Everything You Need to Know About Buying an Iron

Ask the average person to describe an iron and what they describe will undoubtedly be a steam iron. Today, steam irons are by far the most popular type of iron, mainly due to their sheer versatility and value-for-money. 

But, how do they work exactly? Let’s take a look…

Your typical steam iron has a perforated soleplate that allows hot steam to come out of the holes from an integrated water tank. This steam ‘relaxes’ the surface of the fabric being ironed and dampens it for a more effective finish than a dry iron. 

Steam irons tend to glide over fabric far more easily than dry irons, which makes the ironing process quicker and easier. 

It’s important to note that the higher the steam output of a steam iron, the more effective a job it will do in smoothing surfaces and sharpening edges. 

Another thing to look out for is wattage—the higher the wattage of the iron, the more powerful its steaming will be. Here at Morphy Richards you’ll find steam irons with wattages ranging from 2200W up to 3100W. With a higher wattage, a steam iron will also heat up more quickly, meaning you can get the ironing out the way super quickly!

Steam irons are ideal for:

• Those who want to achieve as professional a finish as possible from the comfort of their own home.
• Small households, those who don’t iron regularly, or those with small laundry piles.
• Those looking for something that will be easy to maintain, with a long lifespan.
• Those looking for something easy to store.

Steam generator iron

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A steam generator iron is essentially a stronger, more powerful version of a steam iron. The added strength and power come from an integrated steam generator that the steam iron itself is attached to (via a flexible cord). 

This built-in boiler allows a steam generator iron to produce steam at a much higher pressure than a regular steam iron. This makes the domestic ironing process as fast and effortless as possible.

Steam generator irons are typically so powerful that they often allow the user to iron both sides of the garment at once.

Steam generators are also highly versatile appliances, and can be used for more than just ironing your laundry. A common use case for steam generator irons is getting curtains nice and smooth!

There are two main categories of steam generator iron:

• Non-pressurised: this will produce double the amount of steam as a regular steam iron.
  
  
• Pressurised: this will also produce double the amount of steam as a regular steam iron but at a much higher steam output pressure.

Tip - if you want to buy a truly effective steam generator iron, make sure you select one that operates with at least five bars of pressure. This will ensure the iron has enough ‘oomph’ to produce plenty of steam. At Morphy Richards, our steam generators have at least five bars of pressure, with some having as much as seven bars!

Steam generator irons are ideal for:

• Those in busy households who iron regularly or have to tackle large piles of laundry.
• Those who need to get stubborn wrinkles out or smoothen thick, textured fabric. 
• Those looking for a lighter steam iron—the actual handheld iron part of a steam generator is light, it’s only the attached generator (that you won’t need to lift to use) that can be bulky and heavy.
• People who are looking to iron more than just their laundry! As we mentioned above, steam generators can be used to iron things like curtains.
• People who iron professionally (or as a side hustle). 

Clothes steamer

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Not quite an iron per se, but clothes steamers are an incredibly handy way of quickly and easily removing creases and wrinkles from garments of many kinds. 

Despite having a very different form factor from traditional irons, they do share some common features. For example, they include a water tank and a heating element meaning they can quickly produce steam. 

Aside from removing creases and wrinkles, the best clothes steamers allow you to remove bacteria from your garments - the hot steam being sufficient to kill off a variety of pathogenic bacteria. 

The majority of clothes steamers are handheld and some come with a variety of useful attachments such as lint removers and creasers. Some models - such as the Morphy Richards Express Steam Handheld Garment Steamer - feature different ‘modes’, allowing you to switch from an Eco mode to Turbo mode (the latter being ideal for heavily creased items). 

As they are handheld, clothes steamers are also perfect for freshening up more than just clothes e.g. curtains and drapes. 

Clothes steamers are ideal for: 

• People who dislike using steam irons and prefer the convenience of a steamer.
• People who have very delicate garments that could potentially be damaged/torn by a traditional steam iron. 
• Travel purposes - most clothes steamers are small enough to easily fit into luggage. 
• Clothing retailers - a clothes steamer will allow you to periodically ‘freshen up’ any hanging garments. 

Travel iron

The final common type of iron you can buy is a travel iron. Depending on the exact model you buy, a travel iron will simply be a smaller, lighter version of a normal iron that is compact enough to be portable. People take them with them when they travel (hence the name) so they can restore wrinkled clothes to smoothness after being creased in luggage cases.

Although travel irons were traditionally dry irons, advances in technology and manufacturing techniques mean that the majority of today’s travel irons are steam irons. 

An important point to note is that some travel irons come with a ‘dual voltage’ function, allowing you to switch between say 110-120V and 220-240V depending on the country’s power supply.

Dry iron

As the name suggests, a dry iron is one that doesn’t use any water as part of its internal workings. It simply works by being plugged into an electrical outlet so the metal plate (the ‘soleplate’) can heat up.

Dry irons don’t tend to be as powerful or effective as stream irons or steam generator irons because they are simply heating and pressing the fabric; moisture helps to smooth out wrinkles. That’s why some people choose to spray the garment with a mist of water before using a dry iron on it.

However, some fabrics are sensitive to higher levels of heat and moisture, so a dry iron with adjustable temperatures is the ideal way to keep them smooth without causing any damage. 

Dry irons are ideal for:

• Those looking for the most budget-friendly option.
• Those looking to iron fabrics that shouldn’t come into contact with high heat or moisture.
• Those who don’t want to bother with filling a water tank or descaling an iron.
• Those who don’t iron on a regular basis.

The different types of steam settings

Did you know that steam irons (be they standard steam irons or steam generator irons) are available with different types of steam settings? If you didn’t, you do now!

The standard steam iron has four types of steam setting; vertical, variable, burst, and continuous. Let’s take a look at what each one of these means below.

Vertical steam

This is a setting which allows you to hold the iron close to something like a hanging garment or a set of curtains and steam will be gently emitted from the iron. Upon exit from the iron, the steam will rise upwards, enveloping said garment or item. This is a particularly useful function if you regularly need to iron delicate garments that just need a gentle ‘steam’ to get rid of wrinkles and creases etc. 

Variable steam

Should you regularly find yourself ironing garments made from different materials (e.g. cottons, linens, denim etc), then an iron with a variable steam setting will be incredibly useful. 

Why? Because a variable steam function will allow you to manually adjust the amount of steam produced when ironing. For example, if you’ve got a very creased garment made from a heavy material such as denim, the variable steam function will allow you to crank up the steam to the max to really eradicate those wrinkles.

Okay, say the next item on your ironing pile is a light linen shirt. You can use the variable steam function to dial the steam right back and give the shirt a gentle iron.

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Burst

Are you dealing with a particularly stubborn garment? Those wrinkles just aren’t shifting? Then, if you have a ‘steam burst’ function on your iron, you can deploy that to achieve a smoothly ironed finish. Simply push a button, and you’ll get a quick burst of steam that you can direct on to part of a garment.

Steam bursts are typically measured in grams per minute. On a regular steam iron, the steam burst will normally be in the 30g per minute range (although more premium steam irons can have steam bursts in the 50g per minute range). At Morphy Richards, we actually have some models with steam bursts as powerful as 115g!

Steam generators - as you’d expect from their more powerful nature - typically offer around 100g per minute. Having said that, here at Morphy Richards, we have steam generator irons that have a massive 160g output.

Continuous steam

A continuous steam function does exactly that - provides an ongoing, continuous flow of steam. This is particularly useful for garments made from rougher materials (e.g. khaki) that can otherwise be tough to iron. 

Even on lighter, smoother garments, a continuous steam function can make ironing a breeze, significantly speeding up the process.

Like the steam burst function, continuous steam functions are measured in grams per minute. For a domestic steam iron that you’d use at home, 20g of continuous steam per minute is the recommended volume. However, steam irons can go up to around 40g of steam per minute and 100g per minute for a steam generator iron.

Corded iron versus cordless iron: which is right for you?

Another point to consider when selecting an iron is whether you want one that is corded or one that is cordless. Bear in mind that this is a choice that is largely limited to dry irons and steam irons rather than steam generator irons. 

As you’ve probably already guessed, corded irons feature a power cable that is permanently attached to the rear of the iron. This has both pros and cons. Whilst using an iron with a cable can sometimes be a little frustrating (you have to navigate in and around the cable after all), having a permanent connection to the power supply does mean you have a consistent ironing experience. 

Cordless irons work on the basis of a ‘mount’ or ‘base’ that is plugged into a power outlet. When not in use, the iron sits on the base and draws a charge. When required, you just remove the iron from the base and use it (without the encumbrance of a cord!). The only downside of cordless irons is that they tend to have a slightly higher price point than their corded siblings (although the price difference is only small in most cases). 

Which one is right for you? It all depends on your personal preference. If you’re one of those people that gets really frustrated when using a corded iron, then it’s well worth investing in a cordless model!

Things to consider when buying a new iron

So far, we’ve covered the different types of iron that are available, the various steam functions they can come with, and whether you should consider a corded or cordless iron.

You might think that’d be the end of it, but you’d be wrong! Today’s irons have many different characteristics and features - none of which you want to overlook. With that being said, let’s take a dive into the key things to consider when buying a new iron below.

Soleplate

The soleplate is that part of an iron that comes into contact with the garment/item and which actually produces the ‘ironing’ action.

Given that, the soleplate is arguably the most important part of an iron. 

So, what should you think about when looking at an iron’s soleplate? We’d say there are two key things to check: 

• Soleplate material. 
• Soleplate shape.

Soleplate material

The material that comprises a soleplate is largely what determines how effective the iron will be and how easy (or not) it is to use. 

Shop around, and you’ll find that the majority of irons at the cheaper end of the price spectrum have a stainless steel soleplate. This is a perfectly acceptable material for an iron soleplate, but won’t always be particularly durable over long time periods. 

More premium irons use ceramic soleplates. Ceramic is the optimal material for an iron soleplate, as it’s not only durable and scratch-resistant but has minimal friction, meaning it will glide over clothes as you’re ironing them.

Note - at the time of writing, all of Morphy Richards’ standard steam irons feature a ceramic soleplate.

Soleplate shape 

Another point to consider when looking at an iron’s soleplate is its shape. A fairly generic shaped soleplate won’t always allow you to iron those hard-to-reach parts of a garment (e.g. a dress shirt). 

Look for soleplates such as those on Morphy Richards’ irons. Many of our irons have a ‘precision tip’ to allow you to achieve a perfect finish every time.

Iron features to look for

Okay, so with the soleplate out of the way, what else should you be looking for on an iron? We’ve detailed our ‘must have’ features below.

Anti-drip

How annoying is it when an iron starts to drip? This typically happens if you attempt to use the iron before it has reached its optimum operating temperature (or if the temperature of the iron dips during use). 

The best irons (such as Morphy Richards irons 👋) have an anti-drip feature. This generally works on the following basis; a thermometer measures the temperature of the water in the iron. Should the temperature not be sufficient to create steam, then the water supply will be automatically cut off - and hence no annoying drips!

Auto temperature settings

Many irons these days feature ‘auto temperature settings’. These are effectively ‘pre-set’ temperatures that are designed to work with specific fabrics. All you need to do is select the correct settings for the type of garment you are ironing. 

This is typically done by repeatedly pressing a button or turning a dial until you reach the setting you want.

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However, there are now premium irons which feature ‘intelligent’ temperature settings. Take Morphy Richards’ Intellitemp feature, for example. Morphy Richards irons with Intellitemp do not need to switch settings between different fabrics - the iron will automatically detect the type of fabric you are ironing and adjust the temperature accordingly. 

Shop now - explore Morphy Richards irons with Intellitemp here.

Auto shut-off

An important safety feature to look for in an iron is auto shut-off. As the name implies, an iron with this feature will automatically turn itself off if it is left on for a certain period of time. 

For example, Morphy Richards irons such as the Turbo Glide 2800W Steam Iron feature an auto shut-off feature that turns the iron off after eight minutes.

As you can imagine, this is an important safety feature - especially if you’re ironing in a rush and forget to turn off your iron!

Anti-scale (anti-limescale)

In what may come as a surprise to some people, irons can be prone to limescale build-up - particularly in those parts of the UK that have a ‘hard’ water supply. 

Limescale build up is not only unsightly, but it can result in water containing small flakes and scales which can end up on your garments. Not something anybody wants!

That’s why it’s a good idea to buy an iron that has an anti-limescale feature. This feature typically takes the form of a limescale filter. This filter is designed to prevent excessive amounts of calcium carbonate and magnesium bicarbonate from making their way into the iron’s water tank - and thus create limescale. 

Self-clean

Closely related to the above point about anti-limescale, many of the best irons on the market have a self-clean function. 

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Although it differs from iron to iron, self-clean functions usually work as follows:

• Ensure your iron is filled with water to the ‘MAX’ level. 
• Make sure your iron is connected to its base and that the base is plugged into the mains. 
• Set the temperature to the highest level. Allow the iron to reach this temperature. Once the temperature indicator light has turned off you are ready to move to the next step. 
• Pick up the iron and hold it over the sink (with the baseplate facing down into the sink). 
• Press and hold the self-clean button. Hot water, steam and any impurities will be ejected from the iron.

Note - this is a generic overview. The exact steps will vary depending on the exact model iron you buy. 

This self-clean function can also help to keep your iron limescale-free. If you live in an area with hard water, you should consider using the self-clean function on your iron every two weeks. 

Easy glide

As we mentioned above, one of the key things to look for when buying an iron is the soleplate. Or more particularly, the material from which the soleplate is made. 

Many irons will advertise the fact they have an appropriate soleplate material by saying they are ‘easy glide’. This means the soleplate has been designed to glide smoothly over garments with minimum friction and without snagging.

Wattage

It’s always a good idea to check the wattage of an iron before buying it. 

Without going into too much detail, the wattage of an iron will determine how powerful it is - in other words, the higher the wattage, the more quickly you’ll be able to complete your ironing!

Of course, the next question that’s likely on your lips is, “what wattage iron is best?”

The answer very much depends on your budget and how quickly you want your iron to heat up. 

According to the likes of Good Housekeeping magazine, the average steam iron has a wattage of about 1,700 to 1,800 watts.

But that’s just for your average steam iron. Morphy Richards’ steam irons are far from average, which is why you’ll find that our irons have wattages of between 2,200 and 3,100 watts. That means they’ll heat up rapidly, allowing you to get through your ironing pile far quicker!

And, don’t think that the extra wattage is going to result in larger electricity bills. Far from it! At 2,400 watts, an electric steam iron will only use approximately 12p of electricity over the course of 10 minutes. 

Water tank capacity

Don’t want the hassle of refilling your iron part way through the laundry? Then make sure you check an iron’s water tank capacity before you click the ‘buy now’ button.

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Here at Morphy Richards, our typical corded and cordless irons tend to have water tank capacities in the 300ml to 250ml region. It’s our experience that this offers the perfect balance; enough water to complete most ironing jobs, but not so much that the iron is too heavy and cumbersome to use comfortably. Many of our irons also have handy ‘viewing windows’ which allow you to gauge how much water you have at any given time.

A great alternative - if you are particularly concerned about water capacity - is our range of steam generator irons. These have a large 1.7 litre/1.8 litre water tank, but this is separate from the actual iron - so, you get the best of both worlds! A huge water capacity, and a nice light iron. Win, win!

Cord length

The longer the iron cord length, the easier it’s going to be for you to move freely and flexibly with it. A long cord is also essential if your power outlet is far from your ironing board or ironing surface. 

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However, if you live or iron in a small space, or simply just want to avoid the tripping hazard of a long cord, go for an iron with a shorter cord length or even a cordless model instead.

Going cordless? Explore Morphy Richards’ complete range of cordless irons now.

Find the perfect iron for your laundry pile at Morphy Richards

Time to pick up a new steam iron? Then you’re in the best possible place online. 

Buy direct from Morphy Richards and not only will you get the best possible iron, but you can enjoy an extra year of warranty (when you register your iron with us). 

We also offer rapid delivery options and multiple ways to pay - including Klarna - which allows you to spread the cost of your new iron over three, interest-free instalments. It couldn’t be easier!

Shop Morphy Richards’ complete ironing range now

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