Best Cloth Irons in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

Broadly there are two types of iron-dry and steam, and the significant difference between them is water.

Dry irons do not have water tanks and have a solid soleplate. They are budget-friendly as well.

Steam irons use water to make steam and have holes in their soleplate through which steam releases. Their spray mist function allows you to spray a gentle mist of water onto the fabric you are ironing. Steam iron is versatile as compared to dry iron, and therefore, they are a bit expensive. 

Which one of the two is better? Now that depends on the use. A dry iron is as primary as you can get because it has a knob to control the temperature. Moreover, a steam iron can always be used as a dry iron, but the other way around is not possible. In the case of dry iron, you can sprinkle some water on the fabric to get rid of stubborn wrinkles.

Comfort is a vital factor that determines the cloth iron buying decision. A bulky and uncomfortable iron can cause pain in the arms and shoulders if handled for long hours. In contrast, if an iron is too light in weight, then it may not remove the wrinkles at one go.

High wattage means a high temperature in less time. We suggest an iron should have at least 1000 W. The wattage also affects steam build-up and dispersion. Therefore, to make the most of the steam burst feature, opt for a steam iron with a minimum of 1800 W of power.

In recent times, iron manufactures have started providing large water tank capacity as that means less number of times refilling and more steam production for a longer time. A water tank with 200ml capacity is considered small, whereas, 300ml or more capacity water tank is considered best for continuous ironing.

However, there is one thing to note down, i.e. iron with large water tank are tend to be heavier.

It took quite a time in selecting the top seven iron since the old performers, and renowned brands also had reliability issues. If the iron has to fail, then it will fail within two years of purchase, and this is the most common reason most iron manufacturers offer two years of warranty on the product. 

Customer service is essential because if it is good only then, you can get the iron replaced quickly.

A cord's length should be at least 1.8 metres for easy mobility. Some irons come with up to 3 meters lengthy cord!

If you don’t wish to deal with the iron cords at all, then pick a cordless iron. These irons use heat plates for a warm-up and offer absolutely free movement. Of course, they retain heat for a short time and need to be returned to a hot plate for reheating.

Another thing to consider regarding the cord is its swivel as it ensures the cord is 360 degrees and moves in any direction. It helps to reduce wire fatigue and also, prevent the cord from getting in the way while ironing.

Steam burst feature is about producing a concentrated outflow of steam onto the fabric. Look for strong burst and visible steam cloud for better ironing. This feature is useful for hard-to-iron fabrics such as linen and denim.

Steam irons have a vertical streaming feature that allows you to remove wrinkles from clothing while they are hanging.

Soleplate is essential since it determines the longevity of an iron. As mentioned earlier, dry irons have a plain base whereas; steam irons come with vents. Moreover, irons have a pointy end which helps in reaching tricky corners of the clothes- cuff, collars, between buttons, and creases.

Typically there are iron soleplates that are made out of stainless steel, anodized aluminium, ceramic and non-stick materials. Out of these, stainless steel soleplates are considered best as they glide over clothing better than other materials. Overall, all the soleplates have a smooth finish for easy movement over fabrics and prevent the fabric from the burn.

It will help if you look for safety features while buying an iron such as thermal fuse, providing overheat safety protection or auto shut-off.

Auto shut-off feature, as the name goes, shut off the iron automatically. If iron is on for a long time and it is entirely heated, chances are you might have forgotten to switch it off. In such a case, it will turn off automatically protecting your clothes from burning or saving you from a severe accident.

Temperature setting is a must, and both dry and steam iron have it. In fact, advanced steam irons have a steam control feature as well which let you set the steam amount required to produce for a particular garment. 

A dry iron having all the necessary features will cost you around ₹500, whereas, steam iron can be anywhere between ₹1000 to ₹1500.

Put your money in a steam iron that can give a high level of steam output. Usually, a steam iron can produce the required amount of steam every minute according to its capacity. The amount of steam produced is measured in grams per minute. There are steam irons that can make more than 200 grams of steam per minute.

Steam vents are part of the steam iron, and it is an essential feature to consider. The soleplate of a steam iron is embedded with 16-46 steam vents to release when required. More number of steam vents mean more steam production and distribution. In addition to this, some irons come with a spray valve and a push-button placed on the nose of the iron which produces a fine mist providing extra dampness.

Iron usually takes 2-3 minutes to heat up, and it varies according to the wattage as more wattage means quick heating.

The Anti-calcium feature is associated with a steam iron, and it works on simple science. When the water turns to vapour, the CaCo3 in the water reacts with the heat applied and forms lime residues. This byproduct deposits build up inside the water tank and even clog the steam vents which can ultimately damage the appliance. To protect against this, the self-clean anti-calc feature automatically cleans the tank from inside and reduce your workload.

Steam iron users often faced this issue- water droplets dripping from a steam iron. The anti-drip feature ensures there is no dripping or slippage of water even when it is full.

Last but definitely not least, the handle of iron should be smooth and comfortable to hold. Modern irons that come with an anti-slip grip are more comfortable than others.

Dry iron comes with pretty basic and limited features. Steam irons come with advanced features like self-cleaning, steam triggers and LED displaying the current temperature setting while ironing clothes.

Yes. You can buy steam iron with textile and soft textile protectors as these features allow you to iron even the most delicate garments on high-temperature settings with full steam performance.

Whether you have dry iron or steam iron, spray water directly on the fabric to get rid of these wrinkles.

Yes. Small and thin scratches don’t impact the ironing result.

If you have not used your iron for a long time, use it over the sink to get rid of residue that could stain your laundry.

If you want to lessen your workload, then steam iron is better as it has a spray mist option which moists the clothes and smoothly removes even stubborn wrinkles. If you choose dry iron, you need to spray water on your own.

Keep the water tank empty and choose no steam mode function to turn your steam iron into dry iron.

Don't use distilled or chemical water. You can fill the water tank with regular tap water.

A regular user must be having an idea of how much water will be required to iron your daily lot, and you can fill the tank accordingly. Otherwise, throw the remaining water once ironing is done as water changes into hard water which is not suitable for your appliance.

Empty the water tank and keep the iron in a vertical position.

Usually, a temperature lower than two is ideal for most types of garments. You can use an iron at a further lower temperature to avoid bright patches on silk and black clothes.

After cleaning the anti-calc valve, if calc particles are still coming out of the soleplate, that is when you need to clean the steam chamber as well.

Decalcifying a steam iron depends entirely on the type of water and the intensity of use of your steam iron.

There could be three reasons that no steam is coming out of the steam vents.

1. Possibly the temperature setting is too low, and steam is being produced.

2. The steam regulator is set to zero.

3. The water tank is empty or almost empty.

4. It’s time to clean the heating block as it might have calcified.

No, there is nothing wrong with your iron. The soft click sound probably comes from the working thermostat on your temperature settings.

You may notice a little bit of odour and smoke when you use your iron for the first time. No worries. This is the result of the engineering residues burning off. It will disappear in no time.

There could be several reasons behind a soleplate is giving off yellowish colour.

1. You are filling the water tank with distilled or chemical water.

2. Check if you have used a starch kind of product on your laundry.

3. Fibres from clothes have been trapped in the vents of the steam iron and have become carbonized.

4. The clothes are not properly rinsed, or you have ironed a new fabric before washing it.

5. It’s been a long time that you have cleaned the soleplate.

To avoid this, always set your iron on ‘No Steam’ mode and then fill the water tank.

If you are ironing a new cloth and you are not sure about its fabric, use the lowest temperature first and test by ironing the garment inside out.

Yes. Fabrics such as silk, wool, polyester, nylon, acetate, acrylic should be ironed either using dry iron or using ‘no steam’ mode in case of the steam iron.

• Empty the water, if any.

• Remove the valve while holding it by the top.

• Immerse the valve in vinegar or lemon juice for around four hours to decalcify the anti-calc valve.

• Thoroughly rinse the anti-calc valve using tap water.

• Place it back in its position.

1. Fill up the water tank completely.

2. Heat the iron at maximum temperature and keep it in the vertical position.

3. Unplug the iron from the main power supply.

4. Hold the steam iron in a horizontal position over a sink. Turn the steam regulator to “anti-calc”. The button will release the water completely from the tank and will rinse the water through the heating block of the iron. All residue, including calc, will be out through the soleplate.

5. Repeat the procedure around three times, if required.

6. Side by side put the steam regulator in vinegar, natural lemon juice or citrus acid. Use tap water to remove calc and residues.

Caution: When the steam regulator is turned clockwise, hot water and steam come out.

• Mix baking soda in normal water and rub this on the soleplate using a soft brush or towel. Later, wash the plate with tap water. Dry the iron before using it.

• Heat the iron at the highest temperature setting. Soak the cotton ball with acetone nail polish remover and clean the plate.

• Take a non-scratch kitchen sponge, dip it in soapy water and scrub the iron’s surface to clean it. Wipe it using a clean and dry towel.

• Dampen a towel with distilled white vinegar and clean the iron’s soleplate with it. If still any residue is left, then soak a clean towel in distilled vinegar and lay the cool iron soleplate on the towel. Soak it for half an hour, then wipe away dry. 

• Place your iron on its heel rest.

• Avoid ironing over abrasive items such as buttons and zip.

• Never use abrasive or metallic pads to clean the soleplate.

Steam Iron

• Always empty the tank, close the steam control, set the thermostat to the minimum and stand the iron upright.

• Refer to the instruction manual then use the auto-clean feature.

• Don’t fill the water tank with hard water instead use untreated tap water and distilled water in equal proportion. Always use untreated water.

Both types of iron

• Use a soft damp cloth and not cleaners or solvents to wipe your iron.

• Don’t place an iron on sharp objects such as zip fasteners and buttons.

• Never put your iron down flat on rough surfaces.

If you are looking for a top iron and its type (dry or steam) is not a matter of concern, then our comparison winner should be the one in your cart.

The Orpat OEI 187 has all the primary features of an iron and does its job impeccably. The ergonomic design of the iron gives you a firm and comfortable grip, whereas its lightweight ensures you can hold it for a long time if required.

The control knob at the centre of the dry iron allows you to set the temperature and right next to it is the power indicator. Due to the higher wattage of 1200, the iron gets heat up instantly, and the pointed design in the front helps you iron even the narrow and tricky areas of your garment.

Orpat dry iron has German grade non-stick coated soleplate which glides smoothly over different types of fabrics. For easy and tangle-free ironing, the brand’s iron has silk braided, 180° swivel cord.

Orpat has taken safety into consideration. Therefore, the iron comes with overheat safety protection and a shock-proof plastic body.

Philips GC1905 might have been ranked second overall, but if you are determined to buy steam iron, this should be your pick. It is a reasonably priced steam iron with all the necessary features and decent performance.

The white and pure blue colour cloth iron comes with one of the best feature - added spray. This fine spray moistens the fabric and helps you get rid of even the most stubborn wrinkles and deep creases. It spews out 13g/minute of steam, and the aluminium soleplate ensures easy & non-stick ironing on all fabrics. The soleplate has been carefully designed, distributing the moisture equally. Further, its pointed tip makes it easier to iron the creases between pleats, buttons, and collars.

The variable steam selecting features is an intelligent function as that lets you choose the amount of moisture you need for any fabric type. Its water tank capacity is quite impressive at 180ml. Although it lacks an anti-drip feature and therefore, you need to keep the iron in the vertical position after every use. Calc clean technology has been used to lessen your burden.

The power cord comes with an ideal size of 1.8 metres and ensures hassle-free movement of the iron. Further, the Philips steam iron comes with a two years warranty period.

Under the budget-friendly bracket, Bajaj DX 7 offers a lightweight and high-quality dry iron that removes the toughest creases with ease. It has a super clean finish with pleasant aesthetics and a comfortable handle to give you a firm grip over it.

Customer’s safety is Baja’s priority which has been taken care of with thermal fuse. Once the upper threshold of the fabric’s temperature is attained, the supply gets shut-off automatically. Furthermore, the power-on indicator flashes a light when the iron is on, and the smartly designed double indicator system ensures additional safety and convenience. In the case of the fully heated non-stick soleplate, the gleaming light is red, and when the desired temperature is reached, a green light glows.

With a temperature control knob, you can select the temperature as per your fabric and thereby, making this iron suitable for most types of cloth fabrics- nylon, polyester, silk, wool, cotton, linen.

Morphy Richards is a renowned name, especially in Indian kitchens. Its dry iron is the right choice for those who are looking for a super lightweight option. With 1000 wattage power and an American heritage non-stick coated soleplate, it is fourth on our list.

Its shock-proof plastic body is aesthetically designed. There is a floral design on the white colour body, and the wooden pattern handle has a reddish colour tone. Besides the unique design, it offers all the essential feature that you need in an iron- non-stick soleplate, temperature control knob, neon light indicator, swivel cord and two years product warranty.

Solimo from Amazon is the most affordable iron on our list, and yes, it can be bought for daily ironing purpose.

The soleplate is non-stick coated. It is designed in a manner, ensuring it suits all types of fabric, reaches even the trickiest areas and distributes the heat evenly. It is equipped with a thermal fuse for overheating protection, thereby protecting the device and giving it a longer life. Its ergonomic design and lightweight body let you handle it with ease.

The all-round swivel cord reduces the strain on your wrist at the time of ironing and makes it simpler for you to detangle the cord before use. Additionally, its dual light indicator in a single LED keeps you alert and save your clothes from damage.

If you are a fan of precision ironing and time is essential for you then INALSA Steam Iron Geyser should be your choice.

The steam iron comes with 2000 wattage power that heats up the iron in no time. Its titanium coated heavy soleplate evenly distributes the steam in order to reduce repetitive strokes. For a long-lasting crease-free outcome, it spews out 22g/minute of steam that can even be elevated to 160 g/min steam boost for tough creases. Furthermore, the iron’s tip consists of 12 steam vents, and the sides have 16 steam holes. For extra dampness, you can spray excess steam using a steam vent present on the nose.

You can smoothly control the temperature using the temperature control knob and this, in turn, decides the quantity of steam required to iron out the wrinkles on the cloth. The tank can accommodate 300 ml of water which is pretty huge for a 1.3 kg device.

The steam iron is a bit higher on the range, and features like the anti-drip, anti-calc self-clean, vertical steam press, automatic shut-off, and steam burst justify the price.

The steam iron from Black+Decker promises high-performance delivery, convenience, and durability. It is last on our list due to its price and weight as both are heavy. Moreover, it offers more than necessary feature which may not be required by everyone such as cordless function.

We really admire its green colour and ergonomic design. The small vents on the ceramic coated soleplate do their job well of even distribution of the steam. It disperses 30g/ min steam for regular fabrics and a steam boost of up to 100g/min for tough fabrics. The steam bursting function is best for removing the stubborn creases while the additional spray provides extra dampness to even out the wrinkles.

The iron has a whopping 350ml water tank which successfully produces a consistent amount of steam without needing regular replenishment. Do not worry about water leakage just in case the steam level is not reached as it has an anti-drip feature. Also, its self-cleaning feature makes it a favourite for those who are short on time.