The Best Irons

Buying Guide

Although there are plenty of fabrics today that resist wrinkling, there are still some that require a little heat to get that crisp look. Although the design of the clothing iron has been tweaked over the years, the concept remains the same.

Modern irons use electricity to heat an internal coil, at which point the heat is transferred to a plate on the bottom. The plate is then pressed onto fabric to use heat to loosen the fabric and relax any wrinkles.

But over time, further tweaks have made ironing even easier. Most of today’s irons have an internal thermostat that you can adjust via a dial. This allows you to iron everything from silk to cotton to polyester without worrying about permanently damaging the fabric.

Some fabrics simply do better with steam. Steam releases wrinkles without the iron having to make direct contact with the fabric. It also can help boost the wrinkle-releasing power of the iron itself. For that reason, you’ll find many of today’s irons also produce steam. Simply press a button and steam is emitted toward the target.

Steam also comes in handy when you’re pressing vertical fabrics. If you have draperies you need to iron, for instance, you can use steam to release wrinkles. Steam irons have been used by fashion retailers to steam hanging clothes for years. It’s important to note, though, that thicker fabrics might not respond as well to steam as thinner fabrics. With thicker fabrics, direct contact with the heated soleplate of an iron might be the only way to release wrinkles.

Not all irons are created equal when it comes to their pressing power. Many simply won’t distribute heat across the plate evenly, which means you’ll have to work twice as hard to press the wrinkles out of the fabric. An iron built to distribute the heat evenly can save you time by improving your efficiency.

• If you often travel, a portable iron might be a better investment. However, many hotels provide both irons and ironing boards, so it might not be necessary.
• Ironing boards are popular for a reason. They give you a solid surface for ironing, and the pointed edge helps you get into tight areas like collars and sleeves. Best of all, ironing boards are portable. You can fold them up and tuck them into an unused corner or between your dryer and the wall.
• It’s important to take a look at the soleplate of your iron before you turn it on. If something has melted on it or it’s dirty, the dye could transfer to your clothing, ruining your favorite article.
• If you’ve ever ironed something and found the cloth came out shiny, it could be a result of the heat reacting to the synthetics in the fabric. You can purchase a pressing cloth or iron the fabric inside-out as a solution to this problem.
• Safety is important when you’re working with any heated appliance. Look for an iron with auto-shutoff for peace of mind if you’re one of those people who has nightmares about leaving your iron on after leaving the house.
• The steam function of an iron comes in handy and, despite what you might’ve heard, you don’t need to fill it with distilled water. Check the manual for what type of water to use, but with most modern irons, tap water is fine.
• Many irons advertise their ergonomic handles. This is a handy feature for serious users, but consider whether you’ll spend enough time ironing for it to be worth the price before you pay extra for it.
• The length of the cord will be more important than you likely realize when you buy your iron. A longer cord will give you extra reach. Some irons also feature a 360-degree pivot that allows the cord to move with you as you iron.