T-fal FV4495 Ultraglide Easycord Steam Iron Ceramic Scratch Resistant Non-Stick Soleplate with Auto-Off and Anti-Drip System, 1725-Watt, Black, Medium

I have been ironing since my time in the military and have tried numerous types from the supposedly "High End" to the "Ultra High End" steam irons; this iron is, without a doubt, the best of the best of the best!!!! It has all of the outstanding features from the extra long cord (folding no less as the iron is set down), to the ceramic base plate. It glides effortlessly across any type of fabric and makes ironing much less a challenge. It provides superb steam power at the time(s) it is needed whether from a "quick steam" upright to your normal ironing pattern. I was, to say the least, completely taken by surprise with it. It’s just the best of the best that I have ever used; not to mention the superb pricing (unmatched by any other brand or model) through Amazon.com. Even with the manufacturers-only 1-year warranty, I would gladly purchase it again should the unit fail at the end of the warranty period. A great buy even if it unit were double the price! If there is a better, easier unit "out there," I would find it hard to beat! HATS OFF to T-fal for this outstanding, quality-for-the-money steam iron. Thanks! Oh yes, if you are looking to replace your old Ironing Board, the perfect match for this iron is the "Minky Homecare Pro Iron Station" ironing board. I did not find it on Amazon.com but found it at "Hayneedle.com” (Item no. MINK010-1). This is a larger-than-normal board and is, without question, the highest quality, best all-around board I have ever used. It made my search on the net worthwhile in every respect. While on Amazon.com, don't forget to pickup the Brabantia 124662 - 53-by-18 Size-D ironing-board cover with foam insert. Superb pricing to match perfectly this board. In addition while on Amazon.com, pickup a package (2 per package) of the Protective Ironing Scorch-Saving Mesh Pressing Pad #128-2 (Household Essentials). Superb pricing on these items to have available as needed. I hope this review helps.

First off, let me say that I do not mind ironing. I just do not love it. Currently, I own 3 functional irons, including a $300 Rowenta steam generator iron that can produce steam for several hours. However, the Rowenta is large and takes a bit of time to set up and get to temperature. So, when I have only a few things to iron, it makes sense to go with a smaller, quicker iron. Previous reviews for the T-al iron were quite good, so for $35, it seemed like a safe choice. Yesterday, after ironing 3 all-cotton, heavy, oxford dress shirts, I was smiling. The T-fal heated up quickly and produced considerably more steam than the $300 Rowenta and the shirts looked superb when finished. I managed to iron the 3 shirts, but had to add 1/4 cup of water to finish off the last one. What I liked about the T-fal: long power cord, great stable base, quick to heat up, lots of steam, easy to fill and drain water (I never store an iron with water in the reservoir). Interestingly, the light on the handle was blinking when I started ironing. Apparently, I had forgotten to move the steam setting from "no steam" to one of the 3 settings for the amount of steam produced. I used the #2 setting, but the first one probably would have been fine. My only gripe is that the directions, nearly all drawings, are hard to read due to the small size. Fortunately, several folks had some vids on YouTube, as does T-fal. Perhaps the most difficult to understand part is how to do the preventive anti-scaling measures that involve removing the anti-scale stick located near the filling port. It takes some time studying the drawings and viewing Youtube to figure it out. So, at nearly 1/10 the cost of the Rowenta steam generator iron, it's definitely a good buy if you do not need to iron a lot of items. Love it!

I have been using this iron for about a month and I am really enjoying it. It has a super smooth bottom that doesn't catch or rub on anything. The base of the iron is really wide and stable with a notch cut out for the cord. When you set it down, the cord goes right into the notch. My old iron used to fall over a lot so I love how stable this is. The iron heats up fast and has great steam. I love that the cord is really long. The water refill is wide so it can be filled directly from the sink. A few people in reviews mentioned leaking, but this is user error! If you are using the iron at lower temperatures, move the setting to "no steam"! Water will only leak out if you set the temperature low and then try to use the steam feature. It shows right on the dial which temperatures are high enough to use steam. This iron is meant to be used with tap water and has a decalcification feature. You are not supposed to use it with distilled water. It will actually void the warrantee if you use pure distilled, bottled, or filtered water! The only things that I didn't like were the rub marks on the front part of the iron when it arrived and the instructions. When I buy a new item, I like it to look new at least for a while. A simple piece of foam across the front of the iron would prevent the damage from the cardboard holding the iron in place. With the instructions, about half are pictures. The pictures are showing multi-step instructions and it takes a bit of time to figure out what they are trying to communicate. Fortunately, once you have gone through them, then you know what to do and you won't have to deal with them again. I'm sure it saved them writing it out in 15 languages. Also for those who choose not to use their instructions, when you turn the iron on for the first time there is a small wisp of smoke that comes out of the top of the iron. This is normal and only lasts for a few seconds. Overall, a great iron, especially for the price.