For everyday ironing on a board, start by comparing steam irons; consider a cordless iron if the cord genuinely gets in your way. A steam generator is better suited to larger ironing sessions, provided you have room to store and move its base. A garment steamer is mainly for touch-ups on hanging clothes and won’t give you the same finish on stubborn creases. Whatever appliance you choose, always check the garment’s care label for temperature and steam guidance.
Your choice depends not only on the finish you want, but also on the space you have and how you care for your laundry.
If you regularly iron shirts, trousers or household linens, a steam iron is a good place to start. Check how comfortable it is to hold, the cord and the settings for the care labels on your clothes. Compare it with a steam generator if your ironing sessions are getting bigger.
A steam generator is worth considering if you get through a lot of laundry or regularly tackle stubborn creases. However, you’ll need to be able to take its separate base out, move it around and store it easily. Les Numériques highlights the importance of checking its dimensions when space is limited.
A garment steamer can be useful for freshening up hanging clothes or smoothing light creases after storage. UFC-Que Choisir recommends them mainly for occasional touch-ups and fabrics that are easy to steam. If you want sharp creases or a crisp finish, choose an appliance designed for ironing on a board instead.
First, decide whether you need to iron on a board or simply freshen up hanging clothes. Then compare the handling, storage and maintenance requirements of the appliances suited to the job.
Consider it: for everyday laundry and a crisp finish on an ironing board, with settings suited to different fabrics.
Bear in mind: weight and the cord can make a difference during a session. UFC-Que Choisir points out that a steam output rating alone isn’t enough to judge an iron.
Consider it: if the cord genuinely gets in the way of your movements or where you place your ironing board.
Check: how the model recharges and whether it delivers steam continuously, especially if you iron for long periods.
Consider it: for larger ironing sessions or stubborn creases, if you have room for its separate base.
Bear in mind: it takes up more storage space and the whole unit needs to be moved.
Consider it: for occasional touch-ups on hanging clothes, without setting up an ironing board.
Bear in mind: according to UFC-Que Choisir, it’s best suited to fabrics that are easy to steam and won’t give you the same finish as an iron on stubborn creases.
| What to consider | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fabrics | Check the care label before choosing a temperature or using steam. Check the appliance’s settings and instructions, too. | I iron different fabrics and want to follow the care instructions for each one. |
| Creases and laundry loads | Where available, compare crease-removal performance in tests that use the same method. Don’t judge the results by the advertised steam output or pressure alone: UFC-Que Choisir says steam output isn’t enough to identify a good iron. | Do I mainly need to smooth out light creases, or do I have a lot of laundry to iron and want sharp creases? |
| Handling | Check the weight, grip and cord length. If you’re considering a cordless iron, check how the model recharges and whether you can use it continuously. | The cord gets in my way around the ironing board, or I need an appliance that’s easy to handle throughout a session. |
| Storage | Measure the space you have and compare it with the dimensions of the whole appliance. With a steam generator, remember to allow for the base, which you’ll need to move, as Les Numériques recommends. | I want to be able to take the appliance out and put it away easily, even when I only have a few items to iron. |
| Maintenance | Read the descaling procedure and water instructions for the model. Check whether you’ll need any accessories or consumables. | I want to know how to maintain the appliance regularly, especially if my water is hard. |
An advertised steam output or pressure rating doesn’t tell you everything about ironing performance. UFC-Que Choisir says that steam output, while useful, isn’t enough to identify a good iron.
If comparable test results are available, look at crease removal and ease of handling, too. Then check the model’s settings and maintenance requirements.
You’ll need room for the separate base, and you’ll need to be able to move it for every ironing session. Les Numériques recommends checking a steam generator’s dimensions if storage space is limited.
Measure your storage space and check the dimensions and weight of the whole unit before choosing.
UFC-Que Choisir describes garment steamers mainly as appliances for touch-ups on fabrics that are easy to steam. They aren’t designed for the same job as ironing on a board to achieve a crisp finish.
Stick with an iron or consider a steam generator if shirts, trousers or household linens regularly need a crisp finish.
Some fabrics need special care or shouldn’t be ironed at all. The wrong temperature could damage your clothes.
Always follow the garment’s care symbols first, and only use heat or steam if the instructions allow it, as UFC-Que Choisir reminds us.
The features mentioned apply to specific product ranges or models, not every appliance from a brand.
In France, Calor offers irons, steam generators and garment steamers, among other appliances.
Philips France features PerfectCare steam generators and handheld garment steamers, including some refurbished models.
Electrolux France features steam irons and steam generators, among other appliances.
These models cover touch-ups with a handheld garment steamer and ironing on a board with a steam generator. To choose between the two, start with your laundry and the finish you want, then check the features of the model you’re considering.
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Worth considering for touch-ups on hanging clothes rather than creating sharp creases. Check the manual for suitable fabrics and instructions on using steam, and always follow the garment’s care label.
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Consider it for ironing on a board if you have room to store a separate base. The model name lists 2400 W and 2 L, but those figures alone can’t predict crease-removal performance. Check the dimensions of the whole unit and the maintenance instructions in the manual.
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Compare it for ironing on a board if you have room for a steam generator. The advertised 8 bar in the model name doesn’t, by itself, demonstrate how well it removes creases. Check the dimensions, weight and maintenance instructions before choosing.
Start by checking the garment’s care label and follow the temperature guidance. UFC-Que Choisir recommends following care instructions; don’t assume a setting that works for cotton will also suit delicate fibres.
No. Care symbols may prohibit ironing or steaming, so check the garment’s label before using an iron, steam generator or garment steamer, in line with the care guidance provided by Electrolux France.
It may be enough for occasional touch-ups on fabrics that are easy to steam. If you regularly want sharp creases or a crisp finish from ironing on a board, an iron or steam generator is better suited to the job. UFC-Que Choisir recommends garment steamers mainly for touch-ups.
Read the model’s instructions on water and descaling, then check whether it uses an anti-scale system or consumables. UFC-Que Choisir includes limescale build-up in its durability tests for irons, so having an anti-scale system doesn’t mean you can skip the recommended maintenance.