Best steam irons to tackle your laundry pile with ease

Reviewed by Laura Cooke: Read our full review of the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra

Our best steam iron overall is also our best value, at £39 (the time of writing) this is the cheapest steam iron on our list, as well as being the most often and highly recommended iron on the Mumsnet forums.

With this iron’s water spray and steam functions, chunky trigger buttons and easy-pour water jug, ironing clothes has never been easier. Even with the most stubborn creases, the Russell Hobbs 20630 Powersteam Ultra can take your best jeans or favourite linen trousers from your heated clothes airer to a freshly ironed washing pile in minutes. It can be used vertically to steam soft furnishings too.

Updated with an improved glide, it has a 350ml water tank, button grooves and a 210g burst of steam that experienced ironers will appreciate.

We particularly appreciated not having to worry about accidentally leaving it idle (or it falling over) as it will automatically shut off to protect furniture, carpets and curious hands.

While it's heavier than both the cordless Morphy Richards Easy Charge Power+ and lightweight Tefal Easygliss Eco, this benefits from having a longer cord, so despite its weight, it actually feels less restrictive when I'm using it.

While some might think you have to spend big to get a great iron, we think the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra really holds its own when we pitted it against pricier models. That's why it's our best buy when it comes to steam irons.

Reviewed by Poppy O'Neill: Read our in-depth Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron review

Steam generator irons are a different kettle of fish to regular steam irons. Plenty of Mumsnet users will tell you that once you experience the effortless, super-steamy power of a steam generator, you'll never go back to a normal steam iron. The main criticism of steam generator irons is their size, due to their large, separate water tanks. So while the Philips PerfectCare Elite is arguably a superior steam generator iron, we picked this compact and affordable version as our best steam generator iron.

Despite its compact design, the Philips Compact Steam Generator does not lack in performance, with powerful steam generation that can tackle even stubborn creases like the ones caused by vacuum storage bags. We loved the Optimal Temp technology, which means there are no temperature settings to worry about, with one temperature suitable for all fabrics without the risk of burns. 

The 1.5-litre tank offers over an hour of ironing time, however, it’s worth noting it's not removable, so you do need to carry the entire unit to the sink when it's time to refill. Whilst the power cable does stash away for storage, we found it was a little on the short side, so depending on your layout you might need an extension lead to find a comfortable ironing position.

Reviewed by Laura Cooke: Read our full review of the Tefal Ultimate Pure Steam Iron

Tefal is a brand Mumsnet users trust for its high-quality products, and the Tefal Ultimate Pure Steam Iron is no exception. It is an investment purchase that promises no scale stains, the fastest glide and plenty of power.

Using a Durillium Airglide soleplate, we found it ran smoothly across even highly textured and heavy-duty fabrics we tested it on, because it evenly distributes the steam across the whole plate. Efficient and effective, you can add a steam boost with the the 55mg steam output and 240g steam shot, which left our clothes wrinkle-free and collars with crisp lines. You needn’t worry about limescale either, with its 2-in-1 micro calc filter that catches even the tiniest particles, you're promised ‘pure’ steam every time.

Other features we love are its three-metre cord, an auto shut-off and a 350ml water tank. While it's quite big and heavy, the smooth glide means you don't really notice the weight once you're using it, plus the shape of the iron is cleverly designed to provide a sturdy built-in stand so it won't fall over or wobble.

Reviewed by Laura Cooke: Read our full review of Morphy Richards Easy Charge Power+ Steam Iron

Cordless steam irons are indeed less powerful than a corded iron, better suited to light fabrics and smaller laundry loads than anything heavy-duty. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t convenient, practical and preferred by some Mumsnet users.

Enter the Morphy Richards 303251 Power+ Steam Iron. With comparatively more positive reviews than other models, we loved its easy-to-use, lightweight design and manoeuvrability. We had to admit the lack of cord was liberating.

Morphy Richards has prioritised convenience in their design, giving their cordless steam iron a large water tank for fewer refills and an easy-to-place base that means you can put it down in any direction. During testing, recharging took under 25 seconds, and it made quick work of different fabric types we tested it on. Using its intuitive temperature and vertical steaming features, it tackled creases as well and as quickly as a corded model.

Ironing without a power cord getting in the way felt wonderfully freeing, but of course that convenience was tempered by the fact that we had to keep returning the iron to base to recharge frequently. 

Reviewed by Laura Cooke: Read our full review of the Tefal Easygliss Eco

This is a fab little iron that heats up quickly and provides a powerful blast of steam to smooth out even the toughest wrinkles speedily and efficiently. It's nice and lightweight at just 1.3kg and also has a built-in anti calc filter, so it requires minimal maintenance. 

The Easygliss Eco comes in minimalistic cardboard packaging, made up of 95% recycled fibres, with not a single piece of unnecessary plastic in sight. Eco mode uses up to 30% less energy while the actual iron itself is made from 35% recycled materials and is 88% recyclable. So it really is the environmentally friendly choice.

The eco mode was more than sufficient for tackling creases in items of clothing made from cotton, wool and mixed fibres, while the steam tip was able to iron out any wrinkles lurking in even the most hard to reach places. The collar on a school shirt had never looked so sharp, while a pair of cotton trousers looked like they had come straight from the shop. We were really pleased with the results.

Light and comfortable to hold, the cord was a little bit on the short side, so this is something to bear in mind before purchasing. However, for me, the length of the cord was not an issue.

Reviewed by Poppy O'Neill: Read our in-depth Russell Hobbs Travel Iron review

Useful not just for keeping your clothes crumple-free on holiday, a travel iron is also highly recommended by Mumsnet users with mobility, energy or pain issues, as they're so much lighter and nimbler than a standard-sized iron.

This one from Russell Hobbs has everything you'd want from a suitcase-friendly iron: it's small, considerably lighter than a regular iron but has a generous 80ml water tank, 2 power settings and a well-designed stainless steel soleplate that'll make sure your outfits look fresh and smart, wherever you've travelled to.

With an 80ml water tank and soleplate surface area, the iron performs well on smaller clothing items we tested it on, less so on larger items, for obvious reasons.

It's well designed, making it easy to hold and manoeuvre. With a 360° dial to adjust the iron's temperature, we thought a switch between high and low might be more user-friendly. While you'll still find an iron in many hotel rooms, they're getting less common. If you're heading somewhere you know you'll want to look your best, it makes sense to carry a compact iron you can depend on in your luggage.

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