Pros:
-Flattens clothes in one pass.
-Excellent temperature control
-Sturdy construction.
-Smooth gliding ceramic sole plate.
-Nice rubber grip.
Cons:
-Awkward water filling.
-Must reset temp after unplugging.
-Not as stable in the upright position as the old T-Fal.
-No built in A/C unit to cool the user.
After a week of use my wife and I are very impressed with this iron as it seems to press clothing in just one pass compared to our 2 year old T-Fal.
As this is the first review I will explain a little about how this almost totally electronic iron works. After you plug it in you press the rubberized button to the left of the head until you reach your desired temperature. The temperature number, 1- 7, along with the type of fabric it is for appears in the window at the top of the head. Pressing the button to the right of the head lowers the temperature. The iron heats quickly and gives a soft beep when it is at the correct temperature. The steam feature is activated by pressing the rubberized button just below the window and an indicator flashes in the window. The steam works very well and of course there is a burst of steam button and a spray button on the top. The burst of steam button is on the right and the spray on the left which is backwards to me but I got used to it pretty quickly. The ceramic sole plate glides over clothing but if you have your temperature set too high for the material it will begin to stick, unlike the Teflon sole plate on the T-Fal which glided over everything at any temperature. This is probably a good thing as it keeps you from scorching your clothes. The rubberized grip is very positive and you have good control over the iron.
The only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the water fill system. The iron must be filled in the horizontal position which means that you can't set it down to fill it without burning something. Also, the gray color of the water tank is very aesthetically pleasing but it makes it hard to see the water level in the tank and the full mark is meant to be read with the iron in the horizontal position instead of sitting on its tail. Unplugging it and taking it to the sink is the easiest way to fill it but when you plug it back in you must reset your temperature and steam settings again which is another annoyance that makes me knock it a bit.
Overall it is a good and sturdy iron which has already taken a fall to the floor and is no worse for the wear. Perhaps the 2030 with its mechanical settings and digital readout, as well as a vertical fill water tank, might have been a less annoying alternative but I think that we will be happy with this for years to come.
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Black & Decker D5500 Digital Evolution 1500-Watt Steam Iron with Ceramic SoleplateProduct Description: Press out wrinkles quickly and easily with this 1500-watt digital steam iron. It features a durable scratch-resistant Ceramic-Glide soleplate for smooth, gentle gliding and reduced static electricity, making it ideal for any type of fabric. To ensure simple operation, the iron provides user-friendly controls and a multi-lingual backlit digital display (in English, French, or Spanish) for checking the fabric temperature setting at a glance. It also comes equipped with Smart Steam technology, which automatically generates the right amount of steam based on the fabric type selected. Choose from various settings that include variable steam for control over the steam amount, surge of steam to help remove stubborn wrinkles, and vertical steam for hanging garments and draperies. Even more, the iron provides an anti-drip system that protects fabrics from water spotting, even at low temperatures. For safety and peace of mind, the iron shuts off automatically if left inactive in three different positions. Other highlights include a convenient spray mist, an auto-clean function, and a comfortable soft-grip handle. The digital steam iron measures 12 by 5-2/7 by 6 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
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I've used this iron 2 years & am very happy w/ it.I am replacing it before it dies all the way.I like the high wattage for quick heating & rapid removal of wrinkles.The plate surface is large, there are many steam vents, makes the task easier.Self-clean feature works well.Just a tad on the heavy side.About average in being stable set at rest on the ironing board.I like to be able to set the amount of steam.Most irons just offer more steam w/ more heat, but at times I like lighter or heavier steam at various temperatures.I like the large water tank & that it steams well right down to the end of the tank.(Not true of all irons.)I iron about 2 hours a week, & more if I sew.Auto off is a good feature too.I like the "beep" indicating it's up to heat.
