wringersteve
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2010
- Messages
- 138
I haven't done much ironing since my college days, but I'd like to get a new iron. Can anyone recommend a good one for $25 or under?
New iron
- Thread starter wringersteve
- Start date
Help Support :
Well, it depends on the features you want but I think anything for that price is pretty much disposable.
I personally prefer spending a bit more and getting a proper steam iron with a water spray and a steam spray. Steam really helps flatten out those wrinkles. If I'm ironing a pair of Khakis and there's a wrinkle which just won't come out, I love to blast it with lots of steam, it will be gone. The water spray is perfect for when steam just won't do.
I love using a very heavy iron, the heavier the better. Electric irons don't really come in very heavy models, unfortunately, but it is a sign of quality.
Having lots of temperature settings helps, so you can iron anything from Acrylics to Linen and anything in-between. The key trick though is that it should be able to produce steam on a low heat setting. The iron I have now doesn't start making steam until I use the cottons setting.
Here's a good article:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/appliances/best-irons-0409#slide-1
Here's another one:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/shopping/2006/10/the_pressing_question.single.html
I know it's not the price you are looking for, but spending that extra little bit will give you some extra features which will make your ironing considerably more pleasant and dare I say it... fun!
Don't be put off by the noise a steam iron makes either. A good steam iron makes a racket, but that's good. The more the better.
Don't let the prices scare you.. the extra bit you'll spend will be worth it!
I personally prefer spending a bit more and getting a proper steam iron with a water spray and a steam spray. Steam really helps flatten out those wrinkles. If I'm ironing a pair of Khakis and there's a wrinkle which just won't come out, I love to blast it with lots of steam, it will be gone. The water spray is perfect for when steam just won't do.
I love using a very heavy iron, the heavier the better. Electric irons don't really come in very heavy models, unfortunately, but it is a sign of quality.
Having lots of temperature settings helps, so you can iron anything from Acrylics to Linen and anything in-between. The key trick though is that it should be able to produce steam on a low heat setting. The iron I have now doesn't start making steam until I use the cottons setting.
Here's a good article:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/appliances/best-irons-0409#slide-1
Here's another one:
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/shopping/2006/10/the_pressing_question.single.html
I know it's not the price you are looking for, but spending that extra little bit will give you some extra features which will make your ironing considerably more pleasant and dare I say it... fun!
Don't be put off by the noise a steam iron makes either. A good steam iron makes a racket, but that's good. The more the better.
Don't let the prices scare you.. the extra bit you'll spend will be worth it!
If You Want A Good But Inexpensive Iron
Hit eBay,thrift shops and or estate sales for vintage irons. You can often find them new in box going for about what you want to spend more or less. Anything made up to the 1980's and for some brands the 1990's are streets ahead of the Chinese made stuff sold today.
Would first suggest you examine what sort of ironing you do and then go from there.
If you're only touching up the odd shirt or trousers then any good iron will do. However if you are talking about ironing say a weeks worth of shirts then you're going to need something well built.
Also consider what sort of fabrics you will be ironing. Pure cotton and linen fabrics will either need to be ironed slightly damp with steam or an iron that can produce tons of vapor to get the job done.
Hit eBay,thrift shops and or estate sales for vintage irons. You can often find them new in box going for about what you want to spend more or less. Anything made up to the 1980's and for some brands the 1990's are streets ahead of the Chinese made stuff sold today.
Would first suggest you examine what sort of ironing you do and then go from there.
If you're only touching up the odd shirt or trousers then any good iron will do. However if you are talking about ironing say a weeks worth of shirts then you're going to need something well built.
Also consider what sort of fabrics you will be ironing. Pure cotton and linen fabrics will either need to be ironed slightly damp with steam or an iron that can produce tons of vapor to get the job done.
xraytech
Well-known member
I agree with Launderess that going for a nice vintage iron is a great choice, my personal preferance for a steam iron is a vintage General Electric and my other choice is a Hoover.
If you must have a new iron for at your price point or slightly above I would choose the Black and Decker Classic steam iron, it is at least mostly metal feels fairly solid, and that is the style iron they aquired when they bought the GE appliance division
If you must have a new iron for at your price point or slightly above I would choose the Black and Decker Classic steam iron, it is at least mostly metal feels fairly solid, and that is the style iron they aquired when they bought the GE appliance division
ptcruiser51
Well-known member
My two cents
My store (THD) carries its own brand of irons (Everstar) for ten bucks. I bought one about 6 years ago when my old Sunbeam quit. It has steam and spray and shot o'steam and will steam all the way down to permaprest. Only kvetch is that you have to refill often because it produces so much steam. Stainless soleplate too.
When my mom passed I inherited her Proctor-Silex that I use as a daily driver now because it has a little more "heft" to it.
I iron a LOT, but I find it immensely relaxing for some reason. Go figure.
My store (THD) carries its own brand of irons (Everstar) for ten bucks. I bought one about 6 years ago when my old Sunbeam quit. It has steam and spray and shot o'steam and will steam all the way down to permaprest. Only kvetch is that you have to refill often because it produces so much steam. Stainless soleplate too.
When my mom passed I inherited her Proctor-Silex that I use as a daily driver now because it has a little more "heft" to it.
I iron a LOT, but I find it immensely relaxing for some reason. Go figure.
One Thing About Vintage Steam Irons
Examine the controls and or read directions carefully. Some only made steam within a certain range. Items requiring more moisture such as certain cottons and linen usually needed to be ironed damp with steam for best results.
Examine the controls and or read directions carefully. Some only made steam within a certain range. Items requiring more moisture such as certain cottons and linen usually needed to be ironed damp with steam for best results.
cehalstead
Well-known member
new iron
I suggest a Black and Decker Classic...
I suggest a Black and Decker Classic...
I picked up a T-Fal iron a month ago for $25 at BJs that I love so far. Better than a Rowenta Focus that died on me and steams well.
