Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus Iron review: Why it’s worth the cash

From satins to silks, there are plenty of materials out there that we love...until it comes time to iron them. While there are ways to safely remove creases (my mum passed down to me her trick of placing a handkerchief over the fabric before ironing), most of these are time consuming and not entirely fail-safe. Of course, you could take your items to a dry cleaner, but that can also be pricey and just generally inconvenient. So, how do you keep your more deluxe fabrics wrinkle-free? Well, Philips has an answer.

Its latest steam iron boasts Optimal Temperature technology, meaning that you can use it to iron everything from denim to silk without burning your fabrics. The downside? It retails for the rather luxurious price of $499. Is it worth the cost for a quick, stress-free ironing experience, though? We put it to the test.

What would you like to know?

How does it work?

The Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus is a steam generator, meaning that the iron comes with a large water tank separate from the iron itself. Before ironing, remove the water tank, fill it with tap water and pop it back in place. From there, just press the power button to turn it on. It takes around two minutes to heat up and has a light indicator to let you know when it's ready to use.

While Philips offers a number of steam generators, this particular generator is different from the other models in that it comes with Philips' Optimal Temperature technology. This means that there are no dials or settings to play around with – you can simply start ironing any fabric and the iron will adjust the steam accordingly. A small button on the underside of the iron handle releases the steam, making it easy to blast out any stubborn creases.

The iron also comes with an Eco Mode, which reduces energy consumption on clothing that requires less steam. Two light indicators are also included on the base, turning red when the water tank needs to be refilled or the limescale build-up needs to be emptied respectively.

The iron itself is incredibly lightweight and can be easily used for vertical steaming of curtains or hanging clothes with minimal strain on the hand or wrist.

Why you'll love it

Thanks to the automatic steam function, the Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus Iron is incredibly simple to use – no fiddling with dials or guessing of settings required. The iron also adjusts the amount of steam it uses based on the material that you're ironing, meaning that you can tackle your entire ironing pile in one go rather than waiting for the iron to heat up or cool down between materials, which is incredibly handy. The automatic steam also makes the iron super effective at removing even the most stubborn of creases, which effectively cut my ironing time in half. In fact, these functions have taken ironing from being my most hated chore to something that is at least bearable.

The Optimal Temperature technology is another huge tick, as it guarantees that your clothes won't end up burnt. The iron will stop working when it stops sensing motion, so you can actually leave it face down on your clothes without staining or singeing them (though we still don't recommend doing this). The iron will also automatically shut off if you leave it unattended for more than a few minutes, which is definitely a nice addition for peace of mind.

The massive 1.8L water tank capacity lets you iron for up to two hours before it needs refilling. As an added bonus, you don't even have to wait for the unit to cool down before refilling it as you do with other irons. You can simply remove the tank, pop it under the tap, fill and continue.

In terms of maintenance, there's a lot to love there too with a built-in "Easy De-Calc Plus" system continuously collecting limescale to extend the iron's lifespan. A light will inform you when it needs to be emptied and then it's a simple matter of removing the plug and disposing of the scale particles.

Any downsides?

The major downside is, of course, the price. At $499, the Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus Iron is something of a luxury purchase for the average household – especially when there are a number of cheaper irons on the market. For comparison, other steam irons often cost somewhere between $100 and $200, making the PerfectCare Expert Plus a rather extravagant purchase.

The other concern is the overall bulkiness of the product. While it may not be a problem for everyone, those with little storage space may not be able to justify having such a cumbersome item, especially when an ordinary steam iron takes up significantly less space.

The verdict

For those who can afford to splash out, the Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus Iron is definitely a worthwhile investment. As well as solving the problem of removing creases from difficult fabrics, it does so without the risk of damaging your clothing. The iron is also incredibly simple to use, with automatic steam removing the need to adjust settings. Best of all, the PerfectCare Expert Plus greatly reduces ironing time, allowing you to tackle everything in your ironing pile in one go, without having to wait for the iron to heat up or cool down between different materials.

If the $499 price tag is a little out of your wheelhouse though, or if you don't have a whole heap of clothing with material that is difficult to iron, you'll certainly be able to find a decent steam iron for around a quarter of the price.

Where you can buy it

You can shop the Philips PerfectCare Expert Plus Iron from a range of department and electronic stores such as David Jones, Myer and Bing Lee.

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Images: Finder photography