Choose a steam generator whose tank and continuous-steam arrangement suit the number of covers you press, but let each cover’s care label determine whether and how it can be ironed or steamed. For regular batches, consider refilling and scale maintenance; for mixed fabrics or sensitive detailing, pay closer attention to fabric-care settings without assuming they override the label.
If your covers have zips, piping, prints, embroidery or blended backing fabric, the treatment permitted for the whole cover matters more than choosing the strongest steam setting. GINETEX advises using the article’s care label to establish its treatment limits.
If you press several removable covers or other household textiles in one session, tank refilling, sustained steam and scale maintenance are practical parts of the choice.
If you press covers only periodically, consider the space the generator needs between uses and whether its cleaning routine suits how often you use it.
Start with the cover’s ironing and steam symbols, then decide whether your usual session calls for sustained steam, easier refilling or a simpler storage and cleaning routine.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric-safe pressing | Read the cover’s ironing symbol and temperature limit; check whether steam is permitted before selecting a setting. | With prints, trims or mixed materials on my cover, I need to follow the treatment allowed for the whole item. Around 42% of consumers put fabric-safe pressing first. |
| Batch pressing | Compare stated continuous steam, tank capacity and how the tank is refilled, rather than relying on a brief steam-boost figure. | When several covers need pressing together, I want to limit refill interruptions while working through them; around 33% of consumers prioritise batch pressing. |
| Storage and scale upkeep | Check the base dimensions and the exact model’s cleaning instructions, including access to any scale collector. | For occasional sessions, I need somewhere practical to store the base and a cleaning routine I can keep up with. Around 25% of consumers make storage and upkeep their primary concern. |
A zip, print, application or backing may limit how the whole cover can be treated, even when its face fabric is cotton.
Check the cover’s care label before pressing, and do not use steam if its ironing instructions rule steam out.
A stated pressure or short steam burst does not establish how well an iron removes creases throughout a session. Which? also assesses factors such as usability, durability and limescale resistance when testing irons.
Consider continuous steam, tank and refill design, maintenance, and relevant independent tests alongside the headline figures.
Steam generators use different cleaning arrangements, so the routine that suits one model may not suit another.
Read the exact model’s instructions for water and cleaning, and check how accessible its tank or scale collector is before buying.
The wording of a listing alone cannot establish whether an individual item’s electrical configuration and documentation are appropriate for its intended use.
For use in Great Britain, check the exact product’s electrical details, supplier identity and documentation rather than relying on its title or image.
Tefal has steam-generator models with different tank capacities and stated steam outputs that may be relevant to repeated cover pressing.
Philips has a model aimed at reducing manual setting changes across ironable fabrics.
Russell Hobbs offers a Steam Power Black generator that occasional cover pressers may wish to assess.
Morphy Richards has generator models with different stated steam and tank arrangements.
These steam generators are relevant to pressing ironable cushion covers. Compare each model’s stated features with the length of your usual session, your storage space and, above all, the treatment allowed by each cover’s care label.
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For sessions involving several ironable covers, consider whether the 1.8 L tank suits your refilling and storage needs. The SV8154G0 is specified at 2800 W; use heat and steam only as the individual cover’s care label permits.
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If your covers need different ironing temperatures, compare the PSG2000/20’s controls with their care-label limits. It is specified at 2400 W; check its tank and refill arrangement if you regularly press several covers at once.
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For ironable covers where a fabric-care setting matters, check how the IS2565BL’s iCare controls fit each cover’s instructions. This variant specifies 7.5-bar pressure and a 1.5 L tank; consult its cleaning instructions if you plan frequent sessions.
No: follow the ironing and steam instructions on the individual cover, not its cotton content alone. GINETEX explains that a care label identifies the treatment limit for the textile article, which may include more sensitive components than its face fabric.
Compare continuous steam for sustained pressing, then consider tank capacity and refilling. A steam-boost figure describes a short burst, so it should not replace those checks when you expect to work through several covers.
Check and follow the cleaning routine for the exact model you choose. Manufacturers specify different arrangements, including removable collectors, anti-calc systems and automatic cleaning, while Which? includes limescale resistance in its iron assessments.
Check the exact item’s electrical configuration, supplier identity and product documentation. A UK-facing product title or image does not establish whether an individual iron meets the requirements applicable to it; check requirements for Northern Ireland separately if that is where you will use it.