Steamglide Iron Sole - What Is It, Characteristics, Advantages And Disadvantages, Reviews

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Steamglide iron soleplate: what is it?

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

Content

• 1 What is Steamglide

  • 1.1 Outsole and cover material
  • 1.2 Sole shape
  • 1.3 Shape and number of holes on the sole
  • 1.4 Operational period
  • 1.5 Drop-stop technology

• 2 Examples of irons with Steamglide soleplate

  • 2.1 Philips GC4541 / 20 Azur
  • 2.2 Philips GC3581 / 30 SmoothCare
  • 2.3 Philips GC2990 / 20 PowerLife
  • 2.4 Philips GC3811 / 77 Azur Performer

What is Steamglide

The soleplate of the Steamglide iron was invented by the engineers of the Dutch home appliance manufacturer Philips. According to the company, the new development has the following advantages over conventional (for example, Teflon or aluminum) soles:

• easily glides 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 various shapes for supplying steam, ironing becomes simple and efficient, requiring little physical effort.

There is also an update to this technology called Steamglide plus. What is the difference between the two designs? Steamglide plus, in addition to all the advantages of the original version, also has a special fabric tension zone. The steam holes are optimized for faster and easier ironing.

Outsole and cover material

The base material of the Steamglide and Steamglide plus outsole 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.

Steamglide 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 cermets are durable and heat-resistant materials that will not crack over time.

Sole shape

The shape of the Steamglide outsole is designed to facilitate movement on fabric. The sharp and narrow spout is designed to smooth out fine details. The longitudinal grooves around the soleplate openings act as guides that help move the iron in the chosen direction.

Grooves around the steam holes make the iron easier to slide over the fabric

With the Steamglide plus technology, the engineers went further and created an outsole that can almost independently move forward. The user only needs to hold the iron and direct its movement. This was possible thanks to the improvement of the longitudinal groove technology, as well as the change in the direction of the steam supply. Steamglde plus soles do not blow steam straight down, but angled backwards. This pushes the iron forward and makes sliding easier.

The shape and number of holes on the sole

One of the main secrets of Steamglide is the large number of steam vents. They differ in shape and size. Most of the hot air passes through the largest. The 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.

The holes in the Steamglide sole differ in diameter and shape

Operational period

The operational period, 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 soles.

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

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

Drop-stop technology

A special Philips design called “drop-stop” is a technology that avoids dripping when using the iron at low temperatures. It integrates into almost all appliances with Steamglide and Steamglide plus.

The drip-stop technology is marked on the boxes as a crossed-out image of an iron with drips flowing out of it

You may have experienced this problem before when using steam irons. When set to low enough heating temperatures, the water does not convert to steam, but simply flows out of the steam holes. This leaves unsightly marks and drops on clothing. "Drop-stop" is a water supply control system. When the iron cools down, the water supply to generate steam simply stops.

Steamglide iron examples

Philips has already released many models of irons using its innovative technology. Let's take a look at the most popular ones.

Philips GC4541 / 20 Azur

Philips GC4541 / 20 Azur has a Steamglide Plus soleplate. The model is equipped with a constant steam function, a drop-stop system, a vertical steamer and a steam boost function. Steam power - 45 g / min. Buyers pay attention to the convenience of this iron. The body is designed in such a way that the device is very comfortable in the hand. The cord does not get tangled during ironing. The cost of the iron starts at 5,000 rubles.

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

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

Philips GC3581 / 30 SmoothCare

The model is a more budgetary variant of the Azur line. The Steamglide sole 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, continuous steam, steam boost and drop-stop technology. Consumers pay attention to a short cord as the main disadvantage of the device. There is also a problem common to most steam irons - rapid water consumption. This disadvantage 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 refill the tank regularly for quick and efficient ironing. The cost of the iron starts at 3,500 rubles.

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

Philips GC2990 / 20 PowerLife

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 the function of steam boost, vertical steaming, constant steam supply. To extend the service life, the household appliance has been supplemented with a self-cleaning and anti-scale function. Steam power up to 40 g / min. The cost starts from 2,500 rubles.

GC2990 / 20 PowerLife - economical and affordable iron from Philips

Some buyers report a significant difference in the quality and efficiency of the iron compared to the more expensive models from Philips and other manufacturers. 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, low efficiency.

Philips GC3811 / 77 Azur Performer

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 steaming, "drop-stop", steam boost, continuous steam, anti-scale and self-cleaning system. The cost of the model starts at 4,000 rubles.

Philips GC3811 / 77 Azur Performer is an affordable and powerful iron that does its job well

Often, buyers note the small length of the cord as a disadvantage.

Before buying, be sure to measure the cord of your old iron or, if you do not have one, just use a measuring 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.

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