糖心Vlog’s ironing expert (yep, that’s really a job!) James Thomson has been testing irons, steam stations and garment steamers at 糖心Vlog for eight years, so he literally gets paid to do the ironing.

His commitment to precision ironing started 44 years ago, during an Army Reserve recruit course.

Along with his years of ironing at 糖心Vlog, it’s safe to say that he knows a thing or two about de-creasing your laundry load. 

Follow his tips and you’ll breeze (or rather steam) your way through the ironing.

1. Get the hang of things

It might sound obvious, but the fewer wrinkles there are in your ironing to start with, the easier and faster the ironing will be.

James’ tip for less-crinkled shirts? When you wash them, put them on a hanger to dry rather than pegging them on the clothesline.

(And for even fewer wrinkles, give them a good shake before you put them out to dry.)

2. Spray away

“A spray bottle filled with water is the best solution for ironed-in wrinkles,” says James.

“While your iron likely already has a steam function, giving them a spray with water before you run the iron over them will create even more steam and help get those stubborn creases out.”

A spray bottle serves another purpose, too: it’ll save you having to refill the water in your iron as often. 

3. Stretch yourself

“When you’re painting a wall, if you want the best results you’ll need to spend more time preparing the surface than actually painting,” James says.

“Ironing is the same: the more time you take to stretch garments out over the ironing board and smooth them out, the less time you’ll need to spend ironing.

“Plus, it’ll reduce the likelihood of accidentally ironing creases into your clothes in the wrong places 鈥� ironed in creases are extra difficult to get out.”

4. Choose wisely

It goes without saying, but if you want good results, you’ll need a good iron to start with.

Here’s what James recommends you look for when buying a new iron:

• Not too heavy
• Has a safety cutoff
• Can create a shot of steam
• Has a spray function (but you can use a spray bottle for this if your iron doesn’t have one)

“In our testing, we often find that spending around $100 is the sweet spot between price and performance,” says James.

“However, we do sometimes find cheaper models that do a great job, so don’t write off more affordable options just because of the price.”

Our experts recommend three irons that cost less than $100, so make sure you check our reviews to find the best steam iron for your money.

5. Get steamy

If you’re an ironing purist, you might scoff at garment steamers 鈥� perhaps you think they’re a steam iron’s poor cousin. 

And in some ways you’re right: James says they’re generally not a substitute for an iron. 

However, depending on how crease-free you want your clothes, they can do a good-enough job.

And they’re very good for dresses, especially ones that are pleated or have ruffles. They’re also a godsend for anything made from silk. 

They’re handy for delicate or vintage items, and they also double as a tool for refreshing upholstery and soft furnishings.

They don’t have a spray function, but a water spray bottle essentially does the same job.

6. All stations to ironing perfection

For the ultimate iron, James says steam stations are the way to go 鈥� but they’re not for everyone.

Essentially a turbo-charged steam iron, their large water reservoir means they produce far more steam than traditional irons, making short work of crinkled clothes.

However, they’re bigger and heavier than a traditional iron. Some come with an integrated ironing board, which can be hard to stow away and you may need to leave them set up.

They generally lack a spray function, but that’s where your spray bottle comes in: for stubborn creases, a quick spray will boost your steam station’s powers.

Not sure if they’re right for you? We break it down for you: Irons vs steam stations vs garment steamers.

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What is it?

The Kogan Hands-Free Automatic Ironing Machine includes a main unit to blow hot air, three specially shaped nylon material casings and a central bracket that can be attached in various configurations to dry and take creases out of your trousers, shirts and even wet sneakers.

The main unit is about the size of a large toaster and produces a stream of hot air to inflate the casings. Perforations in the material allow the hot air to dry the clothing. There is only one speed setting and you can set the appliance to operate anywhere from 30 minutes to 3 hours.

Setup and storage

This isn鈥檛 a particularly complex machine, and the instructions were well laid out and illustrated, making it simple to understand.

The unit can be pulled apart and put back in the box for storage very easily, making it an ideal solution for occasional use.

How does it work?

1. Dampen your clothes

This device only produces hot air, so you鈥檒l need to add water for it to work properly, by using steam. But unlike a traditional iron or garment steamer, you don’t add water to the appliance, instead, you’ll need to dampen the clothes themselves.

If you鈥檙e grabbing damp clothes out of the washing machine, you can simply put them straight on the casing and turn the machine on. If you are working with dry clothes,  then you will need to dampen them first with a pump spray bottle.

2. Insert the central bracket

Once you have your damp clothing selected and ready to be ironed, the next step is to insert the central bracket into the centre of the unit.

If you’re doing a shirt, you use the entire bracket with the two central rods and the hanger rods attached at the top. If you’re doing jeans, you’ll only need the two central rods (not the hanger section) so that you can slide the trouser legs over the them.

For shoes, you won’t need to use the central bracket at all (more on this below).

3. Choose your casing and put garment in place

The next step is to choose the appropriate 鈥渃asing鈥� for the garment. The casings are essentially large plastic shapes with holes in them that sit inside your garment, inflating them with hot, warm air. Once you’ve applied your casing, you’ll need to put the garment in place over the top of it before switching on the unit.

Shirt casing

The casing for shirts is likely to be used the most often. It is shaped like a raincoat with perforated holes to let out hot air while the arm sleeves are sealed. The casing is placed over a hard plastic bracket, followed by the shirt.

Once the machine is turned on and hot air blows, this creates an unusual (and frankly hilarious) flailing figure that is reminiscent of the promotional balloon figures commonly seen in car sale yards. Clip-on weights are supplied to put onto the bottom of the shirt and keep movement to a minimum. 

Cotton/polyester blend shirts generally take around 20 minutes.

Trouser and jean casing

The casing for drying and ironing trousers and jeans must be placed over the central bracket, then you’ll need to carefully slide both individual legs over the two central rods of the bracket. The setup process is quite fiddly as the wet jean legs need to be carefully slid over the rods to ensure the casing isn鈥檛 damaged.  

Jeans may take an hour or more to be dried and ironed depending on the level of creasing or dampness.

Shoe casing

There is also a casing included specifically for drying your sneakers and it does a surprisingly good job. This is the only casing that does not require the central bracket to be placed over the hot air blower. You simply stretch the casing over the lid of the unit and place the end of each sleeve into the wet shoe and, in time, you will get a dry pair of sneakers.

The manual warns you not to use leather (real or faux) or memory foam shoes, so it鈥檚 mainly a solution for wet mesh material sneakers. 

Should you buy a Kogan hands-free ironing machine?

Whether you should buy the Kogan ironing machine really depends on the sort of ironer you are. If you like ironing (I hear there are such people) and enjoy working through a basket of laundry relatively quickly, then this simply is not for you.

The setup isn鈥檛 too onerous if you’re just dealing with a single item, but doing multiple shirts and trousers quickly becomes finicky compared to an iron, steam station or garment steamer and it鈥檚 also a lot slower than manual ironing. If you have a basket full of shirts to iron, at 20 minutes per shirt you鈥檙e looking at hours of attending to this machine.

However for single items, it has the benefit of being hands-free and relatively foolproof once you鈥檝e done the set up. Once you get the machine going, you can get ready for work, have breakfast or do anything other than ironing a shirt. 

That said, unlike the quiet pursuit of ironing, this is a very noisy machine so it could be very irritating if you are in a small apartment. This is probably another reason it鈥檚 more appropriate as a once-in-a-while appliance rather than something you want to have running for hours a day.

The best irons in 糖心Vlog testing

糖心Vlog experts have been testing irons, steam stations and garment steamers in our labs for years, so we know a thing or two about which appliances will get your shirts crisp and your linens smoothed. Read our advice on how to buy the best iron and check out our expert steam iron reviews to figure out which appliances are worth spending your money on.

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On this page:

• Why buy a steam station?
• Why buy a traditional steam iron?
• Why buy a garment steamer?
• Can a garment steamer replace your iron?
• Hacks to help make ironing easier

Having the right tool for the job will save you from hours of slaving over a hot ironing board wondering why on earth you can’t just wear a tracksuit to work.

When it comes to de-creasing your clothes, there are three options: a traditional iron, a steam station, or a garment steamer.听

Which one is right for you will depend on factors like how frequently you iron, what kind of fabrics you wear, what your budget is, and how much of a stickler you are for wrinkle-free rayon and creases in your culottes.

We’ll explain the pros and cons of each type of ironing appliance and share stories from real-life wrinkle fighters. Plus, we’ll share our expert laundry hacks to make your clothes easier to iron.

Why buy a steam station?

If you’re a fan of crisp collars and perfectly pressed pants, you might be interested in a steam station.听

Essentially a turbo-charged steam iron, they have an extra-large water reservoir so they can produce lots of steam, smoothing out creases faster and with less manual effort than a traditional iron.

They’re a serious commitment, though. They can be quite bulky and you need a specific type of ironing board to use them so you often need to leave them set up rather than packed away out of sight. Plus, they generally cost more than regular irons.

The models in our steam station review range in price from $142 all the way up to $1399, but some of the top performers cost less than $300 鈥� so it is possible to get a dream steam without spending a fortune.

Best for:听Serious ironing enthusiasts; households with lots of laundry that needs ironing; people who are particular about how their clothes look; linen lovers.

Rebecca: Sucker for a steam station

A commitment to crease-free clothes is in Rebecca’s blood: “My mum had the original Laurastar, the first of the steam stations, so I got used to it when I was still living at home,” she says.

“When I moved out I got one too. I could never go back to a regular iron now.”

The steam station makes ironing a pleasure, Rebecca says.听

“People think I’m weird but I’ll let my ironing build up and then put on a movie and get it done. It’s probably the only chore I actually don’t mind doing.”

Why buy a traditional steam iron?

Unless you’re allergic to ironing, chances are you already have one of these at home.

They have a much smaller footprint than steam stations, both in terms of physical space and the impact on your wallet.

Their much smaller water reservoir means they don’t produce as much steam as a steam station, and you’ll need to refill them more often.

They don’t tend to be as effective as steam stations, but as long as you buy a decent iron, it’ll do a good (or good-enough) job of making your clothes wrinkle-free.

You can pick one up for as little as $7.50; the most expensive iron we’ve tested costs $300. But you don’t need to spend a lot to get the best press: about half of the irons our experts recommend cost less than $100, and none of the recommended models cost more than $200.

Best for:听Infrequent ironers; people who don’t want to spend a fortune; households with limited storage space.

Susie: Old-school ironer

Fashion-forward parent Susie has a well-curated wardrobe full of lovely items that she likes to keep looking their best.听

She also has three children 鈥� and the associated mountain of washing that small humans create 鈥� so her laundry list is quite long.

In an attempt to reduce the load, she trialled a garment steamer.

“My husband spent hours researching the perfect iron and ended up with an expensive handheld garment steamer that doubles as an iron,” she says.

“But I found it annoying to operate and frustrating because it didn’t seem to do either job that well.

“I ended up buying a cheap traditional iron from Kmart and I’m much happier with it!”

Why buy a garment steamer?

Do you hate dragging out the ironing board every time you need to de-crease your clothes? A garment steamer sounds like the answer to your woes: just point it at the offending wrinkles and it’ll steam them out. Magic!

Unfortunately for the ironing-averse, the reality isn’t quite so simple. While they’re great for delicate and vintage items and can be used to refresh upholstery and soft furnishings, they don’t work as well as traditional irons and steam stations for fabrics like cotton, denim, linen and organza.

They’re good for tidying up already-ironed clothes that might have been crushed if you’re travelling, for instance, or if you just want your business shirt to look its best before you head off to a job interview.

Some are better than others, of course. We test garment steamers on a range of fabrics, including silk, wool, linen, denim and curtains 鈥� check our garment steamers review to see how each model performs on your most-ironed fabrics so you know which one is best for your needs.

You can spend as little as $39 on a handheld Kmart garment steamer or as much as $600 on a high-end model. The more expensive options often have an ironing board component that you can use vertically or horizontally to really get those stubborn creases out.

Best for: Fashionistas who favour vintage or delicate fabrics; keen cleaners who want to spruce up their soft furnishings; those who aren’t too fussed about perfectly-pressed clothes; travellers needing a handheld solution to freshen up clothes.

Pru: Garment steamer groupie

A self-professed iron avoider, Pru does everything she can to dodge this dreary chore.

“I purposely wear clothes that don’t need ironing,” she says.

“I use my garment steamer to tidy up a silk shirt or linen tank, and it’s perfectly adequate for getting wrinkles out of them 鈥� it does a good-enough job, which is all I’m after.”

Her husband uses a traditional steam iron for his business shirts, but he’ll sometimes give them a once-over with the steamer if they’ve been crushed in the wardrobe.

But for Pru, the less contact she has with an iron, the better: “There is no way I’d buy an iron again”.

Can a garment steamer replace your iron?

If you’re trying to minimise your interactions with irons, you might be wondering if a garment steamer will save you from having to haul your ironing board out every time you need to put on a proper shirt.

The answer is yes 鈥� and no.

Our experts say that garment steamers generally aren’t a substitute for an iron. They can struggle to smooth out deep creases and some fabrics just need the weight of an iron or steam station hotplate to take care of stubborn wrinkles.

However, it depends on how committed you are to crease-free clothes. If, like Pru, you don’t wear many clothes that need ironing or you’re not too fussed if the results aren’t perfect, then you may be perfectly happy with a garment steamer.

Whichever ironing method you choose, the most important thing is to do your research before you buy. If you choose poorly, you could end up with an expensive dud 鈥� and then you’ll really have steam coming out of your ears!

Make sure you check our steam iron reviews, steam station reviews and garment steamer reviews before you hit the shops (or the sites).

Hacks to help make ironing easier

Our experts have conquered endless piles of laundry to assess how well laundry appliances perform. In the process, they’ve perfected the art of laundry so they know how to get the best results from your wash.

Here are their tips for getting your clothes as ‘iron ready’ as possible so you don’t need to work as hard.

• Turn your washing machine’s spin speed down. This will be gentler on your clothes so they won’t get as creased. Some washing machines also have a steam function, which relaxes the fabric fibres and reduces wrinkles.
• Hang your washing ASAP! The longer it sits in the machine, the deeper the wrinkles will set.
• Use clothes hangers rather than pegs for shirts and dresses. Give them a shake before hanging to help smooth out the wrinkles.
• For particularly stubborn wrinkles, spray water on the fabric to help your iron beat the crease. You can use the iron’s spray function if it has one, or a spray bottle filled with water so you don’t have to refill your iron so often.
• Fabric softener may not actually help make your clothes easier to iron. Some fabrics such as synthetics don’t absorb the softener well, so they won’t make much of a difference. (Our experts don’t recommend using fabric softeners.)
• Popping your clothes in the dryer can help remove creases. The heat and movement will relax the fabric fibres. Use a low or medium heat setting with added moisture or your dryer’s steam refresh cycle (if it has one) for best results.
• Switch your cotton shirts for non-iron ones. They’re usually a poly/cotton blend labelled ‘easy care’, ‘non iron’ or similar. They won’t necessarily be perfectly wrinkle-free, but they’ll be good enough not to need an iron.

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But with price tags on irons in our latest expert review听ranging from as little as $8 through to $300, it can be hard to know what’s a reasonable price to pay for a good steam iron.

Our testing regularly reveals cheap products that perform as well as, if not better than, pricier ones. So, will a cheaper iron do the job just as well or is it worth forking out more?

‘The average iron has improved a lot’

糖心Vlog expert James Thogmson has reviewed dozens of irons in our labs over the years, testing each one on performance and how easy it is to use. He checks how well they steam fabrics such as silk, wool and denim, and assesses factors such as how easy they are to move, to fill the water tank and handle comfortably.听

“In the latest review we did find some cheaper models that scored just as well as more expensive models,” says James.

“We have been testing irons for a long time, and the average iron has improved a lot in that time. How much you want to spend, though, depends on your priorities and how much ironing you do.”

What you should look for in an iron

“Almost all irons come with a good ironing surface that moves easily over most fabrics and they have a steam system that produces a lot of steam without too much dripping,” says James.

“They also usually have a spray function and a ‘shot of steam function’, which helps a great deal.”

Automatic shut-off

“One feature you should look for is automatic shut-off, and although it’s a common feature, not all irons have it. In fact, all but five in our latest review have an automatic shut-off feature,” says James.

“Look for one that has an automatic horizontal shut-off of a minute or less and a vertical shut-off of less than 15 minutes. The short horizontal is so you don’t burn a hole in clothes (or worse, start a fire!), whilst the vertical shut-off stops power wastage.”

If you do a lot of ironing, how easy the appliance is to use is really important, including how easy the iron is to hold and manoeuvre. If it’s too heavy, the iron may be difficult to use for people who have dexterity or mobility challenges.

Cheaper irons are sometimes lighter than pricier models, so this may also factor in how much you’d like to spend.听

Some of the more expensive models in our review receive good scores for ease of use overall, but our testers note that some are quite heavy too.

The problem with the $8 Kmart Anko iron

Remember how we said that all but five of the irons in our latest review have an automatic shut-off feature? One of the appliances that failed to have this feature is the astonishingly cheap $8 iron from the Kmart Anko brand. While our testers found this iron is very good at ironing cotton and linen, and easy to use overall, it doesn’t have the automatic shut-off feature that is recommended for safety reasons.听This means if you accidentally leave the iron on and forget about it, it could become a hazard.听

It’s also worth noting that while there are always exceptions, if you’re only spending $8 on an iron, chances are it’s not going to last you as long as a model that has had more time and money invested in its design and the quality of its components. A better-quality appliance will generally last longer and is less likely to end up in landfill.听

More expensive models may also have more sophisticated features compared with cheaper basic models, or more sophisticated technology that produces more power and steam.听

You will also probably pay more for brands that are known for excelling in this product area. The last time we assessed iron brands in 2024, Philips came out on top. These irons have performed well in our labs over this period, and Philips iron owners are very satisfied, according to our appliance reliability survey. Find out which other brands performed well in our iron buying guide.

Price vs performance听

While we can’t give away all our secrets (these are available for 糖心Vlog members, though), what we can tell you is that of the 50 irons in our latest test, 糖心Vlog experts recommend 15 models, including three models that cost less than $100. So there are clearly some bargains to be found that perform well if you look around.听听

Irons vs steam stations

If you’re serious about your ironing and prepared to outlay more cash just to make the job a little easier, you may want to invest in a steam station.听

They’re pricier, often costing hundreds of dollars or more (the models we reviewed cost from $119 up to $699 for the standard type of steam station), but they score much higher than conventional steam irons in our testing. They’re very bulky, though, and too big to be placed on an ironing board, so you’ll need to make sure you have space and somewhere to store it.听

James explains another advantage of steam stations over irons: “They have a much larger water reservoir so they need less refilling. They produce copious amounts of steam, which is why they perform so well 鈥� you’ll get through your ironing a lot faster.听

“However, when testing, I found they could not get all the wrinkles out of linen because they lack a spray facility,” he says.

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On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test performance
• How we test ease of use
• Test criteria explained
• Our test lab

Here’s what goes on behind the scenes when we test irons, steam stations and garment steamers so we can deliver results you can rely on.

Our expert testers

With over 30 years’ experience in the 糖心Vlog small appliances lab, we’re proud of our expert testers. They’ve seen all types of irons come through for testing over the years, and above all else they’re looking for the models that will make your clothes look sleek and unlined, while being easy to use. We focus on these core functions so that when it’s time to buy, you can be sure the iron or steam station you choose will work well.

How we choose what we test

With so many products to choose from, what makes us choose one iron, steam station or garment steamer to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular models on the market and what you’re most likely to see in the retailers.

We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of models, we check market sales information and we also check for any member requests to test specific models. From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head out to the retailers and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure the goods are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ in any way for better performance.

How we test performance

We assess the performance of irons, steam stations and garment steamers by checking how well they smooth out the creases in the following fabrics:

• organza
• silk
• wool
• cotton shirt
• denim jeans
• linen.

For garment steamers we carry out additional tests on a:

• polycotton shirt
• polyester dress
• silk dress
• cotton curtain
• polyester curtain.

How we test ease of use

Irons

We assess:

• ease of filling the water tank
• handle comfort
• ease of moving the iron
• ease of using the steam function
• ease of using the spray functions
• ease of adjusting the temperature
• cord convenience.

Steam stations

We assess:

• ease of filling the water tank
• handle comfort
• ease of moving the iron
• ease of using the steam function
• ease of adjusting the temperature
• cord convenience
• steam hose convenience.

Garment steamers

We assess:

• ease of filling the water tank
• handle comfort
• hose convenience
• hanger function
• ease of using the controls.

Test criteria explained

The 糖心Vlog Expert Rating (our overall score) for irons, steam stations and garment steamers is made up of:

• performance (70%)
• ease of use (30%).

To be recommended, steam irons must have a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of at least 85%, plus a performance score of at least 90% and ease of use score of at least 80%.

Recommended steam stations must have a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of at least 90%, and recommended garment steamers must have a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of at least 80% for floor standing models and 75% for handheld models.

For safety reasons, we don’t recommend irons and steam stations without an auto shut-off feature.

Our test lab

Our testing laboratory is up to date with the latest reference machines and calibrated measurement tools for our testers to bring you accurate results.

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How much do you love ironing? Enough to spend, say, $2000 on an iron? Miele’s FashionMaster steam station retails for $2399, which is quite a bit to shell out 鈥� for that price, you’d almost hope it’d do the ironing for you!

So is it worth the coin? We take a look.

Miele FashionMaster pros

• Received excellent scores for both performance and ease of use.听
• Excellent at ironing organza, silk, wool, cotton, denim and linen.
• Has a steam lock, so you don’t need to keep pressing the steam button as you iron.听
• You can refill the water tank during ironing (some other steam stations don’t have this feature).听
• It has a variable steam feature, so you can dial the steam up or down depending on what you’re ironing.听
• It has a long cord with easy-to-use onboard storage.

“The Miele FashionMaster is a complete ironing system: you get the ironing board, iron, garment steamer and all the extra features that come with it,” says 糖心Vlog household expert Rebecca Ciaramidaro.

Miele FashionMaster cons

• It’s quite bulky, so you may need a dedicated space to leave it set up.听
• It’s very heavy: 29.3kg.听
• It’s expensive: $2399 RRP.
• Other steam stations we’ve tested performed as well as the Miele, but cost far less money.听
• You need to test the hardness of your water before you use the system, and then enter the hardness score. (One water hardness test strip is included.) If you don’t do this, you can void the warranty.听

“Ideally it should be set up permanently, but if you don’t have the space for that you’ll still need the space to store it when folded. It doesn’t fold as compactly as a regular ironing board,” says Rebecca.听

How else could you spend $2399?

• You could buy 16 Russell Hobbs Steampower Steam Stations at $150 each. (Total cost: $2400.)
• You could pay someone $45 a week for a year to iron your clothes for you. (Total cost: $2340.)
• You could buy yourself a schmick new clothes dryer听to cut down on your ironing load. You can pick up a good-quality heat pump dryer for around the same price as the Miele FashionMaster.听

What features does it have?

• Integrated ironing board with fans that suck or blow steam through garments
• Dedicated vertical steamer attachment
• Non-stick ‘honeycomb’ soleplate
• Steam lock
• Variable steam
• Cord storage
• 1.25L water container
• Automatic descaling and rinsing (descaling tablets are supplied)
• Auto-off function
• Electronic control panel
• Water-low indicator light
• Protector plate for ironing delicates

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