Steam Generator Irons – Philips GC8420/02 Steam Generator

October 3, 2010 – 4:32 PM

If you love to spend hours ironing, then chances are you don’t need to keep reading.  But if you’d like to cut the amount of time you spend slaving over an ironing board in about half—yes, that’s right, half the time—then you need to keep reading.  What you’ll find on this site is info on Steam Generator Irons in general, and details about the Philips GC8420/02 specifically.

So, what’s the difference between regular steam irons and steam generator irons?  The amount of steam they are able to produce.  A steam generator has a separate boiler, which is under pressure, forcing out steam as soon as the iron is powered up.  The pressure is measured in bars, so if you buy an iron with a higher bar—and the highest we could find is five (5)—than means you can iron out wrinkles with greater ease, since the higher pressure penetrates the steam deeper into the fabric.  The more heat and moisture the fabric gets, the easier wrinkles can be removed from it.

As mentioned before, this can significantly reduce the amount of time required to iron.  If you have a large family, or need to do large loads or ironing for any reason, do yourself a favour and consider steam generator irons.

We mentioned the importance of the bars, but what should you know about steam output?  Well, output is measured in grams per minute, so just as you want to buy an iron with a high bar count, you want a high steam output as well.  Generally speaking, output will vary per model between 70 to 140g per minute.

Already, you should be able to discern that the Philips GC8420/02 is a great choice.  It’s bar count is 5 and the output is 110g/min. (check the features section for more details about output)  And as far as steam generators go, it’s quite reasonably priced.

Speaking of price, if you’ve decided this is the iron you want, you can buy it HERE @ AMAZON.  They are offering it at an amazing sale price!

Philips Steam Generator Irons

Okay, we jumped the gun there on some of the Philips Steam Generator Iron features, but here is a brief look at some of the key features.  We’ll offer a detailed breakdown of all the features in the features and spec section.

While the Philips GC8420 has a continuous steam output of 110 grams per minute, it also has a steam boost feature that will up the output to 160 grams per minute for fast crease removal.

The water tank holds 1.6 litres of water, meaning you don’t need to refill it as often.

Steam Irons

So, what do users of Philips Steam Irons, specifically the GC8420/02 have to say about it?  Here’s what one person has to say…

Brilliant – From L Bent @amazon.co.uk
Makes ironing a breeze. SO much steam. I had a Morphy Richards steam generator and I thought that was good machine, until it broke down. Now even though I hate ironing, it is THE single most boring job in the World. However this at least reduces the pain time and delivers amazing results.

Check the reviews section for more reviews from other consumers who have purchase steam generator irons!

Philips GC8420 Steam Generator Irons

For every review I write, I like to include a full list of pros and cons.  This helps you make an informed decision before parting with any of your money.

With some products the cons are significant, and could be a deal breaker, but I’m happy to report that while the Philips GC8420 does have some cons, I consider all of them to be minor.

Having said that, since these things may not be considered minor by you, please be sure to check out our pros and cons section!

Philips GC8420 Steam Irons Features

Philips GC8420 Steam Irons come with an array of features that make this iron a great pick, even though it’s one of the less expensive in our steam generator top picks.

Even though it only reaches the top bar of pressure when using the boost, and even though it doesn’t have biggest water tank available, if you are only doing the ironing for a small household, this steam iron will likely do the job you need it to do.

Here is a complete list of the GC8420 features:

While the upper limit of steam produced by the best steam generator irons is 140 g/min, this steam iron produces continuous steam at 110 g/min.  However, the added steam boost feature pushes that number up to 160 g/per minute.  Just remember, that 160 is just a boost of steam, not continuous steam.

The large, detachable water tanks holds 1.6 litres of water, which means you shouldn’t need to fill the tank too often.  There is enough water in the tank to complete 3 hours of ironing.  Oh, and unless you have extra hard water, you can use regular tap water.

You won’t have to wait long for these steam irons to heat up.  In less than 2 minutes your iron is pumping out steam and ready to get to work.

The GC820 offers up to 5 bars of pressure.  Five is the best bar offered by any household steam generator iron.  This high pressure feature means that steam will penetrate farther into your fabrics, meaning that the time it takes to iron them is significantly reduced.

When doing simple jobs, where the extra steam isn’t need, use the iron as a standalone.  The soleplate offers the most optimal vent pattern.  The better the vent pattern, the better heat and steam distribution.

Since, due to the design, you can’t rest this iron on its heel, there is an included resting mat.  The mat is heat resistant, meaning you can rest your hot iron – up to 250 °C – upon it without concern.

Scale isn’t a concern!  After every 10 session of ironing, make sure you rinse the boiler well. Let the iron cool down completely, detach the tank, fill it with fresh water and shake.  You may want to repeat the procedure one more time to be sure the tank is completely clean.

Lock feature allows you to carry your system with one hand.

Hate ironing around buttons and hard to get at places?  The button groove and steam tip handle these problem areas.

The GC8420 also has an overheat safety stop feature

Philips GC8420 Steam Irons Technical Specifications

Boiler wattage: 1200Iron wattage: 800
Frequency: 50–60
Start-up time: 2
Voltage: 220 – 240
Weight 5.2kg

Please take note of the wattage.  These steam generator irons only have a boiler wattage of 1200.  There are several online retailers claiming that it has 2400 watts, but that simply is not true.  Buyer, please beware.

Philips Steam Generator Iron – GC8420

I love it when I review an item and find out that nearly everyone else who has reviewed it also found the item to be a gem.  It’s so unfortunate these days, in our consumer driven society, that there are so many products that leave a lot to be desired, even though the price tag is high.

That’s not the case with this Philips steam generator iron.  Actually, it’s quite interesting that all the steam generator irons I reviewed have received high marks from nearly everyone that uses them.  It could be that people are just so ecstatic to cut down on the amount of time they spend ironing that they overlook any faults, but I think it’s more than that.  These are just good products.

So, without further ado, I’ve sourced a few other reviews and added them here so you can browse.

Philips Steam Generator Iron – GC8420 Reviews

Brilliant Steam Generator – From Jules @amazon.co.uk
I did a lot of homework before ordering this steam iron and I definitely made the right decision. This iron is brilliant and makes light work of the job. I was concerned about the resting mat as you can’t stand the iron on its end, but it works really well and stops you marking your ironing board cover. I love the fact you can fill the iron up whilst using it as my old one had to be switched off and allow to cool down, all very time consuming. I would recommend this steam generator and am so glad I ordered it.

Fantastic, Effortless Ironing – From Mumoftwo @amazon.co.uk
I bought this iron after my normal steam iron gave up. After reading other reviews I thought this sounded like a safe bet. It is fabulous! Nothing is difficult to iron, creases come out so easily and it has cut my ironing time considerably. It is brilliant to be able to do so much ironing without having to keep refilling the water (and when you do need to refill it is really easy). The iron is pretty heavy and noisier than a regular steam iron but the benefits far outweigh this. I raved about it so much my Mum has now bought one!

Philips GC8420 Steam Generator Iron – From House Proud @amazon.co.uk
This has to be one of the best steam irons available. Fantastic ironing results. The lock on the base is great as it lets you move the whole thing about just by holding the handle of the iron. Heats up quickly and ironing is so much easier with this steam generating iron than with an ordinary steam iron which I’ve used before. The separate heat resistant stand takes up little room on the ironing board and allows you to put the steam generating tank on, for example, a nearby table rather than having to buy a special ironing board. I completed all my ironing before the TV programme I was watching finished – with this machine ironing is now a pleasure not a chore. Worth every penny!

Makes Ironing so Much Better – From Fiona @amazon.co.uk
This is my third steam generator and this one is by far the best. The iron itself isn’t heavy and it just glides across the item you are ironing, creases disappear especially when using the steam. The water tank is large which helps when you have a lot of ironing, it’s also easy to empty. Makes ironing more bearable!!!!

Philips GC8420 Pros

Since we’ve already provided a fair bit of info detailing the positive aspects of Philips GC8420 steam generator irons, we won’t continue to beat you over the head with the pros here.  But I will mention a few of the key reasons why you should be replacing your old iron with the next generation of irons – steam generator irons!

The Philips GC8420 can cut the amount of time you spend ironing in half.  In my opinion, that alone is enough of a reason to buy one of these irons.

With a water tank of 1.6L and pressure bars that top out at 5 when you use the boost feature, this iron competes with its more expensive competitors.  If you want to get yourself a steam generator, but price is an issue, you can’t go wrong with this iron.  Buy it with confidence.

Another thing of note that I neglected to mention earlier.  Compared with other Philips’ models, this system is very quiet.

Philips GC8420 Cons

As mentioned initially, there really aren’t a lot of cons with this iron.  There isn’t anything that I would say is wrong with it, but certainly there are some things you should take into consideration before you buy.  If you can overlook or deal with the following, then you have yourself a winner here, and your search just may be over.

So, the things you need to be aware of:

When the tank is full, the system weighs between 6 and 7 kg, so make sure you can deal with that.

In the same vein, due to the weigh issue, you should make sure you have a sturdy ironing board.  If your board is old and wobbly, you should definitely buy a new one when you buy your iron.  Better to be safe, and not end up with boiling water flying everywhere if your board should topple.

While other Philips’ models allow you to lock the steam trigger mechanism in place, the Philips GC8420 does not.  In my opinion, this is the biggest fail with this system, but it’s not quite enough to be a deal breaker.

Not being able to rest these steam generator irons on their heels takes some getting used to, and it’s a bit weird to rest a hot iron on its soleplate, even though you are resting it on the included resting mat.

That’s it!  I really can’t find anything else that I feel negative about.  If you have been researching steam generator irons for yourself, or maybe you want to buy one for someone as a gift, I can assure you, the GC8420 is a great choice!

You can buy it HERE at amazon.co.uk.  But hurry!  They are selling it now for about half price!

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Steam Generator Irons: Tefal Pro Express Turbo GV8360 Steam Generator

October 6, 2010 – 12:44 PM

Ironing has got to be one of the most hateful jobs.  It ranks up there with doing the dishes by hand, but at least you can buy a dishwasher to make that job less labour intensive.

Good news!  Steam generator irons can cut your ironing time in half!  That’s right.  Due to the amount of steam and moisture that steam generators put out, they press creases and wrinkles out of fabrics at a much faster rate than a regular steam iron.

In case you don’t know the many reasons why you should be buying yourself a steam generator, I’ll provide a bit of a crash course here first.  After that, we’ll get into the specific features of the Tefal Pro Express GV8360.

Okay, now for steam generator irons 101.

Because of the amount of steam they produce, steam generator irons make quick work of your chore of ironing.  How do they manage that much steam? These ironing systems have a separate boiler, and that boiler is under pressure, forcing the steam out.  The more pressure, the more steam, the quicker the job.  The pressure is measured in bars, the highest being five (5) for the household models.  If you are ironing for a large household, or have to do a lot of ironing for whatever reason – or even if you only small jobs but hate the task and want it to be over sooner – get yourself a steam generator with a bar 5 measurement.

The other important feature of these ironing systems is the steam output.  Generally speaking, output varies from 70 to 140g per minute per model.  The higher the output the better.

Tefal Steam Generator Iron

In line with the info above, here are a few key features of the GV8360 Steam Generator Iron. For a complete overview of the features list, please see our features section.

The Tefal Pro Express has a bar measurement of 5, so as far as this feature goes, it provides the best available.

The GV8360 has an output of 120g/min of continuous steam, but also has a turbo boost that ups the output to 200g/min.

Steam Irons

So, what do users of Tefal Steam Irons, specifically the GV8360 have to say about it?  Here’s what one person has to say…

They Just Get Better – From CDurb @amazon.co.uk
This is the 2nd Tefal Steam Generator Iron that I’ve owned, and I love it.

A little expensive on the pocket, but worth every penny, having a family of 5 it cuts my time stood ironing by at least half. Whip over even the most difficult of items in a flash.

Anyone thinking about making this purchase and the price is putting them off, dont be tempted to go for a cheaper alternative, I have many friends then went on to buy Steam Generator Irons themselves after seeing and using mine, and the cheaper one’s dont compare.

Check the reviews section for more reviews from other consumers who have purchased Tefal GV8360 steam generator irons!

Tefal Pro Express GV8360 Steam Generator Irons

At this point, in all the reviews I write, I’ll generally highlight one or two of the potential drawbacks of whatever I’m reviewing.

As stated in other reviews I’ve written for steam generator irons, there really isn’t much in the way of cons or negatives to list.  However, that could be because I’ve only reviewed the higher end models.  I have heard that there are a lot of unhappy people who have decided to go the cheaper route and then regretted it.  However, that isn’t going to be you, is it?

Having said that, please refer to the pros and cons section to see what I feel might be things that are slightly off putting.  But don’t worry, there isn’t anything significant.

Steam Irons – Tefal Pro Express Features

As mentioned earlier, the Tefal Pro Express has a pressure rating of 5, which is the highest available for home steam irons.  It also produced 120 g/min of continuous steam, with a turbo boost that will up that amount to 200 g/min to deal with extra stubborn creases… or the creases you accidently ironed in.

However, these steam generator irons have many more notable features, so I will detail in full here.

Since it’s that water tank that provides the necessary steam, the size of the tank should be taken into consideration.  If the tank is too small, you need to be refilling it continually, which will quickly become a pain.  The higher end steam generator irons all come with a respectable size tank, and the Tefal Express Pro is no exception.  Its 1.8 litre tank means you can do approximately three hours of ironing without need for a refill.   Note: if you are using the ironing at full steam continuously, your time will likely drop closer to two hours.

These steam generator irons come with a ceramic soleplate, which is considered the absolute best kind, as they glide smoothly across your fabric.  There is some contention there, as some who use a lot of starch prefer a non-stick soleplate, but the fact remains that a ceramic surface is the best.

Here is a must have feature in any kind of iron in my opinion, not just steam generator irons.  What is it, you ask?  An auto shut off feature.  If these steam irons are left sitting for 8 minutes, they system shuts down.

There are some things that are difficult to iron laying flat, the shoulders and sleeves of jackets and blouses being just one.  Or perhaps you’d like to steam your drapes or curtains.  The Pro Express has a vertical steam feature!  Iron your curtains while the hand on your windows and your jackets while still on a hanger.  This is a great feature!

There is an anti-scale function that, when used regularly, will help to ensure that your ironing quality is maintained.

You can remove the water tank, making refilling a snap.

Need to iron delicate fabrics at times, and other times cotton, linens or synthetics.  No worries.  The variable steam features allows you to change or cancel completely, the amount of steam generated.

At the touch of a button, the power cord rewinds and stores itself.

To ensure safety, a locking system locks the iron to the base.

These Tefal steam generator irons heat up within 2 minutes.

Steam Irons – Tefal Pro Express Specifications

• Weight 4.7kg
• 2200 watt element
• Dimensions – 29H x 26W x 50L
• Cord Length – 1.8m

Tefal Steam Generator Iron

The Tefal Steam Generator Iron is just one of several steam generator irons that I’ve reviewed.  I’ve reviewed irons that range in price from approximately £100 to £200, and I’m pleased to say that all of them are excellent products.  The GV8360 is no exception.

Many have looked at the price of steam generator irons and hesitated from purchasing.  Those that that have sucked it up and spent the money have realised they made the right choice.

I’ve decided to share with you some comments from others who have purchased this Tefal Steam Iron.

Tefal Steam Generator Iron Reviews

Not Disappointed – From Diane Co Antrim @ amazon.co.uk
After many weeks of will I or won’t I. Reading countless reviews of countless irons I took the plunge and bought my new generator steam iron. To be honest felt a little bit sick on my way home having just spent such a large amount of money on an iron.( well actually hubby did ! But I do do all his ironing ) anyway after about 5 mins of use, after I got over the shock of the amount of steam shooting out of it every time I pushed the button,and after having to take cover when my 14 year old son picked it up pointed it in my direction and decided to fire of some steam as it looked cool ( obviously not cool or clever ) I thought this might actually be worth the money.

By the time I’d finished I was sure it was. I reckon I cut about an hour of my usual ironing time, and think this could still be improved on as I’m still on my “L” plates but was really pleased with the results. Great on jeans and duvet covers, didn’t need to refill the water tank at all and just wizzed over shirts. Yes it is a little on the large side for storage purposes, had to do a bit of reorganising to find it a home,and yes it is expensive, but I would defiantly recommend spending that little bit extra on this iron. As Cheaper options may be a false economy. This iron had all the features that I had read were important i.e large water tank, 5bar pressure,large steam vents on sole plate and quick heat up time and yes the generator is to big to sit on my ironing board, but was able to sit it on my work top without any problem.

I’m really pleased with my new iron and would highly recommend that you spend that little bit extra as I think in this case you get what you pay for.

All I have to do now is pretend I’m having so much fun ironing that it might persuade a few others in our house to have a go !

Tefal Pro Express Turbo GV8360 – From Anita @amazon.co.uk
This is my 3rd tefal pro-express turbo. the 1st one lasted for years before breaking. I bought a cheaper steam generator and it really showed, 3 weeks later i sold it to my friend and bought another tefal pro-express. I’ve had that one for 3 years but as my son has just bought his first house i’ve given it to him and bought myself a new one (due to me going round there to do his ironing). This new one is a little more advanced than the last one but still the same quality. These steam generator irons provide so much steam the make even the most arduous ironing tasks easy. Don’t get me wrong, i am not a ‘stepford wife’, i do not love ironing, in fact i positively hate it, but this makes it a little easier to face. It makes ironing bedding so much easier as you don’t have to go over creases over and over and over.

This product is at the expensive end of the market but for anyone with a large family or very large amounts of ironing to do i would recommend buying it. It will cut the time spent ironing and everything will be ironed crisp and sharp.

They Just Get Better – From CDurb @amazon.co.uk
This is the 2nd Tefal Steam Generator Iron that I’ve owned, and I love it.

A little expensive on the pocket, but worth every penny, having a family of 5 it cuts my time stood ironing by at least half. Whip over even the most difficult of items in a flash.

Anyone thinking about making this purchase and the price is putting them off, dont be tempted to go for a cheaper alternative, I have many friends then went on to buy Steam Generator Irons themselves after seeing and using mine, and the cheaper one’s dont compare.

Less Steam… More Steam – From JuicyJuls @amazon.co.uk
I’ve been using the Tefal Steam Generator Irons  for the last 5 years for both commercial and personal use. I don’t think there is anything currently out there that can beat this one. I’ve bought this one just in case the one I am using gives up after the constant use it goes through. If you live in a hard water area like me, I would only suggest that you clean the Anti Scale rod and the contents of the unit regularly. Love it!

Tefal Pro Express GV8360 Pros

Since we’ve already spend a significant amount of time talking about all the amazing qualities of the Tefal Pro Express GV8360, I don’t plan to keep beating you over the head with it here.  If you missed it, check out the features section, where you will learn everything you need to know about why this iron is a great choice.

Having said that, I do feel the need to mention of few of the most notable pros here.

If you are in the market for and/or are doing your research on steam generator irons, do yourself a favour and avoid the cheaper models.  You may initially fool yourself into thinking you are saving money, but when you need to head out and buy another one because the cheap model broke or didn’t do the job you expected it to, you’ll quickly realize you didn’t make the right decision.

In line with that, the best steam generator irons will have a bar pressure between 4 and 5.  The Telfal Pro Express GV8360 has a bar pressure of 5, which is the best you can buy for a consumer grade steam generator.

At 2200 watts, these steam irons are in the higher end a quality as well.  Anything below 1800 watts should only be considered as “fair” quality, with 2200 watts being at the high and low end of the “better” and “best” categories.

Tefal Pro Express GV8360 Cons

As I’ve mentioned in my other reviews of the best steam generator irons, there really aren’t a lot of cons, unless of course you buy the cheaper, low quality models.  Since I haven’t reviewed any of those, I, for the most part, only have great things to say about steam generator irons in general.

As far as the Telal Pro Express GV8360 goes, here are a few things you may want to watch out for.  Please note the most of these will be the same issues other steam generator irons have, so in the long run it may just come down to your personal preference when buying your iron.

This needs to be expressed strongly.  These irons – all steam generator irons – are gargantuan.  I posted the dimensions in the specifications section, but here they are again: 29H x 26W x 50L.  Make sure you are comfortable working with something that size before you make a purchase.  But believe me, the results and benefits you get from these irons far out way their unwieldy size.

The water tank holds 1.8 litres of water, which weighs approximately 1.8 kg.  Add that to the weight of the iron and tank itself, you are talking about 6.5 kg.  Know your strength before you buy one of these!  Of course, you are not holding the iron in the air while in use, you are just pushing it back and forth over the ironing board, so its weight is more of an issue when it’s in transport around your home, not when it’s in use.

One reviewer on amazon.co.uk complained that the iron was a “beast” which is true – but then goes on to say that they disliked the iron because it wasn’t “chic.”  Um, okay.  So if it’s important to you that your iron is chic, keep that in mind.  If the actual job this steam generator is capable of is more important to you, I’m fairly sure you’ll ignore that complaint!

In line with the size and weight of this steam generator, you need to make sure your present ironing board is up to the task.  If your ironing board is old and wobbly, you’ll need to get a newer, sturdier one.  And remember, this iron is 50 cm long.  How wide is your current ironing board?  Will your new steam generator iron fit?

That’s pretty much it!  Buy the Telal Pro Express GV8360 with confidence.

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