Hi, hope this is posted in correct forum - I guess it's a family matter. We move Lausanne on 1st aug, and need to re-buy all our White goods.
Iam cCurrently in France where all the family are telling to buy une centrale - a steam iron with a massive base full of water delivers steam under enormous pressure.
Been very spoilt that I havent needed to iron for the past 12 yrs but now need to.

Is a centrale/ steam iron worth the money -300chf?? Will it make my ironing life bliss? Will it iron clothes by itself!?

Anyone with any experience of one, pls let me know!!

I'm particular about the way my work shirts are ironed. I don't even know why.

I bought a base unit steam iron 5 years ago and would not change back now.

Makes ironing a doddle and every minute I don't spend ironing is worth the extra cost in my book.

Bought my Tefal one in the UK actually - at least 5 years ago. Would never go back to a normal steam iron - worth every penny. But remember to clean/purge limescale regularly for long-life.

My OH came home with a Tefal, and I was not happy +Chf200 for an iron, was far too expensive.
BUT, I have to admit, it makes ironing a breeze, quick, and almost effortless. The iron itself is also surprisingly light.

All the luck! and if you do find an iron which irons the clothes for you, let me know!!

Worth it

That seems quite high for a used one*. We bought a Philips steam iron station for around 200.

But they are definitely worth it if you have work shirts to do and cotton sheets. It really makes ironing so much easier and faster.

ETA: I found a picture. We have something like this:




*ETA: Sorry. I misread. I though you were buying it from the family.

The Laurastar ironing unit is the one I have had best usability experiences with, although it will set you back significantly more than CHF 300.- so is clearly at the pricey end of the market.

Wow! That is one MO FO! I didn't even know irons like that exist.

Does it take diesel or have a turbo option?

Is the model you have small enough to store somewhere or drag from room to room? I don't have a specific place to do the ironing- just move to where I have the most light or where the kids are playing. I don't like the idea of having something permanently set up. But I hate the old iron I have now. The clothes look almost as wrinkly when I'm done as they did before I started! And I'd love to find one that's very light as I often have pain in my wrist and finger joints . Is your steam iron lighter that the old-style ones?

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www.kokoandkalila.com

Prices vary from less than CHF 100 to more than CHF 1000.

When my wife's LauraStar (ca. CHF 1000) finally died the last time, she picked up an under CHF 100 thing, been working fine.

Tom

No doubt people will start selling the 100 chf ones pretending they paid 1000, so they are a great deal at 500!

It's wicked awesome!! No diesel but it actually DOES have a turbo option. I hate ironing but this almost does it all by itself.

It even does linen quick as can be. Because I'm the only dummy who actually buys linen bedding. I put that set in the guest room though. So no one can actually visit. :P

Wait, you found an iron that pretty much does the ironing by itself? Ok,I'm in!!!

Ha ha... and I just made a joke the other day, saying that something was about as fun as trying to iron a pair of linen pants.

Linen SHEETS, though? WOW!

I wish I had an iron that could do linen so well, but my husband would probably make me sell a kidney for it.

Well they are more bulky but I move mine around like you. And of course take a bit more storage space. But the iron itself it very light, as the water/steam container is the heavy part. Wonderful- especially if you like cotton sheets and cotton/linen clothes.

And it doesn't burn if you leave the face on the clothes/ironing board! No shiny fabrics. I'm telling you, this is as close as you'll get.

Yeah. It looked like a good idea when I bought them. Not so much in real life.

Anyway, you have two kidneys right? :P

Highly recommend the Tefal models. They really work.

Shop around and you will get CHF 100 or more off the official prices (see toppreise.ch)

Link: http://www.fr.tefal.ch/All+Products/...EAN+GV8461.htm

Most important for a steam iron is that they heat up fast and that the steam pressure is generated quickly.

plug it in, turn it on and it should be hot and running and shooting high pressure steam within 3 minutes.

Simple answer without reading the rest of the replies -
1. Yes, these are fabulous, definitely worth having
2. No, it's not worth spending 300chf on one. Major brand models at around eu100 (in France) are perfectly good for home use.

HTH

Being a bit posh don'cha know mrs. and I have a cleaning lady that does our ironing, but on those rare saturday nights that we go out and I have to iron a spare pair of knickers our Tefal steam iron is just the pants.

rather.