We consulted cleaning and health experts on how clothes irons work and where to find the best clothes iron for you
Hanna Horvath
From Black + Decker to Hamilton Beach and Maytag, these are the best irons for your clothes — and how to choose the right iron for your needs, according to experts.Getty Images
This steamer has both vertical steam and ironing capabilities, and uses 1700 watts of power. It has a digital temperature control and five fabric heat presets, including linen, cotton, wool, silk and synthetic fabrics. This model comes with an 8-foot retractable cord for easy storage and has safety features like an auto-shutoff and an anti-drip function.
This steam iron can hold over 8 ounces of water and has a vertical steam feature to steam upright garments. It has some added temperature features for specific fabrics like silk, wool and nylon. This iron is self-cleaning and has an anti-calcium feature, and uses 1500 watts of power. This steamer also comes with a 8-foot cord that can swivel 360 degrees.
Mehmetoglu recommends this higher-end steam iron. This model is made of stainless steel and uses 1800 watts to iron out wrinkles in almost any type of fabric. It comes with a 2.5-meter cord and has added features like a vertical steam, anti-drip system, anti-calcium system and auto-shutoff. It’s water tank holds almost 11 ounces of water and has an extreme steam burst tip to target wrinkles in a small area.
This cordless clothes iron is affordable and more mobile than irons that require a nearby electric outlet. Users can heat up the iron on a hot plate, though this model does come with a 10-foot cord for added convenience. This iron also comes with an auto-shutoff feature and has a stainless steel plate. The sunbeam steam iron uses 1500 watts of power and has adjustable steam levels depending on what fabric you’re ironing.
Assess your wardrobe and what types of fabrics you’ll most likely iron, advised Hunsaker. Some fabrics can’t handle high heat — you’ll therefore want to find an iron with adjustable heat settings. Most clothes iron prices range between $25 to $100 — the more features an iron has, the more expensive the model will be, said Mehmetoglu.
Virtually all steamers come with basic heat settings, including low, medium and hot. Higher-end models will have additional heat settings, like ones based on fabric types.
Most steamers should have safety features like an automatic shutoff.
Consider certain cord features considering how often you plan to use your iron and what you want to iron — some cords equip 360-degree rotating swivels and others retractable cords.
If you don’t want to use a cord at all, consider a cordless iron. They don’t require an electric cord and warm up over a heat plate, but they typically only stay hot for a few minutes at a time.
Steam irons equip features like an adjustable steam gauge and spray nozzle. Some produce steam while upright so you can steam a garment hanging on a hanger. Most include removable water tanks — they’re easier to refill (transparent water reservoirs let you easily discern when they need a refill).
When buying a steam iron, pay attention to added safety and maintenance features like an anti-calcium system, which helps reduce calcium build up in the water (which can be difficult to clean) and therefore prevent calcium from getting on and staining your clothes.
An anti-drip function helps prevent water from dripping on your clothes, which can cause water rings.
Hanna Horvath is a personal finance reporter based in New York City. She currently writes for Policygenius and her work has appeared in Business Insider, MSN, Inc Magazine and more.