Philips Steam Iron 1700W Non-Stick Soleplate GC1742

Our review

The Philips GC1742 is a corded steam iron built around a 1700W element and a non-stick soleplate, with a 220 ml water tank that lets you get through a bigger pile of laundry before stopping to refill. It suits households ironing several garments in one sitting, and anyone who would rather not fuss over distilled water, since Philips says it can run on normal tap water. The Calc Clean slider is the detail worth understanding: scale builds up in any steam iron over time, and this slider is the mechanism for clearing it out to keep steam performance steady. Before buying, think about how you iron. If you mostly press one or two shirts at a time, a smaller, lighter iron may feel easier in the hand. If you tackle family laundry in long sessions, tank size and scale maintenance matter more than weight. Compare the soleplate type and tank capacity against other steam irons in the same range, and check the shape of the handle and dial layout if you can. Available on Sokonia.