REASONS TO BUY
Decent steam output and ironing performance
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn't excel in any particular aspect
Black & Decker D2030 Review
A reasonable performer at a relatively low price
Credit: Black and Decker
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Our Verdict
The Black & Decker D2030 offers the best combination of performance and price that we've found for those that only need to iron a few shirts, pants, and/or skirts a week. In our testing, it was able to easily smooth out a week's worth of work clothes without putting any unnecessary hurdles in the way. Sure, the higher end models from the likes of Rowenta and CHI heat up a little faster, put out a bit more steam, and glide a bit more smoothly. However, those models also cost more than twice as much in some instances, and we only noticed their advantages when we were ironing for hours on end, or when working on craft projects that required a lot of power and/or precision. So unless your ironing chores take multiple hours, or you're a crafter, the Black & Decker D2030 offers a great value.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
Credit: Katherine Elliott
Ironing Performance
The D2030 earned a 7 in our ironing performance testing. This made it almost exactly average, as scores in this metric ranged from 5 to 9.
All the irons we tested were almost identical in their ability to reduce wrinkles, so scores were essentially determined in this metric by how easily the irons glided while ironing. The D2030 was noticeably less smooth than the top scoring irons, but no to a huge degree. There was certainly more friction to overcome when sliding the D2030 around, but not to an annoying extent. Those who iron high volumes (every week, or multiple time per week) would definitely appreciate the smoother glide of the Editors' Choice Award winning rowenta DW5080 Focus, but most people would be more than satisfied with the D2030's glide.
Steam Output
The D2030 picked up a 6 in our steam output test. This, again, was an average score in a wide ranging metric that had scores between 3 and 9. It created 24 grams per minute of steam during our testing.
This is a respectable rate, but within the same price range there are models that produce significantly more steam. Additionally, the soleplate only has steam holes around the periphery with nothing in the center. While this is a relatively functional layout, more evenly dispersed steam holes would create a more even dissemination of steam into the garment. The burst of steam available from the D2030 packs a decent amount of force, but is fairly low volume in terms of steam. None of these things mean the D2030 won't be able to smooth wrinkles out, it is perfectly effective in doing so. It does mean it may take a few more passes and bursts to make stubborn wrinkles fall in line when compared to more powerful irons. Again, this is a drawback that would become significant if you iron a lot, but would barely be noticeable to more occasional ironers.
The 2030 only has a small amount of steam holes, and it seemesto be limited by this fact. It wasn't a great performer in our steam output testing.
Credit: Katherine Elliott
Ease of Use
The Black & Decker D2030 received the worst score in our ease of use testing. It picked up a 5, while the top scorer earned an 8. Obviously the scores in this metric were tightly packed, so even though the D2030 was the worst scorer in this category, it was not particularly unpleasant to use.
The D2030 features a digital interface that lets you choose a temperature setting based on what type of fabric you're ironing, and it beeps and displays the word 'ready' on its LCD screen when it has reached the desired temperature. Steam output is controlled by a separate dial on the body of the iron. Bursts of steam and mist can be generated by pressing the button on the handle. Our testers felt that the D2030's handle obtained an average level of ergonomics: it felt functional but not especially comfortable. The 8-foot long cord is similarly average, it mostly stays out of the way while ironing, but can be a bit of a pain to coil up when the ironing is done. The opening for the water tank has a small funnel shape to prevent spilling, but we still managed to spill some. Also, its position makes it difficult to fill the water tank directly from a faucet in most sinks. Finally, the body shape of the iron occasionally allows some steam to creep up the side and make the handle uncomfortably hot. While these drawbacks are noticeable, they're probably not worth upgrading to a new iron if you already have the D2030. However, if you're in the market for a new one, better user experiences are available in the same price range.
We found the D2030's shape allows some steam to make its way toward the handle, which can be uncomfortable.
Credit: Katherine Elliott
Heating
The D2030 was one of the faster irons when it came to heating up. It scored a 7 in this metric, which saw scores ranging between 5 and 8. It obtained a temperature of 420˚F after preheating in its hottest setting for two minutes. This means it reaches the 400˚F required for ironing cotton products in less than two minutes. This means less wait time before you start ironing, and thus less time before you're done ironing.
Value
In general, the Black & Decker D2030 generally sells for less than half of what the high-end models cost, but provides plenty of performance for most people's ironing chores. If you're only going to be ironing those few pieces of work clothing that require ironing each week, we think the Black & Decker D2030 offers the best bang for your buck.
Conclusion
Most people will not be disappointed with the Black & Decker 2030, as it offers acceptable performance at a reasonable price. However, since better performance can be found for a lower price in other models, most users would be better served by buying a different product.
—
Max Mutter & Steven Tata
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