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A dependable steam iron is especially helpful forquickly smoothing outcreases while protecting the life of your fabrics.
The Spruce
But it can be quite a challenge to iron out which ones are the best on the market.
We also evaluated heating times and how each one removed wrinkles.
We also looked for options that had easy-to-use temperature controls and adjustable heat levels.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
It’s made with high-quality and it’s reliable, showing strong steam output and helpful built-in safety features.
We were impressed by its performance across all fabric types.
It consistently smoothed out wrinkles and creases without sticking and only caused minimal damp spots.
PHOTO: The Spruce
The temperature indicator allowed us to choose the specific fabric punch in.
On the low setting, silk required only six passes, and linen required only four.
Using the same setting, we only needed eight for cotton.
We appreciated that the iron heated up enough to comfortably iron cotton and linen.
Another feature we appreciated was the safety auto-shutoff.
The iron turned itself off automatically after 30 seconds if left on Chi’s ceramic soleplate.
After 30 minutes, it also turned off by itself while resting on the heel.
Only a few challenges emerged during our testing.
One in particular came from filling the iron with water.
However, using a simplefunnelto fill the iron could easily overcome this issue.
We really loved the retractable cord feature, as it made the iron convenient for storage.
A good soleplate should be non-stick and should not cause fabrics to snag when pressed.
It took only eight passes for silk, 10 for linen, and 14 for cotton.
As a result, this didn’t require as much effort to iron overall.
We had to add more heat while ironing silk, which unfortunately increased the risk of the fabric sticking.
Plus, the iron itself wasn’t heavy, even when filled with water.
However, this did not significantly impact the iron’s usability.
This steam iron truly pressed to impress (pun definitely intended).
All the controls, including the touchscreen, in particular, functioned effortlessly.
The touchscreen allowed us to select our specific language, fabric key in, timer, and more.
We specifically loved that the screen showed us the percentage until the iron was at the appropriate temperature.
This meant we didn’t have to worry about how long to wait for the iron to heat up.
There are also convenient-to-access buttons for the spray, steam, and steam control.
We were pleased by the iron’s maneuverability and comfortable textured grip, exceeding our expectations during testing.
The silk required only one pass, with three additional passes to remove the creases.
Cotton only required four passes, eve when damp.
We did notice the iron leaked when we were using the steam button.
Like the other Chi pick on our list, filling the refill reservoir was somewhat complicated.
That aside, this is a great touchscreen steam iron that will make this task a lot smoother.
It sent out aplentiful amount of steamwithout showing signs of leaking.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Meanwhile, the linen and cotton took about five passes with the steam feature, never sticking once.
We liked that thetemperature controlwas easy to reach.
But because it was located under the handle, it made it more difficult to see.
PHOTO: The Spruce
Fortunately, this design meant we never accidentally nudged the temperature when in use.
We had to put more effort into removing the wrinkles from the linen fabric.
Overall, the iron was easy to use, and we liked the smooth grip of the handle.
Plus, the configs were clearly labeled with understandable functions.
We also noticed that the spray feature had an unusual placement on the iron.
It was a tad too high, so the water spray was inconsistent.
We chose the Conair EZ Press Steam Iron for its portability.
It’s lightweight and small enough to fit into luggage or smaller dorm or studio apartment spaces.
During our testing, we found this iron did a good enough job of smoothing out wrinkles in fabrics.
If you don’t want to splurge, you may consider our best valuetheRowenta Access Stainless Steel Steam Iron.
It will give you the basic functions you need for ironing tasks without a large price tag.
Think About Precise Temperature Control
Not all fabrics smooth out at the same level of heat.
That’s why you want a steam iron that lets you easily control its temperature.
It ensures you choose the right heat amount to eliminate wrinkles withoutputting the garment or cloth at riskfor damage.
The appropriate temperature makes the entire process easier and won’t require you to work as hard.
We recommend selecting a steam iron known for easy-to-understand temperature controls and an uncomplicated way of making adjustments.
You’ll want to choose an iron that not only provides abundant steam, but does so without leaking.
This should be an adjustable feature to accommodate different types of fabrics.
We like theRowenta Pro Master Steam Iron(best for steaming) for its steaming capabilities, of course.
We particularly liked theChi Lava Electric Ironfor its steam output as well.
Research Safety Features
Safety is of the utmost importance when using any electric household item.
All, except for the Conair steam iron we tested, had an auto-shutoff feature.
This function ensures that after a certain period of time, the iron will turn off on its own.
However, auto-shutoff isn’t the only safety feature to keep in mind when selecting your steam iron.
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Why Trust The Spruce?
Nicole Pylesis a writer for The Spruce, specializing in home improvement, gift guides, and home decor.
She spent hours researching best steam irons and analyzing data during our Lab testing.
She also reviewed top-tested models from brands, such as Chi, Rowena, Hamilton Beach, and more.
PHOTO: The Spruce / Eric Brockob
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