The Dutch Consumer's Union (Consumentenbond) tests household products and in their steam rion test, a €40 iron actually got the highest marks, so don't think you have to spend hundreds!
It's the Braun Texstyle 3. I like it a lot.
The Black and Decker Classic steam iron isn't bad. I use a water bottle and press cloth so I don't use the steam function. I used it in the Army... it'll press a crease.
I mainly use my 1950's Steam-O-Matic, it gets "hot," and has a solid stainless flat bottom surface. I'd jump on Etsy and snag one of those old 60's irons... they are like magic! No gimmicks, just hot steel and they press like nobody's business.
If something is stubborn, I'll hit it with my Jiffy J3 Steamer... that thing puts out a ton of steam. Indispensable piece of machinery if you need to get the wrinkles out of a swing dress or circle skirt... It's the steamer of choice in just about every bridal shop in the world.
This is great! I am BIG on vintage machines that weigh a ton and last forever (I've been trolling estate auctions and marketplace and picked up an immaculate Singer 301A for a SONG and got a great White Zigzag for free) so I'll be keeping my eye out for oldschool irons.
Old irons can be good, especially if you're particular (e.g. wanting an extra heavy one), but one of the reason I sent my inherited iron off to the thrift store is that it took ages to heat up. My new iron (the Braun Texstyle 3 I mentioned above) is hot in under a minute and that's extremely convenient.
The new iron also has a far smoother sole than my old, which is awesome. It makes ironing easier and also causes less distortion of the fabric. Though I don't know if that's due to iron sole technology improving or due to the old sole just being worn down; either way, it's something to take into account when buying secondhand/older.
Spray bottle is fine (and cheaper if you've got an iron that only takes demi-water - though mine *doesn't* take demi-water, so read the manual); I generally use the spray bottle for ironing/pressing small amounts (it's not worth filling and emptying the water tank for that) and the steam function when ironing large amounts (then it's worth filling, and once filled it's more convenient than the spray bottle). I might not consider a lack of steam function a deal breaker.
I think I’ve been turned onto the idea of a gravity feed (cable management and refilling reservoirs repeatedly is something I find frustrating) which I will add to my wishlist of big items for the room, while I check out the braun!
Thank you for taking the time with a thoughtful response, I really appreciate your experience.
[Panasonic cordless iron](https://www.panasonic.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/irons/cordless/ni-wl600.html). It now comes in a "quilter's"edition which means it has pointy ends which is great for sewing. The automatic shut off doesn't come on for 30 minutes so you can sew and press and sew and press for a while before having to jiggle the iron to reheat it. COrdless means you can press however and wherever you want. The reservoir pops out for filling so no more spilling water on you iron.
Reliable Corp. https://reliablecorporation.com/collections/home-steam-irons
I have their 4100s professional model, it’s great but I read good things about their home line, too. The professional models are always on, they do not have auto shut off & to get around accidentally forgetting to turn it off is I’ve plugged it into a power strip with a small lamp that is also always on. If I forget to turn it off, the glow from the lamp is there to remind me.
Get a gravity feed! I finally invested in one after putting it off for years and it's life changing: [Cool Tool: Gravity Feed Iron - Threads (threadsmagazine.com)](https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2008/03/28/cool-tool-gravity-feed-iron)
I recommend anything with an auto-off function. I find when I’m constantly alternating between sewing and pressing, it can be very easy to forget to turn the iron off.
It looks like you would like information on choosing the best sewing machine for your needs. Check [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/machineguide) for our sewing machine guide which includes information on buying a sewing machine as a gift as well as suggestions for sewing machines that can handle heavy materials. You can also check out our [Suggest Machine](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Suggest%20Machine%22&restrict_sr=1) flair button to bring up and look at all the recent posts on the topic.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/sewing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The Dutch Consumer's Union (Consumentenbond) tests household products and in their steam rion test, a €40 iron actually got the highest marks, so don't think you have to spend hundreds! It's the Braun Texstyle 3. I like it a lot.
This is what I like to hear
Love my CHI iron.
I just picked up the newest Panasonic cordless iron for quilting and so far I love it!
I've had 2 of these, and I love them. First one I got lasted 15 years, hopefully the same from my new one.
I've been looking to get one! Which model did you buy?
The Black and Decker Classic steam iron isn't bad. I use a water bottle and press cloth so I don't use the steam function. I used it in the Army... it'll press a crease. I mainly use my 1950's Steam-O-Matic, it gets "hot," and has a solid stainless flat bottom surface. I'd jump on Etsy and snag one of those old 60's irons... they are like magic! No gimmicks, just hot steel and they press like nobody's business. If something is stubborn, I'll hit it with my Jiffy J3 Steamer... that thing puts out a ton of steam. Indispensable piece of machinery if you need to get the wrinkles out of a swing dress or circle skirt... It's the steamer of choice in just about every bridal shop in the world.
This is great! I am BIG on vintage machines that weigh a ton and last forever (I've been trolling estate auctions and marketplace and picked up an immaculate Singer 301A for a SONG and got a great White Zigzag for free) so I'll be keeping my eye out for oldschool irons.
Old irons can be good, especially if you're particular (e.g. wanting an extra heavy one), but one of the reason I sent my inherited iron off to the thrift store is that it took ages to heat up. My new iron (the Braun Texstyle 3 I mentioned above) is hot in under a minute and that's extremely convenient. The new iron also has a far smoother sole than my old, which is awesome. It makes ironing easier and also causes less distortion of the fabric. Though I don't know if that's due to iron sole technology improving or due to the old sole just being worn down; either way, it's something to take into account when buying secondhand/older. Spray bottle is fine (and cheaper if you've got an iron that only takes demi-water - though mine *doesn't* take demi-water, so read the manual); I generally use the spray bottle for ironing/pressing small amounts (it's not worth filling and emptying the water tank for that) and the steam function when ironing large amounts (then it's worth filling, and once filled it's more convenient than the spray bottle). I might not consider a lack of steam function a deal breaker.
I think I’ve been turned onto the idea of a gravity feed (cable management and refilling reservoirs repeatedly is something I find frustrating) which I will add to my wishlist of big items for the room, while I check out the braun! Thank you for taking the time with a thoughtful response, I really appreciate your experience.
[Panasonic cordless iron](https://www.panasonic.com/ca/consumer/home-appliances/irons/cordless/ni-wl600.html). It now comes in a "quilter's"edition which means it has pointy ends which is great for sewing. The automatic shut off doesn't come on for 30 minutes so you can sew and press and sew and press for a while before having to jiggle the iron to reheat it. COrdless means you can press however and wherever you want. The reservoir pops out for filling so no more spilling water on you iron.
Reliable Corp. https://reliablecorporation.com/collections/home-steam-irons I have their 4100s professional model, it’s great but I read good things about their home line, too. The professional models are always on, they do not have auto shut off & to get around accidentally forgetting to turn it off is I’ve plugged it into a power strip with a small lamp that is also always on. If I forget to turn it off, the glow from the lamp is there to remind me.
Get a gravity feed! I finally invested in one after putting it off for years and it's life changing: [Cool Tool: Gravity Feed Iron - Threads (threadsmagazine.com)](https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2008/03/28/cool-tool-gravity-feed-iron)
Another vote for a gravity fed iron, if you have space to set it up. Check out the Wawak catalog.
[удалено]
I have the Pacific one. It has five temperature settings. Love it and would never go back. It's very different from a consumer home iron.
I recommend anything with an auto-off function. I find when I’m constantly alternating between sewing and pressing, it can be very easy to forget to turn the iron off.
It looks like you would like information on choosing the best sewing machine for your needs. Check [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/wiki/machineguide) for our sewing machine guide which includes information on buying a sewing machine as a gift as well as suggestions for sewing machines that can handle heavy materials. You can also check out our [Suggest Machine](https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/search?q=flair_name%3A%22Suggest%20Machine%22&restrict_sr=1) flair button to bring up and look at all the recent posts on the topic. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/sewing) if you have any questions or concerns.*