Choose a steam generator if you regularly press several heavily creased linen placemats, perhaps alongside a larger linen load, and have room for its separate base on a suitable board and in storage. For a few lightly creased placemats pressed occasionally, a conventional steam iron is the less bulky choice. Whichever you choose, follow each placemat’s care label before applying heat or steam.
You press several linen placemats at once but cannot leave an appliance set up between sessions. A generator’s base must fit both your cupboard and the appliance rest on your ironing board. Tefal describes its Express Easy SV6140 as having a footprint smaller than an A4 sheet, though you still need to check its full stored dimensions.
You set aside a pressing session before meals or events and want to deal with pronounced creases. Cordings advises ironing linen while it is slightly damp and using steam, where the item’s care instructions permit it.
You press only a few lightly creased pieces and want an appliance that is simple to put away. A conventional steam iron is worth comparing before making space for a separate-base generator; Which? describes standard steam irons as compact and easy to store.
Decide whether your usual pressing session warrants a separate base, then check where that base will sit and how you will store it. Steam specifications and convenience features matter only after those practical checks.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Storage and setup | Measure the cupboard and the board’s appliance rest. Check that the board is steady, robust and perforated; Tefal recommends these qualities for a steam generator. | If I cannot leave an ironing station out, both the stored base and a workable place to set it down matter. Around 50% of consumers put storage and setup first. |
| Crease-removal capacity | Compare stated continuous steam and tank capacity with the size of your usual linen batch, rather than relying on a steam-boost figure alone. | When several placemats are heavily creased, I would rather press them in one session than keep stopping to refill. Sustained pressing capacity comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Fabric handling and upkeep | Check each placemat’s care label, the model’s controls and its own water and descaling instructions. | If my placemats include blends or I iron other textiles in the same session, I want straightforward setting changes and maintenance. Around 17% of consumers prioritise that lower-intervention routine. |
A separate base needs cupboard room and a suitable place on the board. Morphy Richards lists its SteamElite Plus at 27.8 × 37 × 45.6 cm and 4.95 kg; that example shows why the full unit matters, not just the hand iron.
Measure the storage shelf, access route and board rest against the dimensions of the exact model you are considering.
The separate base adds an item to store and set up. Expert Reviews discusses steam generators in the context of larger volumes and heavily creased fabrics, while Which? notes the storage advantage of standard steam irons.
If you usually press only a few placemats, compare a conventional steam iron before choosing a generator for occasional sessions.
Permitted water and scale-care procedures differ by model. Morphy Richards also makes maintenance a condition of the SteamElite Plus guarantee.
Read the exact model manual before filling or descaling the appliance, rather than applying a general rule about distilled water.
Product recalls apply to the models and identifying codes named in the notice, not automatically to every appliance from the same brand. A UK government notice identifies a hot-steam burn risk for specified Philips pressurised steam generators.
For older, outlet or second-hand stock, compare the appliance’s model and code with the UK government product-recall notice before use.
Tefal’s Express Easy SV6140 is a relevant reference when cupboard space is the main constraint: Tefal describes its footprint as smaller than an A4 sheet.
The PerfectCare 7000 PSG7300/20 is relevant if you also press mixed ironable textiles and want steam operation tied to movement.
The SteamElite Plus is a reference for larger ironing sessions where tank capacity takes priority over compact storage.
These steam generators are options to consider for pressing placemats in batches. Compare the exact model’s stored size with your cupboard and board rest; a conventional steam iron remains an alternative for smaller, occasional sessions.
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Consider this separate-base generator if you press several placemats in a session and have room to set up and store it.
The product name specifies 2800 W and a 1.8 L water tank. Check the full stored dimensions and the board’s appliance rest before buying.
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This is another separate-base option to assess if you prefer to press a batch rather than individual placemats as needed.
The product name specifies 7.5 bar pressure, a 1.5 L tank, FreeGlide 3D and iCare technology. Confirm its dimensions, board-rest fit and exact water instructions before use.
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Consider this model for a dedicated pressing session if a separate base suits your storage and board setup.
The product name specifies 2400 W. Check the unit’s full dimensions and the placemats’ care labels rather than assuming it will fit your space or suit every fabric.
A conventional steam iron is generally the less bulky choice if you press a few lightly creased placemats occasionally. A generator becomes more relevant when you tackle heavily creased linen or a larger pile in one session, provided you can accommodate its base and board setup.
Use a board that is steady and robust enough for the appliance. Tefal also recommends a perforated board and a cover that lets steam pass through; measure the appliance rest against the generator’s base before buying.
Start with each placemat’s care label. For linen that permits ironing and steam, Cordings advises pressing while the fabric is slightly damp and ironing darker or printed pieces on the reverse where appropriate.
Follow the instructions for the exact model rather than assuming one water rule applies to all generators. Tefal’s SV7112 guidance describes untreated tap water and a 50/50 tap-and-distilled mixture where water is very hard; Morphy Richards specifies no more than 50% deionised, distilled or demineralised water for the SteamElite Plus.
Yes, match the appliance’s model and identifying code to any relevant UK government product-recall notice, particularly for older or second-hand stock. A notice concerning specified Philips pressurised steam generators describes a hot-steam burn risk; it does not establish that unrelated Philips models are affected.