If you are looking for a solid, easy-to-use, high-performance iron for a budget price, I can wholeheartedly recommend the Powersteam Ultra. We know that our Mumsnet users are the real experts when it comes to laundry so, as always, we began by consulting our forums to see which steam irons parents loved and which they, well, didn't. Expert opinion The soleplate is large and smooth, and there’s even a texture brush attachment to remove any debris before ironing. Our only slight criticisms are that there’s no built-in de-calc facility – so, depending on how hard your water is, you’ll need to buy and use a descaler from time to time – and the iron is heavier than many others.

The Tefal Ultraglide+ promises to provide excellent results every time with its well-thought-out design that maximises steam output, so even if the clothes spent a week on your child’s bedroom floor, they’d be smoothed out in seconds. If you live in a hard water area, anti-calc and anti-scale features are a big plus, and many irons also have automatic cleaning systems. All this helps to prevent drips onto your clothes and, more importantly, prevents limescale build-up in your iron. It’s also worth considering the size of the water tank since the smaller it is, the more you’ll need to refill it. If you often need to do a lot of ironing in one go, look for a tank capacity of at least 300ml. So let’s carry on with our Russell Hobbs 20630 Powersteam Ultra Steam Iron review and explore the product’s pricing. Steam generator irons are great if you iron regularly, especially if you iron lots of big items like bath towels and bed sheets. They are also bulkier than regular steam irons, so you need to have good storage space or not mind having them on display in your kitchen or laundry room.

Our pick of the best steam irons for a pain-free ironing experience

Tefal’s Easygliss Eco iron uses up to 30% less energy in Eco mode compared to the iron’s Max mode. It’s also made from up to 35% recycled materials and is 88% recyclable itself, even the box is made from 93% recycled fabrics and is 100% recyclable. If you’re looking for a more sustainable steam iron, this Tefal is the obvious choice. On top of its eco credentials, it’s also a powerful iron with 2800W and 50g/min of steam, plus there’s a 260g boost for when you need extra steam. Automatic shut off feature that turns off the iron when it’s idle for at least 8 minutes on its heel rest or at least 30 seconds on its sides or soleplate Price is another really important factor for analysing the quality of Russell Hobbs 20630 Powersteam Ultra Steam Iron vs other products in the Irons category. It’s obvious, but you will need to set your expectations of quality based on your budget and the price of the product you’re looking at, against the price of alternatives. The brand of product you buy can vary in importance, from person to person. Some people will of course be much more particular about the brands they will use. Whilst others aren’t interested in the brand and are more interested in the overall quality or price of the product itself. Thankfully Russell Hobbs is a brand that many customers have grown to love over the years and is very popular for items in the Irons category. Our Mumsnetters have tried and tested hundreds of steam irons and, with eight million users visiting our forums every month, we know the true value of an authentic recommendation from ordinary families. Which is why we spend hours scouring the forums for the products our Mumsnet community have used and loved.

SPEED TO HEAT - the 3100W makes a difference - it's right up to top temp in a matter of seconds - this works well for me as the thing I iron most of are cotton shirts .. I actually iron very little on a low setting. I'm writing this review after using the iron a few times.. I find it’s best to capture first impressions with items like this as I tend to get used to odd quirks and start to work around them At this point you can dry-iron using heat but no steam. To steam iron, you move the steam control button to the steam or high steam setting, and wait until the red light turns off. To use the water spray, you lift the iron and press the spray button to the left of the steam control button. The water comes out of the nozzle above the iron’s tip.

What should I look for when buying a steam iron?

WEIGHT - The iron is towards the heavy end of what's available - I like this! - It sounds as if the weight might require more effort to use, but I actually find having to apply more downward pressure using a light iron harder work than sliding a heavier one from side to side.

As you can imagine, pricing is one of the most important factors of any purchasing decision. We can find the perfect product for our needs, that fits the brief in every single way. But if it doesn’t fit our budgets, we simply can’t (or at least shouldn’t) buy it. Whether you love or hate ironing is greatly determined by the type of appliance that you use. As such, it is important that you have a good steam iron. A proper steam iron will ensure that even your toughest-to-iron clothes are left looking crisp and pristine. Soleplates are almost inevitably ceramic on modern irons and a larger plate will mean faster ironing. Of course, the bigger the plate, the larger and heavier the iron will be, so do consider this if weight is likely to be an issue for you. Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on home care content. She writes buyer's guides, cleaning and laundry articles, and tests products out in her family home to help our readers make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies. She is a mum of two and lives in Sussex. Why you should trust usThis is yet another Russell Hobbs masterpiece. Due to its impressive 3100 watt power, the Powersteam Ultra 20630 heats up 15% faster than previous Russell Hobbs steam irons. Moreover, it boasts of an automatic switch-off function and a triple action self-cleaning function, features that are usually present in high-end steam irons. The Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra is heavier than both the cordless Morphy Richards Easy Charge Power+ and lightweight Tefal Easygliss Eco, but the Russell Hobbs benefits from having a longer cord, so despite its weight, it feels less restrictive than the Easygliss Eco.

These irons provide your clothes with some much-needed wrinkle removing steam that leaves them looking pristine at all times. While some steam irons allow for temperature adjustments, there are those that use one temperature for all fabrics. Read next: Best lint remover and fabric shavers to get rid of lint, hair and bobbles from clothing Does the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra offer value for money? How long your steam iron will last depends on how much you use it and whether you take care of it. A good steam iron should last around ten years, but many last much longer. The average lifespan is anywhere between 10-20 years. How can I make my steam iron last?

Why you should trust us

If you’re looking for a high-performing steam iron that has the ability to continuously supply a high amount of steam, the Philips GC4526/87 Azur Performer Plus is right up your alley. Ultimately, its high price is completely understandable. The Philips PerfectCare Elite Steam Generator Iron GC9630/20 is quite the investment, but its exceptional performance justifies the price.