To the test

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...

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.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. 7/10There are loads of different types of closet organizers, from adjustable ones for reach-in closets, to larger units designed to make sense of the chaos that's all too often found in big walk-in closets. Many come with several tiers of hanging rods for storing garments of differing sorts and sizes. Shelves are useful for keeping folded garments neat and within easy reach. Other useful accessories when it comes to organizing closet space include plastic storage bags for protecting rarely-worn or out-of-season clothes from dust, damp and insects, and various types of shoe racks. Something as simple as a shoe rack attached to your closet door, or a shoe cubby, can make all the difference. You need never waste time searching for that missing shoe again!Breville VIN210 digital steam iron, pounds 29.99 (www.homebase.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. 6/10Morphy Richards 40668 steam shot iron, pounds 24.99 (www.comet.co.uk)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. 6/10Tefal FV2460 Simply Store iron, pounds 29.97 (www.sainsburys.co.uk)Philips GC2840 steam iron, pounds 34.97 (www.tesco.com)

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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