It steams when angry. Review on Philips Steam HI 226

Disclaimer: This is about HI 265 and not HI 226. There are many such numbers in comfort series and having a separate subcategory for each number is not warranted, so I put it here. Spare the rod please.

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Hey sweet ones out there (female members), I am sure you are impressed with me, cause I am quiet a household person who can also wash clothes (if you have read my recent reviews i.e.). Eligible bachelor, am I not? Well if you have doubts, here is a review that describes one more ability of mine. I also iron clothes, after I wash them and put it on line for drying.

''Gosh! achougoo, you are impossible!'' I say to the man in the mirror. Put in other words, ''majburi ka naam...'' But that is only occasionally. It would surprise you if I tell you that my dear Dad voluntarily irons my clothes (while I pretend to be tired after an exhaustive office day full of work or Oh my God! Management assignments to be completed). So cheap of me, I know but he likes to iron clothes - dunno if it has something to do with the iron, his office colleagues gifted him.

''So, Inky-Pinky Ponky, which iron am I talking about?''

Philips Comfort HI-265

«« IT STEAMS WHEN ANGRY »»

Oh! I would advise members not to be fooled by its smart sleek attractive sporty looks. Yeah I know with that white body and transparent or rather translucent blue chamber one would instantly fall for it. But beware, this puny little thing gets hot real fast and it steams when angry. It is also hard to please, it works its anger on all type of clothes. It gets real wild and hot on linen and cotton while moderately hot on wool. I guess it likes silk and nylon. Let me also warn you that once it gets angry and steaming, it takes time to cool, so don't let your fingers burn. Just kidding fellas, the HI-265 anger and steam is actually controlled anger and till date, it has never lost its temper beyond the setting adjusted through a knob below the handle. In other words, the thermostat works just fine by switching the iron ON/OFF automatically as the temperature cools or rises respectively.

«« MORE ON STEAMING »»

HI 265 has a stomach, which can be filled with nearly 120 ml of water (even tap water will do). This process is highly simplified as unlike most other irons including its family members like Mistral or the Comfort 276, 250 etc, this one has detachable stomach. You can just turn the belly go and fill it with water and put it back in.

When it gets heated enough, just set another knob on the handle itself to ''one cloud'' setting and it steams sufficiently. For highly wrinkled clothes or jeans try the ''two cloud'' setting.

The steam comes out through the vents in the soleplate. Manual says that it can give a continuous steam output of 15 g/m. I guess its OK for most household needs. But for heavy users, 25 g/m, 30 g/m and 45 g/m models are available.

From personal usage I can say that the iron can be used for dry ironing too, but it's effective and faster with steam. Technically speaking steam straightens the threads of the fabric and then the heat with light pressure of the iron adds up that fine touch. So you need not go back and forth 3-4 times to straighten a particular zone. One or Two rounds are sufficient. If the cloth is highly wrinkled, the iron has a spray nozzle and push button on the handle. When this button is pushed the iron sprays out fine droplets of water. I remember people sprinkling water on clothes and then ironing. This feature is for just that kind of action.

«« WHAT ABOUT THE PLATE »»

Often this is an important point of consideration before selecting the iron. HI 265 has Aluminium soleplate with Silverstone coating that ensures easy gliding scratch resistance easy cleaning and durability. But with time I have nearly ruined the coating by gliding the iron over buttons and zippers. However, the iron does glide smoothly over clothes and has a nice boat like shape that allows nice turns and corners. Only grudge is I ruin the ironing around the shirt pocket area every time, as the iron goes smoothly over the pocket but gets caught in the pocket opening during the reverse stroke. Aaargh! Shirts are really difficult to iron. Another reason why people like T-shirts, I guess.

«« CLEANING »»

Ideally the sole plate can be cleaned while it is hot using a damp cloth but some soda may be required to clean it if you decide to iron plastic bags (oops don't even try it, the plastic melts and sticks to the bottom so badly that it nearly ruins all ironing thereafter). I need not mention that soleplates should not be cleaned by using scrubber.

The steam vents can be cleaned by a feature called de-scaling. The iron is heated till nice and hot and then the steam control knob is moved to a ''de-scale'' position and pulled up. This lets out steam hissing from the vents, cleaning them in the process. Be sure that the iron is held at a distance as this option is only for cleaning the iron and not for steam bath.

«« POWER HUNGRY »»

Well the truth is YES. It can be used on a 220-240 V system or 120 V system and consumes 1200 W. You can feel the bulbs in the house dim when iron is ON and brighten when thermostat shuts it OFF. Even after ironing, when the switch is closed you can see some spark within, as the switch is closed. Oh No! nothing to fear, it is just a normal phenomenon. The iron is safe to use.

«« OTHER FEATURES »»

It has an integrated coil winder at the back behind the handle where it can rest vertically. This is some convenient feature.

«« PROBLEMS FACED »»

The iron cord is the only gray area and the accidental touching of the iron to the cord had damaged the previous one. My dad got a real long cord fixed by a local electrician. So I am not aware if Philips provides servicing of irons. But barring this, there has not been any problem now for at least a year and half.

«« FEATURES DESIRED »»

Auto shut off when left unattended for long time and vertical steaming for ironing clothes on hangers are some features left out and would be appreciated though it is not making much of a difference.