- 1). Look for a steam iron with a digital temperature control. If you have clothes that are made from all types of fabric, an accurate temperature is a necessity if you don't want to ruin your garments. Cotton and linen clothes can handle very high heat, but fibers such as acetate, wool, charmeuse and polyester can only handle a slightly warm iron.
- 2). Find an iron that has at least 1500 watts. Any lower than that, and it won't steam up efficiently. A good iron heats up quickly and produces lots of steam right away when set to do so.
- 3). Look for auto shutoff. This is a safety feature on which you cannot compromise. Irons with this feature will automatically shut off if it doesn't detect any movement for a certain period of time.
- 4). Examine the iron's body material. Plastic parts are cheaper to make, but titanium and stainless steel irons are the best. These are strong metals that won't crack if you drop the iron.
- 5). Search for an iron with an auto-cleaning feature. It will heat up and vaporize any mineral particles stuck inside or around the iron. Otherwise, these minerals can deposit on your clothes and cause stains.
- 6). Make sure you can clearly see the water level in the iron. A good iron should hold at least 6 oz. of water. Accidentally overfilling an iron can cause steam burns.
- 7). Find one with several steam settings and many vents. The more vents, the more even the distribution of steam on your clothes. The best irons have "smart" steam settings that increase the amount of steam as the temperature rises. Low temperature settings have little to no steam. High iron temperatures should also create a lot of steam.
- 8). Figure out if you want a cordless or corded iron. Cordless irons are convenient, but they may not have as much power as corded irons.
- 9). Look for ceramic or nonstick finishes on the sole plates. These finishes don't stick to clothes and they heat up quickly and evenly.
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