Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron review: "I’d never go back to a regular iron now"

Price on writing: £149 | Buy now from Amazon

How we tested

Our tester Rebecca put the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron through its paces in her home over the course of a year, ironing hers and her kids' clothes (DH irons his own). Taking detailed notes on ease of use, effectiveness and quality, she cross-compared the steam generator iron with her previous steam iron.

Related: The best steam generator irons, according to Mumsnetters

Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron: our verdict

While Mumsnet users absolutely love a steam generator iron - many swearing they'll never go back to a regular steam iron - one major drawback seems to be the size of them. Unless you have a dedicated laundry room, finding the space to store a steam generator is quite a big ask. For the uninitiated, steam generator irons are larger than conventional steam irons as they come with a large water tank that feeds steam directly into the iron.

The Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron seeks to solve this problem. At just 19 x 37 x 22 cm and 3.3kg, it's designed to maximise power while minimising size and weight, without compromising on the amount of steam. While the iron plus its water tank are still bigger than a regular iron, they take up a lot less counter or cupboard space that heftier models like the Tefal Pro Express Vision.

Rebecca noticed a huge difference in the time it takes to iron a load of laundry, and loves the fact that the iron won't burn or stick to her clothes.

While the price is still a lot for an iron, less than £200 is cheap for a steam generator iron, plus its made by Philips, who make Mumsnetters' best steam generator iron, the PerfectCare Elite.

All in all, this is a brilliant choice for those who want the exceptional performance only a steam generator iron can offer, without it taking up too much space.

Read next: The best steam irons, tried and tested

What's the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron like to set up and start using?

Our tester Rebecca chose this steam generator iron because she kept burning her clothes with her old, conventional steam iron. Smaller than other steam generators, she was pleasantly surprised at its size and weight when it arrived.

Using the iron couldn't be easier, you simply fill up the tank, switch it on and it beeps when you’re ready to go. As steam generator irons use powerful steam rather than a hot plate to smooth out creases, they won't burn your clothing - what's more there's no need to switch temperatures when you switch fabrics, as the PerfectCare Compact comes with OptimalTemp technology.

The iron breezes through crumpled clothing of all descriptions, and Rebecca loves the turbo setting for when she wants to step the speed up even more.

When she's done, the iron is easy to store thanks to its compact size. However, the cord is a bit awkward to wind away and store, she thinks this could be improved. To make your ironing even more of a doddle, Rebecca recommends getting an ironing board that's big enough to stand the water tank on for extra stability.

Related: The best washing machines for families

What's the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron like to use day-to-day?

Whether it's jeans, silk blouses or school skirts, the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron makes light of them. It heats up quickly and you won't need to fiddle around with temperature settings between fabrics, either, thanks to its OptimalTemp technology.

With a built in descaling and 1.5 hours of steam from just one tank of water, it's very self-sufficient too. Where ironing was a pain before, with this steam generator it takes less time and energy to get your laundry looking presentable. For when you really want to blast through your ironing pile, there's even a turbo steam setting to help you.

The iron is easy to store thanks to its compact design, although the cord could be less awkward to fold away. Rebecca says she'd never go back to a regular iron now, there's just no comparison between the two types.

The filling cap is nice and big so it's easy to add water and its quick heat-up time means it's not too much bother to take out for a small pile of laundry, creating a pleasing amount of steam in record time. Despite its small size, it has a 1.5l tank - for context, 1.8l is the norm for irons over 2kg heavier - which will keep you ironing for up to 1.5 hours without having to refill.

Read next: The best tumble dryers Mumsnet users swear by

Does the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron offer good value for money?

At full price, the Philips PerfectCare Compact Steam Generator Iron is £200, however price comparison site camelcamelcamel puts its average at around £160. While this is certainly a lot to spend on an iron, it's one of the more affordable steam generator irons available right now.

Compared to the Philips PerfectCare Elite, which retails at £270, the Compact offers slightly less power, a slightly smaller water tank but big savings on space and cost.

In conclusion, we think this is an excellent steam generator iron from a trusted brand at a reasonable price. If you're put off by the sky-high price tags and large footprints of other steam generators, this one's a perfect choice.

Related: The best washer dryers for effortless laundry

About the author

Poppy O'Neill is a Content Editor at Mumsnet and a mother of two. She's been researching and reviewing the products Mumsnetters swear by for 3 years, with a particular focus on home essentials, laundry and fans. From a highly-recommended retractable washing line to the best quiet fans money can buy, and Mumsnet's favourite dehumidifier to the steam generator iron that'll cut your ironing time in half, she loves to deep-dive into research and find the very best products on the market.

Poppy is also an award-winning, best-selling children's and parenting author of books such as Don't Worry, Be Happy, The Extraordinary Book That Makes You Feel Happy and Mother Power. She specialises in children's mental health and her books are used by therapists, teachers and SENCOs across the UK. She won a The Week Junior Book Award in 2023, her books have been translated into several languages and she's been featured in The Guardian, The Sunday Times and The Sun.

About Mumsnet reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real parents after weeks of research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.