Switching to a steam generator iron can save you a lot of time. Most people seem able to halve the amount of time that they spend ironing – which is great as very few people enjoy this chore. The large volumes of high pressure steam are what makes the difference. The creases and wrinkles come out that much more easily due to the fact that all that steam penetrates whatever is being ironed more deeply.

However, steam generator irons do tend to cost a little more than a traditional iron. Most people will think that this is money well spent – but there are a few things that you need to check. The list below will help you to spot a bargain. Check these points before you buy:

1. Steam output should be between 80 – 120 grams of steam per minute.
2. Steam pressure should be between 4.0 and 5.0 bar.
3. Water tank should be 1.4 litres or more (enough for a couple of hours of ironing).
4. The sole-plate should be stainless steel, possibly with a ceramic coating.
5. It should be easy to clean scale from the iron (if you live in a hard water area).