NOWADAYS irons boast anti-drip, anti-calc, self-cleaning functions but in the end what you want is clean, crease-free clothes. Francesca Cookney goes back to basics with these five...
Philips GC2840 steam iron, pounds 34.97 (www.tesco.com)
IT is self-cleaning and anti-drip but still managed to dribble on my laundry. Performance is decent on everything from polyester to linen, though the spray and steamshot buttons are a little clunky. No jug means you have to fill it from the tap, which is far from ideal. 6/10
Tefal FV2460 Simply Store iron, pounds 29.97 (www.sainsburys.co.uk)
IT has a heat-proof storage shoe that means you don't have to wait for it to cool before putting away. But it's not very smooth and gave the worst performance on m y c o t t o n sheets. The m a n u a l ' s p i c t o r i a l instructions are confusing rather than instructive. 6/10
Lakeland steam iron, pounds 39.99 (www.lakeland.co.uk)
THE stainless steel plate is smooth but it tended to flatten rather than remove creases. The angled water spout is surprisingly convenient. 7/10
The spray button is a bit weak and it was the heaviest I tested, but a three-metre cord makes i r o n i n g i n front of the telly a doddle.
Morphy Richards 40668 steam shot iron, pounds 24.99 (www.comet.co.uk)
IT takes a while to heat up but the ceramic plate gave good results on wool and synthetics, though no match for my thick cotton bedlinen. Auto-shut off is available on some models but the burning smell after two minutes left face down s u g g e s t e d mine was not one of these. 7/10
Breville VIN210 digital steam iron, pounds 29.99 (www.homebase.co.uk)
THE ceramic plate heated up in seconds and it was by far the lightest and smoothest. It shuts off automatically after 30 seconds if face-down and 15 minutes if upright - a lifesaver if you iron a shirt t h e n d a s h straight out. Dark plastic made it hard to see the water level. 9/10
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