How Steam Generator Irons Give You Better Results For Less Effort

For the large majority of people, ironing is a necessary evil. Watching TV or listening to music while you do the ironing can lower the boredom a little - but it's still a tedious chore which sometimes seems like a never ending one. Any way to reduce the amount of time needed for ironing would be welcomed with open arms in most households.

You could send your clothes to the dry cleaners for cleaning and pressing - or even employ a maid. There are even professional ironers who will pick up your freshly washed clothes and return them crisply pressed should you wish. However, these are all rather expensive options.

A more viable alternative (for most people at least) would be to take advantage of advances in iron design and use a steam generator iron. Whilst they may, at first glance at least, be fairly similar in appearance to traditional steam irons, they have an entirely different construction - and this provides a number of positive benefits.

Unlike conventional steam irons, steam generator irons have no water in the iron itself. They have a large base unit which doubles as both heater and water reservoir and they produce a lot more steam - at a higher pressure - than a standard iron.

The steam is fed to the iron using a hollow connecting hose and, because it is at high pressure, it penetrates deep into the fabric of the garment being pressed. This makes it easier - and faster - to iron. As there is no water in the iron, it is lighter and easier to handle. The net result is an improvement in the quality of the finished garment and a reduction in the amount of time spent ironing. Most users report a reduction in ironing time of around about 50%.

When selecting a steam generator iron, be certain to choose one with a suitably high steam pressure. Somewhere between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is good. You will also see the steam output stated as grams of steam per minute (gpm). A value between 70 and 120 gpm is desirable.

The capacity of the water tank is a further important consideration. Make sure that you pick one with a suitably sized tank so that you don't need to stop too often to top up the water level. A tank of at least 1.4 litres is desirable.

Other factors that should be considered include the soleplate material, the usability, the inclusion of some type of anti-scale system and the length of the connecting hose between the iron and the base unit.

Steam generator irons do tend to have a slightly higher ticket price than conventional irons. However, bearing in mind that they can slash the amount of time you spend ironing by 50% - whilst simultaneously giving a better quality end result - they really do represent great value for money.


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Learn how a Tefal steam generator iron can save you time - you'll wonder how you ever got by without one. Have a look at our buyer's guide to steam generator irons so that you know how to spot a bargain when you see one.