Rowenta DW9280 SteamForce Review

This steam iron is a high-performing option across the board. The ironing performance and steam output are to die for, and ease of use and heating aren't too shabby either. Read on to learn why we love the Rowenta SteamForce.

Performance Comparison

The SteamForce may be pricey, but it sure is powerful.

Credit: Laura Casner

Ironing Performance

During our hands-on testing, we spent ample time ironing many different fabric styles on the various settings provided by each steam iron. The SteamForce blew us away with its ability to smooth out wrinkles and maneuver around obstacles regardless of the material we were working with.

We started with cotton and linen and found ourselves very pleased with the results. This iron glides easily, and neither material required additional steam to relieve the garment of deep-set wrinkles. It takes one to two passes to remove every crinkle, crumple, and crease, regardless of how deep they appear to be.

No wrinkles left un-smoothed on linen or cotton with the high-quality SteamForce.

Credit: Laura Casner

Silk and synthetic materials require a little more coaxing, although the SteamForce does a wonderful job when measured up next to its competitors. Silk requires multiple steam bursts but leaves no trace of moisture behind. We did experience a few stubborn deep-set wrinkles, but a couple of swipes do the trick for the most part. The synthetic or polyester setting is also very impressive. We found that many of the other irons in our test suite don't get hot enough to remove stubborn creases from materials like polyester and nylon. While these types of material require multiple steam bursts, the heat evaporates up additional moisture to ensure that no drops are left behind.

Not only did we test out each steam iron on different materials, but we did our fair share of detail work too. It was no surprise to us when the SteamForce crushed yet another test. The tapered nose and ergonomic soleplate are perfect for maneuvering around buttons, between pleats, and working with collars. The steam burst is plentiful and strong, and the water sprays out in a fine mist that adds moisture to the spot you're working on without completely soaking the garment.

The light mist helps to alleviate stubborn wrinkles

Credit: Laura Casner

Steam Output

A steam iron is simply a dry iron that emits hot moisture to help reduce wrinkles effectively and efficiently. If you are in the market for a steam iron, you probably want to ensure that the model you are purchasing gives off a generous amount of steam.

During our testing, we measured the number of grams of steam released over one minute and considered how that stream was distributed.

The steam output is the SteamForce's claim to fame.

Credit: Laura Casner

Calling this model the SteamForce was a risky move on Rowenta's part, but boy did they deliver. We have nothing negative to say regarding this metric. This model emits a whopping 69 grams of steam per minute, which is extremely impressive when stacked up against the competitors. Not only does this iron release an impressive amount of steam, but it does so in a perfectly consistent way across 400 strategically placed steam holes on the soleplate.

Just look at all those steam holes.

Credit: Laura Casner

Ease of Use

The SteamForce continued its reign with yet another high score earned in this metric. Here we paid special attention to the cord, general handling, and how easy each iron was to fill up with water.

The cord is really the only characteristic we can complain about with this iron. While there is a nice convex curve on the base of the iron under the soleplate to securely wrap the cord, the cord is a full foot shorter than most of the other options in our test suite. This may not seem like a big deal, but a seven-foot cord is rather short and can hinder the user's ability to iron larger items like bedsheets.

Here we are easily working around buttons with the sharp nose.

Credit: Laura Casner

The soleplate shape and feel of the handle are both great. The spray trigger makes the handle feel more secure and comfortable, while the narrow nose of the soleplate provides some serious precision for working around obstacles like buttons or collars.

When it came to filling the tank, we were impressed with the large funneled hole that guides water nicely into the reservoir. Smaller holes are easy to spill, and steam irons that lack some sort of tapered funnel require precise aim to avoid spillage.

Filling this iron up with water is a breeze.

Credit: Laura Casner

Heating

While steam may be the key element for a steam iron, nothing would work correctly without the heat of the soleplate. In this metric, we paid attention to how quickly the soleplate heats up, whether or not that heat is distributed along the soleplate evenly, and whether or not the heat indicator light works as it should.

The SteamForce performs admirably here, but there is a little room for improvement. The temperature average of the soleplate was 304 degrees Fahrenheit after five minutes — decently impressive, but it's far from the hottest in our review. We also found that the soleplate had some variance in temperature across it. The top and middle all measured 315 degrees Fahrenheit, while the bottom read 55 degrees cooler at 260 degrees Fahrenheit. This is far from a deal-breaker, but it is worth noting.

The temperature indicator on the SteamForce is very informative. Not only does it light up when the iron is up to temp, but it has a different light for each setting. We love this feature.

The SteamForce gets plenty hot, but the soleplate varies in temperature a bit more than we would prefer.

Credit: Laura Casner

Value

The SteamForce is not what we consider a budget-friendly model. In fact, it is one of the most expensive we tested. That said, we still consider this steam iron a great value. You are paying top dollar, but you are getting a well-designed and pleasant to use product.

Conclusion