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The 11 best steam irons, tested at home for wrinkle-free clothes
Reviewed by Rachael Sharpe
The Polti Vaporella Quick Q100 is easy on the eye and feels good in the hand, too. Polti claims that it makes ironing effortless and while there’s always some work involved, this traditional, well-priced iron is certainly easy to use and removes creases quickly.
Its 300ml water tank is quick to fill from the tap, and if you’re ironing a big load, you can refill it using the included jug. The temperature dial is well-placed, but it only has min/max markings, which could be confusing for ironing newbies who’d benefit from having fabric types marked out.
The Quick Q100 heats from cold in 40 seconds and can be used to iron with or without steam – you just set your desired level via the switch on the handle. To get through your pile quickly, the steam boost function, actioned via an unmissable blue button on the handle, gives a generous amount of steam. Using it, I was able to de-crease my shirts and sheets with ease.
On the other side of the dial is the Quick Q100’s eco mode, which is said to use 25 per cent less electricity and 37 per cent less water. This setting was sufficient for about 80 per cent of my ironing, so I’d say it’s well worth using.
A self clean indicator light on the digital display lights up when the iron needs maintenance to prevent limescale, which is very handy indeed. Safety has also been considered – the Quick Q100 will automatically switch off after 30 seconds lying down horizontally or after eight minutes upright, if unused.
I found that the Polti Vaporella Quick Q100 could glide easily across a comprehensive range of fabrics, from linen to synthetics, and its steam distribution was impressively even. It looks, feels and performs like it should cost more than it does.
Key specifications
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Cord length: 1.9m
- Power: 2,400W
- Capacity: 300ml
