Pros and cons of steamglide iron soles
Why did such irons gain popularity?
Pros:
- Allows you to smooth out wrinkles without effort,
- Steam is distributed evenly thanks to the shape and number of holes,
- The coating becomes smoother over time and will not deform,
- Unlike a ceramic sole, the sole of a steamglide iron does not scratch on buttons and other fittings and is lighter,
- Irons with such soles are much lighter than devices with stainless steel or Teflon soles.
- The iron has a built-in scale container that implements a self-cleaning function.
- Service life is almost 4 times longer than other models,
- Affordable price.
Minuses:
- The only drawback is fragility. If the device falls from the ironing board, the soleplate may crack and you will have to buy a new iron.
Examples of irons with Steamglide soles
Philips has already released many models of irons using its innovative technology. Let's get acquainted with the most popular of them.
Philips GC4541/20 Azur
Philips GC4541/20 Azur has a Steamglide Plus sole. The model is equipped with a continuous steam function, a drip-stop system, a vertical steamer and a steam boost function. Steam supply power - 45 g/min. Buyers pay attention to the convenience of this iron. The body is designed in such a way that the device fits very comfortably in the hand. The cord does not get tangled when ironing. The cost of an iron starts from 5,000 rubles.
Sharp spout, comfortable long cord. Heats up quickly and glides easily. The steam blast is so powerful that it seems to smooth out absolutely everything. It’s interesting that they decided on the possibility of descaling, you simply remove the container, remove the scale and that’s it, you can continue ironing without problems. Water tank, everything is thought out. An ideal helper in the household. I recommend.
Philips GC4541/20 Azur is a powerful steam iron with a Steamglide plus soleplate.
However, there are reviews from customers who are not entirely satisfied with this iron. As a rule, dissatisfaction is associated with the quality of ironing of natural cotton and linen, which, as is known, are generally difficult to iron. Therefore, you should not expect a miracle from this device - in order to perfectly iron cotton items, you still have to work hard.
Philips GC3581/30 SmoothCare
The model is a more budget version of the Azur line. The Steamglide sole is made of ceramic. The steam supply power is slightly lower than that of models in the Azur line - 40 g/min. The iron has a standard set of functions: a self-cleaning system, constant steam supply, steam boost and drop-stop technology. Consumers pay attention to the short cord as the main disadvantage of the device. There is also a problem common to most steam irons - rapid water consumption. This drawback is understandable - the Stemglide concept itself implies a fairly large consumption of water, which is spent on creating a “steam cushion”. The user will have to replenish the tank regularly to ensure quick and efficient ironing. The cost of an iron starts from 3,500 rubles.
Great iron. Comfortable, great ironing. The only downside is that the cord is short.
Philips GC3581/30 SmoothCare - budget and affordable steam iron with smooth sole
Philips GC2990/20 PowerLife
This iron is economical not only in terms of its own cost, but also in terms of energy consumption. The model, like other Philips steam irons, is equipped with a steam boost function, vertical steaming, and constant steam supply. To extend the service life of the household appliance, it is equipped with a self-cleaning and anti-scale function. Steam supply power - up to 40 g/min. The cost starts from 2,500 rubles.
For this money the iron is simply excellent. Glides perfectly, powerful steam, and also does not leak. I also liked the large hole for pouring water, plus the wire does not get tangled.
GC2990/20 PowerLife - economical and inexpensive iron from Philips
Some customers note a significant difference in the quality and efficiency of the iron compared to more expensive models from Philips and other manufacturers. Among the disadvantages of the device listed in the reviews are poor and unreliable assembly of the equipment, weak heating of the sole, and low efficiency.
Philips GC3811/77 Azur Performer
Philips GC3811/77 Azur Performer is a powerful and lightweight iron. It weighs just over one kilogram and has a steam output of up to 45 g/min. Like other irons in this line, it has all the necessary functions: vertical steam, “drop-stop”, steam boost, constant steam supply, anti-scale protection and a self-cleaning system. The cost of the model starts from 4,000 rubles.
Philips GC3811/77 Azur Performer is an affordable and powerful iron that gets the job done well
Buyers often note the short length of the cord as a disadvantage.
Before purchasing, be sure to measure the cord of your old iron or, if you don’t have one, simply use a measuring tape attached to the socket body to simulate ironing. Mark what length of cord is comfortable for you. If two meters is not enough for you, then you should choose a different iron.
It has a narrow sole (allows you to iron it under a button), a pleasant surface, and is easy to clean. I ironed the linen tablecloth with pleasure! It fits nicely in the hand, not heavy, and not very light - which is also not unimportant. Looks reliable.
The Steamglide sole is a modern and easy-to-use design. Fortunately, the production of such irons is quite cheap, so Philips offers customers affordable equipment with introduced innovations.
- Author: Lina Sergeeva
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What is Steamglide
The soleplate of the Steamglide iron was invented by engineers from the Dutch manufacturer of household appliances Philips. According to the company, the new development has the following advantages over conventional (for example, Teflon or aluminum) soles:
- glides easily on any type of fabric;
- practically does not touch the fabric - ironing occurs due to the constant supply of a large amount of steam;
- Thanks to numerous holes of different shapes for supplying steam, the ironing process becomes simple and effective, without requiring much physical effort.
There is also an update to this technology called Steamglide plus. What is the difference between the two developments? Steamglide plus, in addition to all the advantages of the original version, also has a special fabric tension zone. The steam holes are optimized for faster and easier ironing.
Outsole and cover material
The main material of the Steamglide and Steamglide plus sole is alloy steel. It has high strength and, unlike aluminum, is less susceptible to deformation over time, and also has a more favorable price for the manufacturer.
This allows the company to innovate while remaining accessible to most customers.
Steamglide coating can be made of glass-ceramic or metal-ceramic. This material provides the smoothness that an iron needs to glide effortlessly across fabric. In addition, glass and metal ceramics are durable and heat-resistant materials that will not crack over time.
Sole shape
The shape of the Steamglide sole is designed to facilitate movement on fabric.
The sharp and narrow spout is designed for smoothing out small parts. The longitudinal grooves around the holes in the sole are kind of guides that help move the iron in the chosen direction.
Grooves around the steam holes make it easier for the iron to glide across fabric.
When developing Steamglide plus technology, engineers went further and created a sole that is able to move forward almost independently. The user can only hold the iron and direct its movement. This was possible thanks to improved longitudinal groove technology, as well as a change in the direction of steam supply. In Steamglde plus type soles, steam is not supplied straight down, but at an angle, backwards. This pushes the iron forward and makes it easier to slide.
Shape and number of holes on the sole
One of the main secrets of Steamglide is the large number of steam holes. They differ in shape and size. The largest part of the hot air passes through the largest ones. Small holes are designed to supply steam under high pressure. This creates a steam cushion effect that allows the iron to smooth the fabric without touching it.
This property is the main calling card of irons with Steamglide soles.
The holes on the Steamglide sole vary in diameter and shape
Operational life
The service life, as is the case with many household appliances, is not regulated by the manufacturer. However, Philips offers a two-year international warranty on irons with Steamglide soleplates.
According to customer reviews and company assurances, the service life of Steamglide and Steamglide plus is significantly longer than that of models with conventional aluminum or Teflon soles. The surface does not crack or deform over time. This means that the iron remains smooth and glides easily over fabric for several years.
On the boxes of many Steamglide irons, the manufacturer draws attention to the increased service life
On the boxes of irons with Steamglide and Steamglide plus technology you can find markings indicating that such an iron will last up to four times longer than a “regular” one. However, this parameter is too individual and difficult to check.
Drop-stop technology
A special Philips development called “drip-stop” is a technology that avoids drips when using the iron at low temperatures. It is implemented in almost all devices with Steamglide and Steamglide plus soleplates.
Drip-stop technology is marked on boxes as a crossed out image of an iron with drops flowing out of it
You may have previously encountered this problem when using steam irons. When heating temperatures are set low enough, the water does not convert into steam, but simply flows out of the steam holes. This leaves unsightly marks and drips on clothes. “Drip-stop” is a water supply control system. When the iron cools down, the supply of water to create steam simply stops.
