Steamglide plus iron soleplate reviews. Which iron coating is considered the best: stainless steel, cermet or ceramic. Steamglide plus - what is it

When buying an iron, pay attention to the soleplate. She comes into contact with clothing and protects it. We will figure out which iron soleplate is considered the best and will last longer.

If the work surface is of poor quality, the rest of the functions lose their meaning. The bottom must be strong and resistant to mechanical stress.

A number of basic requirements for the working surface:

1. Glides easily. Friction with the fabric should be minimal. Effortless movement through the material.
2. Caring attitude. Delicate smoothing of wrinkles on clothes, without overheating it and without leaving creases or hooks.
3. Smooth heating. The working plane should be heated evenly over the entire area, smoothing the material the first time.
4. Reliability and safety. The device is in contact not only with the fabric, but also with accessories in the form of buttons, locks and metal parts. The sole must be resistant to damage.
5. Easy to care for. Plaque from burnt fibers is rarely formed. In this case, clean it up as soon as possible.

Better cope with the work of iron coatings that do not spoil expensive clothes.

Types of coatings

To determine which iron soleplate is best, consider the materials from which it is made.

Aluminum

After cast iron, aluminum coatings appeared first. They were distinguished by their low price and ease of handling.

• smooth plane;
• light weight;
• quickly heats up and cools down;
• is cheap.

• due to rapid heating, the sole undergoes deformation, glossy areas form on the linen;
• ironing clothes with such a device is possible only through additional fabric, or gauze;
• buttons and zippers leave scratches that cling to the fabric and spoil the material;
• soot appears in the damage and dirt lingers, which leads to poor sliding;
• an incorrectly selected mode can burn through clothes.

Given the shortcomings, manufacturers began to cover aluminum with an oxide film. The anodized layer has been heat treated, it glides better and does not stick. For example, the Azur Excel plus model. To improve the quality, the aluminum plane was covered with ceramics. The weight of the device does not change, and the service life is extended.

Braun introduced the Eloxal coating. It is based on aluminum oxidized by electrolytes. It deforms less when heated.

Stainless steel combinations

The main advantage of a stainless steel product is durability. Even when heated to the maximum temperature, deformation is not terrible for him.

• durability;
• easy slip;
• smooth plane;
• not afraid of mechanical damage in the form of accessories;
• not subject to corrosion;
• affordable price;
• smoothes well.

• long heating and cooling time;
• great weight.

Appliances with a stainless steel base are the best-selling ones. This is facilitated by the average price and reliability. Given consumer demand, scientists have improved strength through additives.

Nickel and chromium were added to the alloy. This improved the appearance and increased the corrosion resistance of the platform. The nickel-plated surface has a golden hue, while the chrome gives a bluish color. For example, Inox glissee from Bosch.

The strength of the stainless steel base is given by a coating of crystal sapphire powder. Not a gem, but a mineral obtained synthetically. The sole processed by him is not afraid of metal rivets and zippers on clothes. The best in terms of strength with such a platform is Braun's Saphir.

Stainless steel base coated with T-ionicGlide titanium oxide to resist scratches.

Metal ceramics and ceramics

The advantages of this material were appreciated by companies: Tefal, Siemens, Philips and others. Irons with cermet soles became popular immediately after they appeared on the market.

• smooth surface: glides over the fabric more easily, providing high quality ironing;
• simply cleared of soot;
• low cost;
• delicate effect on clothes;
• uniform heating;
• convenience and ease of use.

The disadvantage of ceramic coating is its fragility. A chip from a button or a metal zipper may occur on the surface. Because of this, cracks and delaminations appear.

Ceramics are used in combination with metals and their alloys. The cermet base is suitable for high temperature ironing. It can be found on irons of firms: Tefal - Durilium, ultragliss diffusion; Braun - ceramic-jet; Bosch - palladium glissee.

Philips has released the Steamglide coating, which is distinguished by its durability. It is made on the basis of glass ceramics. The iron is lighter, with smooth sliding.

Teflon base

Teflon does not burn, nothing sticks to it and it is light. But when interacting with metal, scratches may appear.

• does not burn;
• easy slip;
• ease of care.

• the sole is easy to scratch;
• can not be placed on a metal stand to cool, so as not to damage the base.

Titanium based coatings

Titanium is famous for its strength and durability - it is used in the construction of space rockets.

• strength;
• easy slip;
• non-stick properties;
• uniform heating;
• reliability and durability.

• great weight;
• warms up for a long time;
• high price.

The disadvantages do not matter compared to the high quality of titanium.

Enamel Granit glisse

He is not afraid of any damage and blows. Easily glides over clothes, smoothing out all the wrinkles. The disadvantage of enamel is its fragility. With active use, strength is lost.

Tefal has released an iron with the autoclean catalys function - the ability to self-clean. Dirt is not deposited and is removed by a chemical reaction.

New development, Simplepro iron surface. Non-stick, suitable for all fabrics.

Form features and number of holes

When choosing an iron, pay attention to its shape. The optimal shape of the device will facilitate the ironing process.

Form features:

• Button groove - a thin edge of the base for ironing the fabric under the buttons.
• A pointed nose will smooth out frills and collars.
• The rounded back part does not crumple the fabric when moving back.
• For normal steaming, the soleplate must have at least 50 holes.

When buying it is worth considering

A universal option for the active use of the iron - models with interchangeable soles. The type of base is selected for each material. A large surface, for example, is suitable for ironing bed linen and curtains.

Stainless steel covers are suitable for those who rarely iron. If you care about the safety of your clothes, consider ceramic-metal or titanium coating.

Many are interested in the question of what is the steamglide soleplate. Today this problem will be carefully analyzed, and it will become clear to everyone what steamglide is.

The most important criterion when choosing a technique is the material from which it is made. When considering an ironing machine, the consumer is completely confused, as the modern market provides countless different options. Such a problem requires the intervention of people who understand this.

The main parameter is considered to be the type of material from which the sole is made. It determines how well the iron will glide over the material and how it will iron the item. Sometimes one movement is enough to eliminate wrinkles and irregularities, in other cases several.

Other functions have the same meaning as above. The wider the functionality, the more convenient it is to iron the fabric. However, the larger it is, the higher the cost of the product. The outsole is part of the basic equipment, therefore, it requires more detailed consideration.

The innovative approach of modern manufacturers has made it possible to create several basic types - steamglide and Eloxal.

steamglide features

The soleplate of the steamglide iron has become widespread thanks to Philips. It offers its customers state-of-the-art surface coating technology. Distinctive features of innovation is resistance to wear and external damage. Such soles fit perfectly into the already established product line.

The most common sole coating option is alloy steel. It is this that contributes to the maximum increase in the service life and wear resistance. The soleplate of the steamglide plus is made of metal-ceramic and glass-ceramic. The material is determined depending on the functional purpose.

What is this sole

The sole has many holes of various diameters. With their help, it is possible to create a steamy air sole, with the effect of which the softness of the slide is ensured.

The manufacturer Philips continues to delight its customers with high quality equipment for many years. Simplicity and durability of use are the main principles of the manufacturer.

The second, no less popular option is the Eloxal sole. Brown offers a similar iron soleplate solution. It is distinguished by high strength and resistance to mechanical damage of various nature. The aluminum base of the sole will prevent scratches. A feature is that when used, the material is oxidized by electrolytes. This innovation allowed us to stay in the low price segment, but significantly change the quality offered.

The Eloxal system avoids the appearance of corrosion due to the strength, which is taken from ceramics, and a Teflon base. Ironing things with such irons is easy and relaxed, since aluminum is quite light.

Sapphire powder acts as a coating. With it, it is possible to achieve maximum smoothness and raise the strength characteristics to a new level.

Also, this solution is similar in cost to its counterparts. The manufacturer has created a unique engineering solution for the profile, making it unique and keeping the cost low compared to similar devices.

Which sole material is better

It is also difficult for the consumer to determine which material is the best. There are not many of them in the modern world. The most common solutions are listed below:

• aluminum. A classic version of a material that has proven its strength over many years of use;
• stainless steel. Stainless steel is used in most irons. The most suitable variety for the average consumer who does not require incredible quality;
• teflon. Compared to the metals described above, it is narrowly distributed on the market. Reduces the likelihood of sticking to the surface of the linen and does not have a sharp impact that can damage the fibers;
• ceramics. Irons with such a sole are among the highest quality. They easily slide over the surface due to the smoothness of the surface;
• titanium. It is absolutely resistant to mechanical damage. The highest quality material available today. It has no disadvantages other than high cost.

The above characteristics will allow you to decide on the type of iron, which will make its use long and enjoyable. The modern industry has billions of models of various types of equipment. It is simply impossible for an ordinary consumer to understand this abundance. To choose a device for domestic use, you need to at least know what indicator to rely on when choosing. The information that was presented today will allow you to navigate in an area that is difficult for an ordinary person, and not to waste your personal money.

Rostislav Kuzmin

I am glad to welcome you, dear friends, on the pages of my blog! We began to understand irons - such familiar and indispensable helpers in everyday life. When choosing such a seemingly simple technique, you first need to find out which iron sole is better. Although it is hardly possible to answer unequivocally here, since each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.

For all materials and coatings that improve them, they have the same requirements:

• fast and uniform heating;
• light weight;
• ease of sliding;
• inertness to any kind of fabric (it is unacceptable for a hot surface to stick to silk);
• resistance to mechanical stress (for example, in contact with metal buttons or zippers);
• ease of care.

However, all meet these requirements to varying degrees. To begin with, we will consider what material is used to make the soleplate of modern irons, and then we will move on to popular patented types of coating. By the way, today manufacturers do not use this or that material in its pure form, as a rule, the surface in contact with the fabric has some kind of sputtering or fine processing.

Overview of soleplate materials

The cheapest material with a long history of use is aluminum.

It has a number of important advantages:

1. lightness, facilitating the entire process of ironing;
2. good thermal conductivity, allowing you to quickly and evenly heat up; low friction;
3. fast heat dissipation, providing instant cooling of the sole after work;
4. low material cost, making the technique more affordable.

At the same time, aluminum has serious disadvantages:

However, most of the shortcomings of aluminum in modern irons have been eliminated through the use of innovative technologies (anodizing (soles with a golden tint) and special coatings).

Another well-known material is stainless steel. It is characterized by high strength and durability. The sole made of steel easily glides over any fabric and is quickly cleaned of dirt, heating occurs evenly, but somewhat longer than that of aluminum. Notable drawbacks include high weight, although it is thanks to it that the steel sole copes with deep folds better. And yet "stainless steel" is not an ideal material, therefore, to improve such qualities as slip, scratch resistance and vaporization ability (depending on the number and size of holes), manufacturers use chromium plating, enamel or titanium coating, sapphire sputtering.

A more modern coating material in household appliances is ceramics. The ceramic sole has an ultra-light glide and a low weight comparable to aluminum. At the same time, the process of ironing turns into a pleasant experience, and cleaning the surface does not take much time (just wipe it with a damp soft sponge). In addition, ceramic coating has high aesthetic performance and stylish design. However, if you ask yourself the question “Which is better: ceramics or stainless steel?”, then you will not find a definite answer. An indicator by which ceramics is significantly inferior to steel is strength. This is a very fragile material that requires delicate handling.

The best characteristics are soles coated with ceramic-metal. This material retained all the advantages of ceramics, but acquired additional "steel" strength. One of the most popular German developments was the Palladium sole, which is a combination of ceramics and steel. It allows you to easily smooth out heavily wrinkled and overdried linen and is highly wear-resistant and durable. Bosch irons have such a sole.

Ceramics or cermets are present in irons of medium and high price categories. Additional processing and spraying significantly increase the cost of equipment, but add comfort to the ironing process.

In addition to ceramic and cermet, they use a Teflon coating, which does not give chips and provides high non-stick protection, but still requires delicate handling. What to choose, ceramics or teflon, everyone decides for himself, depending on personal priorities. Some people care about looks, while others focus on cost.

Innovative coatings with improved performance

From the above, one important conclusion can be drawn: there is no ideal material for the surface of the iron. Each has its drawbacks, so manufacturers are constantly looking for solutions to improve. Consider the best and most popular developments in the production of irons.

An innovative development of Tefal was the Ultragliss Diffusion sole, a two-layer enamel coating containing quartz, which is characterized by increased durability and perfect glide. The special structure of the sole contributes to the formation of air cushions, which facilitate the ironing process and reduce the load on the hand. The thoughtful shape of the sole allows you to effectively iron the fabric in different directions.

Philips produces irons with the SteamGlide soleplate, which has an alloy steel base and a glass-ceramic coating. High quality ironing is ensured by a variety of holes of different sizes, through which steam is supplied and the effect of "steam sliding" is created.

Rowenta Effective Comfort irons have a stainless steel Airglide INOX soleplate with a pointed nose and smooth edges for flawless ironing of children's and women's items with ruffles and flounces. A more progressive development of the company is the Microsteam self-cleaning sole, characteristic of the Autosteam, Steamium and Pro Master series. It is made of high-alloy stainless steel and has a thin nano glass coating for perfect glide and protection from scratches. In the first version, the surface of the iron was equipped with 300 micro-holes, over time this figure was increased to 400. The main advantage of this development is the even distribution of steam for easy and quick ironing of dry and heavily wrinkled linen.

Irons under the Bork brand have a heavy-duty Nanoglass sole with a titanium coating and glass coating. As a result, such irons are “not afraid” of scratches in contact with accessories on clothes and glide perfectly over the fabric. In the budget models of the same brand, there is a Magnesium sole made of an anodized aluminum and magnesium alloy. Such irons heat up quickly and are light in weight, while they are quite resistant to mechanical damage.

Many manufacturers claim that the iron has a self-cleaning function, but Tefal specialists were able to most effectively realize this dream of housewives. The autoclean Catalys technology involves the cleaning of pollution products through chemical reactions that occur in the process of ironing unnoticed by us. The outsole is coated with palladium-plated durilium. As a result of catalytic reactions, the sole remains always clean. At the same time, such an innovative coating does not lose its properties over the years.

This is not all technical developments aimed at improving the characteristics of the soleplate of the iron. Each manufacturer strives to outperform competitors and offer the consumer something qualitatively new, however, often behind beautiful and promising phrases about innovation, there is nothing more than an advertising ploy.

What is the best shape of the sole

The conversation about choosing the best iron soleplate cannot be completed without analyzing its shape and size. The larger the area of ​​​​the heated surface, the faster the iron will cope with an impressive stack of bed linen. But will it be convenient to iron with a large iron children's clothes of a complex cut or women's blouses? Here you need to either stick to some middle option, or choose depending on which things you iron more often.

With form, everything is more definite. Try to choose models with a sole, in which the shape has the following features:

You should also pay attention to the number of holes on the sole, since the uniformity of the steam treatment depends on this. On average, 70 holes are enough, but it is better if there are more than 100 of them.

I hope that after reading the article you will no longer divide irons into 2 - 3 types, if you previously thought so. In fact, the choice is very large, even if you compare only on the sole. On the other hand, it makes no sense to delve into the details too much. It is enough to choose the option that is best for your needs and know how to properly handle the selected type of coverage. After all, improper care will quickly render even a very high-quality and practical sole unusable.

We will continue to explore the world of irons in future publications. In order not to miss useful information, subscribe to updates. Thank you for your attention and your time!

See you again on my blog. Sincerely, Rostislav Kuzmin.

cool

The soleplate of an iron is one of the most important parts of this household appliance. It contacts directly with the fabric, so the appearance of ironed clothes depends on its quality. Developers of home appliances do not stand still and present us with a new type of sole called Steamglide. To evaluate it, let's look at all the characteristics and get acquainted with customer reviews.

What is Steamglide

The soleplate of the Steamglide iron was invented by the engineers of 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 over 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 the numerous holes of different shapes for steam supply, the ironing process becomes simple and effective, without requiring great 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 have been optimized for faster and easier ironing.

Outsole and cover material

The main sole material of the Steamglide and Steamglide plus 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 the majority of customers.

The Steamglide coating can be made of glass-ceramic or cermet. This material provides the smoothness that an iron needs to glide easily over fabric. In addition, glass and metal ceramics are durable and heat-resistant materials that will not crack over time.

Sole shape

The Steamglide outsole is shaped to facilitate movement over fabric. The sharp and narrow nose is designed to smooth out small details. The longitudinal grooves around the soleplate holes are a 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 over the fabric

When developing the Steamglide plus technology, engineers went further and created a sole that is able to almost independently move forward. The user can only hold the iron and direct its movement. This was possible thanks to the improvement of the technology of the longitudinal grooves, as well as a change in the direction of the steam supply. In the soles of the Steamglde plus type, steam is not supplied directly downwards, but at an angle, backwards. Thus, the iron is pushed forward and sliding is facilitated.

The 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. Most of the hot air passes through the largest. 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 hallmark of irons with Steamglide soles.

The holes on the sole of the Steamglide vary in size and shape.

Operational period

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 for irons with Steamglide soleplates.

According to customer reviews and company assurances, the operating life of Steamglide and Steamglide plus is significantly longer than models with conventional aluminum or Teflon soles. The surface does not crack or deform over time. This means that the iron retains smoothness and easy gliding over the fabric for several years.

On the boxes of many Steamglide irons, the manufacturer draws attention to the increased service life

Irons with Steamglide and Steamglide plus technology can be found on the boxes with markings indicating that such an iron will last up to four times longer than a “regular” iron. However, this parameter is too individual, and it is difficult to check it.

Drop-stop technology

Philips' special development called drip-stop is a technology that prevents drips when ironing at low temperatures. It is implemented in almost all devices with a Steamglide sole and Steamglide plus.

Drip-stop technology is marked on the boxes as a crossed out image of an iron with drops flowing out of it

You may have experienced this problem before when using steam irons. If the heating temperatures are set low enough, the water does not turn into steam, but simply flows out of the steam holes. This leaves ugly marks and drops on clothes. "Drop-stop" is a water supply control system. When the iron cools down, the water supply for the formation of steam simply stops.

Examples of irons with a Steamglide soleplate

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 has a Steamglide Plus sole. The model is equipped with a constant 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 case is designed in such a way that the device is very comfortable in the hand. The cord does not tangle when ironing. The cost of an iron starts from 5,000 rubles.

Pointy nose, comfortable long cord. Heats up quickly, slips easily. The steam boost is so powerful that it seems to smooth absolutely everything. Interestingly, we decided the possibility of descaling, just remove the container, remove the scale and that's it, you can iron on without problems. Water tank, everything is thought out. The ideal household helper. I recommend.

Alexander Girinhttps://market.yandex.ru/product-utiug-philips-gc4541–20-azur/38453307?show-uid=15411718843979768716316001&nid=54915&context=search

Philips GC4541/20 Azur - powerful steam iron with Steamglide plus soleplate

However, there are customer reviews that this iron did not quite suit. As a rule, dissatisfaction is associated with the quality of ironing natural cotton and linen, which, as you know, are difficult to iron in principle. Therefore, one should not expect a miracle from this device - in order to perfectly smooth cotton things, you still have to work hard.

Pure cotton does not debug even with steam. For me it's heavy. Doesn't always debug well. It cools down for a very long time (2 hours, specially noted), although this advantage is possible for someone.

Elenahttps://market.yandex.ru/product-utiug-philips-gc4541–20-azur/38453307/reviews?track=tabs

The model is a more budget version of the Azur line. The Steamglide outsole is made of ceramic. The steam output is slightly lower than that of the Azur models - 40 g / min. The iron has a standard set of functions: self-cleaning system, constant steam supply, steam boost and drip-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. Such a drawback is quite understandable - the very concept of Stemglide implies a fairly large consumption of water, which is spent on creating a "steam cushion". The user will have to regularly replenish the tank in order for ironing to be fast and efficient. The cost of an iron starts from 3,500 rubles.

This product has great features and design. Everything suits, but the evaporation of water from the tank is very fast.

Sniperhttps://www.philips.ru/c-p/GC3581_30/steam-iron/reviewandawards

Excellent iron. Comfortable, fits great. Minus one - the cord is short.

Olga https://www.ozon.ru/context/detail/id/138811359/?utm_content=id_138811359%7Ccatid_1133738&utm_source=cpc_yandex_market&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=spb_div_appliance&frommarket=https%3A%2F%2Fmarket.yandex.ru%2Fproduct- utiug-philips-gc3581 –30-smoothcare%2F14255752%2Freviews%3Ftrack%3Dtabs&ymclid=15411724392941563845300002

Philips GC3581/30 SmoothCare - budget and affordable steam iron with a smooth sole

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, vertical steam, constant steam function. To extend the life of the household appliance, it is equipped with a self-cleaning and anti-calc function. Steam supply power - up to 40 g/min. The cost starts from 2,500 rubles.

For the money this iron is great. It glides perfectly, powerful steam, and also does not flow. I also liked the large hole for pouring water, plus the wire does not get tangled.

Anonymoushttps://market.yandex.ru/product-utiug-philips-gc2990–20-powerlife/1727954266?show-uid=15411718843979768716316006&nid=54915&context=search

GC2990/20 PowerLife - economical and affordable iron from Philips

Some customers report a significant difference in iron quality and efficiency compared to more expensive models from Philips and other brands. Among the disadvantages of the device listed in the reviews, one can single out poor and unreliable assembly of equipment, weak heating of the sole, and low efficiency.

To begin with, all the previous Philips irons I had, both expensive and very budgetary, served for a long time and in good faith until they ‘fell the death of the brave’ (in the literal sense). And in general, I love and respect Philips technology for quality. But with this iron, it was a complete disappointment. Poor gliding of the soleplate on most fabrics. Very weak steam boost. Weak sprinkler. The temperature controller is loose. Weak heating of the soleplate of the iron, even at maximum power.

Nataliahttps://www.dns-shop.ru/product/dea2ab4430783330/utug-philips-gc299020-sinij/opinion/

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, drip-stop, steam boost, continuous steam, anti-calc and 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 does the job well

Often, buyers note the short length of the cord as a drawback.

It turned out that 2 meters of cord is not enough. I didn’t think to measure the cord on my previous old Philips iron, which served me faithfully for 10 years before leaking.

Maxim Drozdovhttps://market.yandex.ru/product-utiug-philips-gc3811–77-azur-performer/10984110/reviews?no-pda-redir=1

Before buying, be sure to measure the cord of your old iron or, if you don’t have one, simply use a centimeter tape attached to the outlet body to simulate ironing. Note how long the cord is comfortable for you. If two meters is not enough for you, then you should choose another iron.

It has a narrow sole (allows you to iron it under the button), a pleasant surface, and is easy to clean. I ironed the linen tablecloth with pleasure! It lies pleasantly in the hand, not heavy, and not very light - which is also not unimportant. Looks reliable.

Alexandra Sthttps://market.yandex.ru/product-utiug-philips-gc3811-77-azur-performer/10984110?show-uid=15411718843979768716316009&nid=54915&context=search

The Steamglide outsole is a modern and user-friendly design. Luckily, these irons are relatively cheap to make, which is why Philips offers affordable and innovative products to customers.