated conservatory winter before last and went away, it froze up and split the tank, got the same immediately again without hesitation.

PS your current one only has 90gms shot ie a short burst then much less steam until it reheats - steam generators are producing 110-130gms continuously! big difference!

Respect

After having a good look around I've decided to go with a Bosch. Its just a matter of deciding now which Bosh to go with. I think I may go with this one:

http://www.johnlewis.com/231270101/Product.aspx

or the more powerful one from this store for £195 but not sure if the store is reliable (the last thing I want is a second hand one!)

http://www.ogormans.ltd.uk/acatalog/Bosch_TDS4570GB_Steam_Generator_Iron.html

sillygoose

Respect wrote: »

After having a good look around I've decided to go with a Bosch. Its just a matter of deciding now which Bosh to go with. I think I may go with this one:

http://www.johnlewis.com/231270101/Product.aspx

or the more powerful one from this store for £195 but not sure if the store is reliable (the last thing I want is a second hand one!)

http://www.ogormans.ltd.uk/acatalog/Bosch_TDS4570GB_Steam_Generator_Iron.html

Think the second model is a bit OTT for no vital gains, also strangely that seller quotes only 1 year warranty but all Bosch have 2 years from Bosch... so maybe your right something fishy? John Lewis price is very good.