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PurSteam Pro 1800W Review

A favorite among our testing team, this large iron left our sheets satisfyingly pressed
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PurSteam Pro 1800W Review (We ironed for hundreds of hours, testing every feature and function, to bring you the best options on the market today.)
We ironed for hundreds of hours, testing every feature and function, to bring you the best options on the market today.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $70 List
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Manufacturer:   PurSteam
By Maggie Nichols and Jessica Riconscente  ⋅  May 3, 2023
72
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 14
  • Ironing Performance - 40% 8.3
  • Steam Output - 25% 6.3
  • Heating - 15% 8.1
  • Detailing - 10% 4.2
  • Ease of Use - 10% 6.5

Our Verdict

The PurSteam Pro 1800W quickly became a favorite with our testing team for its satisfying ability to leave our linens crisply pressed. It puts out ample steam to smooth over big jobs in no time. A large soleplate and water tank make this model one of our go-to irons for tackling sheets, oversized curtains, and swaths of fabric. Its bulk and weight make it simple to iron many materials to impressive flatness. Of course, the flip side of that is lowered maneuverability and not a particularly impressive level of detailing ability. If you're looking to get into fine corners, this likely won't offer the fine-tuned performance you need. But for flatness that rivals a sheet of plastic across large surfaces, the PurSteam Pro is an excellent choice. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our best clothes iron review.
REASONS TO BUY
Great steam output
Crisp ironing performance
Large water tank
Excellent digital display
REASONS TO AVOID
Large and bulky
Not ideal for detailing
Heavy to maneuver

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pursteam pro 1800w
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PurSteam Pro 1800W
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Iron
Top Pick Award
Best for Delicate Fabrics
  
Price $70 List
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Bottom Line This large model quickly became one of our favorites for its ability to leave our linens crisp and wrinkle freeA little clunky, but an impressive iron overall, with strong steam performanceAn iron that easily tackles most wrinkles quickly and efficiently regardless of the materialGood ironing performance and detailing work, but uneven heating keeps this iron from being even betterPortable for traveling, but lacks the punch needed for regular use
Rating Categories PurSteam Pro 1800W Hamilton Beach Dura... Black+Decker D3030... Black+Decker Profes... Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot
Ironing Performance (40%)
8.3
7.4
8.3
7.8
6.8
Steam Output (25%)
6.3
9.5
5.6
5.5
3.0
Heating (15%)
8.1
7.5
7.2
6.7
9.5
Detailing (10%)
4.2
5.8
7.9
7.9
5.6
Ease of Use (10%)
6.5
7.0
7.0
6.5
4.7
Specs PurSteam Pro 1800W Hamilton Beach Dura... Black+Decker D3030... Black+Decker Profes... Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot
Measured Steam Output 105 g 196 g 87 g 82 g 12 g
Measured Average Temperature 321 °F 309 °F 304 °F 293 °F 347 °F
Number of Steam Holes 64 192 23 18 7
Wattage 1800W 1500W 1600W 1500W 800W
Weight 2.9 lbs 3.4 Ibs 1.9 lbs 2.1 Ibs 1.3 lbs
Cord Length 8' 8.1' 8' 9' 8'
Soleplate Material Ceramic Non-stick Stainless Steel Stainless Steel Non-Stick

Our Analysis and Test Results

The large ceramic soleplate of the PurSteam Pro 1800W proved its worth when it came to ironing large areas of fabric to smooth perfection. We also love its very useful digital display and big water tank.

Performance Comparison


pursteam pro 1800w - the pursteam pro produces satisfying results on even the largest...
The PurSteam Pro produces satisfying results on even the largest ironing projects.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ironing Performance


Ironing cotton and polyester proved a cinch with the PurSteam Pro. We got nearly all wrinkles out with just two passes over the fabric. A few stubborn wrinkles needed a little bit of hovering to completely clear them from the fabric, but never for too long. The steam worked wonders without having to add any extra to smooth whatever material we were working on. Not only did the PurSteam Pro impress us with its ironing performance, but it also played into our love of perfectly crisp sheets and phenomenally flat fabric, looking almost little unreal after being pressed.


The PurSteam Pro also did a decent job smoothing creases in silk, satin, and linen. Some of the most stubborn wrinkles required additional time spent with the iron paused over top of them. A few times, linen held onto those wrinkles for longer than expected. They eventually came out with some additional steam and time, though. While the mere 64 steam holes arranged in a U-shape on the soleplate of this iron may not sound impressive compared to some, they still proved remarkably efficient. Each hole is nestled in a sunken V-shape within the metal, allowing steam to spread out before coming into contact with the fabric.

The PurSteam has a large tank to fuel it's powerful steam output.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Steam Output


Even before pressing the button for an extra burst of steam, the PurSteam Pro puts out an impressive amount — among the most of any iron we tested. We could clearly see the steam streaming out of the holes in the soleplate. A few droplets developed partway through our steam output measurement test, but we had no issues with the fabric getting too wet while ironing.


The smart digital display will recommend whether or not you should be using steam for the material you have selected. This is a nice feature in theory, but the steam lever will override the recommendations from the display. This can be a double-edged sword. In some cases, you may desire steam for a stubbornly wrinkled material that typically wouldn't need steam. On the other hand, if you're trying to make a quick pass and forget to turn off the override steam lever, you'll still get steam on your fabric, even if the display tells you no steam is recommended.

Using a thermal camera to view the surface temperature of the PurSteam Pro.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Heating


Like nearly every iron we tested, the PurSteam Pro heated up within two minutes. Its heat core comprises the typical U-shape, matching the shape of the soleplate.


The left and right sides achieved the hottest temperatures, reaching 341°F and 352°F, respectively. The nose and center were around 332-335°F. And like most irons, the bottom section was the coolest, reaching just 313°F. Averaged together, though, the surface temperature of the PurSteam Pro was above average among our lineup. It also didn't go through a drop-off cycle after the initial heating period, as many others we tested do.

pursteam pro 1800w - this chart shows the heating speed and temperatures of different...
This chart shows the heating speed and temperatures of different areas of the PurSteam Pro ironing plate.

Detailing


This is the weakest aspect of the PurSteam Pro. Big and bulky, this iron doesn't glide as smoothly as many others. In all directions, it isn't as fluid-feeling to push around, making it cumbersome to change directions quickly. Though it's not the heaviest iron we tested, it feels heavy to push around with this extra resistance.


The wide soleplate that comes in handy for big jobs proves to be clunky on smaller fabrics and around detailed portions. The nose has just the slightest accentuation but is overall much wider than many others. The PurSteam Pro can still be used to iron around button holes and up to collars, but it does so with little finesse, and we much prefer the detailing capabilities of irons with narrower noses and smoother glide.

pursteam pro 1800w - the pursteam pro is slightly heavier than many others and isn't as...
The PurSteam Pro is slightly heavier than many others and isn't as easy to change directions for going around minute details.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Ease of Use


An 8-foot cord gives plenty of space to move around with the PurSteam Pro. The base of the iron is slightly convex, which doesn't help with cord storage. However, its texture provides just enough grip that the cord didn't slide off the end when we wrapped it up to put it away. We love the many attributes of the digital display and temperature indicator. Helpful beeps indicate when it's pausing, and the prominent screen tells you exactly what's going on. Located right on top of the handle, it's easy to see when this model is heated up and ready for use. The controls feel futuristic yet intuitive.


The water reservoir has a slightly larger-than-average-sized opening, though not so large that we were excited about it. However, this iron has a truly massive water tank to keep you ironing for longer between fills. A simple flap covers the opening to the reservoir when you're not filling it up. While we loved the steam output during ironing, the extra water spray is less impressive. Rather than a fine mist, it emits some mist and some small water splotches. This feature isn't meant to wet your fabric but rather to add a little extra moisture in an evenly distributed manner. Unfortunately, it left our fabric somewhat wetter than we'd hoped.

The digital display on the PurSteam offers clear indicators for settings, and temperature and indicates when the iron is hot enough to use.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Should You Buy the PurSteam Pro 1800W?


The PurSteam Pro is an excellent choice for those looking to iron large swaths of fabric with plenty of steam. Its combination of a wide ceramic soleplate and high levels of steam output flattens materials with ease. It's not a great option for small pieces of fabric with complicated features and lots of detailing needs. Though the PurSteam Pro can do some light detailing in a pinch, we love it best for making light work of big projects — and all for a reasonable price.

What Other Irons Should You Consider?


The CHI Steam Titanium is another top-notch iron with great performance across all our metrics and costs not much more than the PurSteam Pro. But if you mostly iron big projects, you love the appearance of a seriously crisp sheet, and you're interested in a high-value item, the PurSteam Pro is one of the highest-scoring models we've tested.

pursteam pro 1800w - the pursteam pro left our sheets crisply pressed in practically no...
The PurSteam Pro left our sheets crisply pressed in practically no time.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Maggie Nichols and Jessica Riconscente