Need a new iron (including steam generator irons)

zenmaster

Mrs. Z has charged me with obtaining a new iron.

Argos has hundreds of them. They all look the same to me so I would appreciate any advice on selecting a good one.

Is a higher wattage generally best? I assume that a hotter iron requires less effort to use but will use more electricity to run. Also since most things seem to be synthetics these days then would they not require a cooler iron?

I'm drawn to the half price Morphy Richards, which is about 7th on the Argos page, but that's based solely on it's "half pricedness" and not on any technical superiority. Or possibly the Kenwood digital (because it's digital and therefore a sort of "gadget").

We are also in the market for an ironing board, if anyone has any useful tips about them.

Thanks.

lil_me

Maybe I am naughty but I buy the cheapest of each as I try not to iron if possible, only iron what must be like shirts etc.

lizzyb1812

Get one with a stainless steel sole plate - much less likely to get sticky (says she who knows this from bitter experience)

Gingernutmeg

My tip for an ironing board is don't bother with the space-saving 'folding' one from Argos - I have one and it's incredibly heavy, very wobbly, bits keep falling off it and it has an interesting lean to it ...

twink

as for an iron i go for the cheap ones but get a high wattage same goes for a hoover, you will get more power

furndire

If you want to go mad, get her one of the steam generating ones. They are brilliant, but you need to do a fair bit of ironing to justify the expense.

If she uses a steam iron, it is better to get an ironing board which has a mesh ironing surface, as the steam goes through instead of accumulating in the cover and soaking it.

Lyndsay_21

i have one that was a fiver from tescos and it is so much easier to use than the expensive one i bought as the expensive one was SO heavy when i filled it with water, so be careful with that aspect otherwise you'll have a dead arm after you iron!

lil_me

You have the same one as my Lyndsay, know what you mean about the big ones being heavy, storage too. Tescos also do cheap ironing boards, had mine years and only ever had to replace the cover because I managed to burn it (see I am a disaster with an iron )

kittiwoz

I saw a steam generating iron in an Aldi leaflet last time I was in there. Can't remember how much it was but probably a lot cheaper than elsewhere. I think they are doing ironing boards too.

I have an old flat iron myself that I use with a damp tea-towel because I got sick of steam irons always leaking and dribbling water everywhere. I guess if you buy really expensive ones they don't do that but every steam iron I've ever used did including one my mum spent about £40 on.

janeym8

asda have a good selection from,if my memory serves me,£4odds to around £30.i bought one at £13odds today -havent used it yet to say how good it is-was a 2000kw one


janey xxx

zenmaster

janeym8 wrote:

asda have a good selection from,if my memory serves me,£4odds to around £30.i bought one at £13odds today -havent used it yet to say how good it is-was a 2000kw one

I was looking at the ones in Asda today and have decided to go for the cheap one (£4 something).

If it's no good then I shall get another and have that one as a spare.

Thanks to all.