Philips GC9230 PerfectCare Pressurised Steam Generator

Potentially great iron. Unfortunately became faulty after 1 month gushing out scalding hot water instead of steam. Returned it for repair but it came back to us with the same issue.

If you are convinced by the other reviews as i was please be prepared to have to buy a backup iron.

I am very unsatisfied by Philips customer service and shalln't purchase this brand again.

Nobody loves ironing but Philips have definately changed my views on ironing with this new state of the art iron. The Philips PerfectCare Optimal temp iron is the queen bee of irons and Philips have done exactly what they say on the box and done it well!

This Iron glides effortlessly from wools to jeans with out the user having to touch a fiddly dial to change the temperature. The iron magically recongnises the fabric using an Advanced Smart Control Procesor. No more burnt iron plates or ruined silk blouses. This saves time as you no longer have to wait for the iron to cool or heat up between garments.

I loved the huge 1.5 litre tank that gives up to 2 hours worth of ironing and the quick 2 minute start up and ready to go.Its easy to see with this product why Philips have earned the title of 'World's No 1 Ironing Brand' its amazing and has saved me time and effort to the point where I quite enjoy ironing, compared to the previous chore it was and I would recommend to friends and family.

Having previously had a steam generator which got damaged in a cupboard due to the tip being hit, one of the huge advantages for me was the safety lock which holds the iron securely and enables you to carry it by the handle.

You will need more storage space than a normal iron but it is an average size compared to other steam generators.

I am down on my knees to praise Philips for this amazing perfectcare steam generator system. It’s is absolutely amazing you will never burn anything again. So that’s no black marks ever on your clothing, as it does all the thinking and temperature setting for you. It has a descaling system too so no brown steam marks shooting out when you need to iron that item quickly.

This has been sent from heaven, as even my little angels (teenage boys) can be trust to iron now.

Thank you Philips for inventing the fairy godmother of all irons

After years of putting off the ironing as it would take me so long and give me half decent results, I finally listened to a friend who owns a steam generator iron and took the plunge with the Philips Perfect Care Steam Generator GC9230. I still don't love ironing (does anyone) but it's now a heck of a lot quicker and easier.

I did my research and chose Philips as they give a 30 day money back guarantee; a 2 year warrantee and this iron had been tested and approved by independent textile experts Woolmark and Gold. Philips is the world's number one ironing brand and also won the 2011 Which Awards Best Small Home Appliance Brand - yes, I really do do my research.

When the box arrived it was rather large but once out of the packaging the system itself is quite compact compared to some generator irons I have seen. It also looks really nice in white and blue.

The whole system weighs 5kg but you are only lifting the iron once in place which is really light at 1.2kg as the water is contained in the base unit.

You will need more room for storage than your average iron so think about where it might go unless you are happy to have it sitting on the kitchen surface.

There is an instruction booklet but there is also a quick start guide on the box lid itself and that's all I needed to get going. There are a few images showing you how to fill the water tank, plug it in, switch it on, wait 2 minutes for the temperature indicator to show and off you go, all ready to start ironing. It really is that simple.

The detachable water tank holds an impressive 1.5l and will quite easily get through about 2 hours of ironing, about the maximum I am willing to stand about ironing so perfect for me. There is a water level indicator and a dry tank alert though so you always know how much is left. Always empty it after each use if there is any water left to keep the iron in tip top condition.

It even has an easy de-calc which takes less than a minute. On the iron it says this is the easiest and most efficient anti-calc system from Philips and I can see why. There is a small dial on the side that you twist and after emptying the contents you simply twist it back in again, make sure it's tight or you may get a little leakage. My Mum was so jealous of that function when she used it. It's also the only job my hubby will do when it comes to the ironing so he's very happy that this job now involves minimal effort.

On the advertising it says - 'The iron always delivers the perfect combination of steam and temperature on all ironable garments. It is safe on all delicate fabrics like (silk, synthetic, wool, polyester) and effective on tough fabrics. Easy to use - you can now iron all garments one after the other, without having to wait or adjust the temperature dial'. "Surely not" I thought - no temperature dial, no waiting for 5 minutes between different fabrics while the iron cools or hots up! SO, to test it I got one of my silk scarves, much to my mother's terror and placed it on the ironing board with the iron left in place on it for 5 minutes! I was secretly terrified but there was no need to worry, there was no smell of burning, no damaged fabric, the iron hadn't left a mark on it!

I can go from silks to denim, one after the other and back again, fabulous! The iron has a ceramic soleplate which glides perfectly meaning no more sticking to clothes and that moment of panic when you lift the iron to see what damage has been done. It's so smooth and easy to use, even when you're tackling those dreaded crumpled up bed sheets!

Its steam functions are impressive, a steam ready indicator and a 240g a minute shot of steam which will eliminate all those stubborn creases. It has a vertical steam capability too so you can freshen up your curtains whilst they are still hanging or quickly steam through a dress or suit that's been sitting in the wardrobe a little too long.

Other little features I like are that the base unit has a carry lock which locks the iron in place when not in use. It makes it easier to move around as one unit when storing it away. The base does stay warm for quite a while after use so leave it to cool thoroughly before picking it up and storing it. There is also a 1.8 metre power cord which is more than enough length and means you can have the base on the floor and just the iron on the board if you want to. A sturdy board is a must if you want to leave both the base and the iron on the board securely. The cord then folds away into a little compartment on the side of the iron. This can be fiddly to start with but you get the hang of it.

When first using it I did accidentally push the steam button a few times as it's on the top of the iron handle which would make me jump and send steam everywhere but I'm used to it now and it doesn't happen as often. It's only a small gripe as I otherwise love this iron.

The only other steam generator I ever owned made a heck of a noise when in use which is what put me off owning another for so long but this is so quiet, only the odd noise whilst it first heats up and once in a while when the water passes along the cord.

I would easily recommend this to others searching for a steam generator iron.

Now I have been introduced to steam generators I wish I had known about it earlier. This Iron(Philips GC9230 PerfectCare Pressurised Steam Generator) is fantastic and does exactly what it says on the tin! I have a big family with three young children,making ironing one of my feared chores-well until I discovered this Iron. It heats up within two minutes so I don't have to wait for too long. Ironing is brilliant, just one sweep at the garment then it is done. No need to go over the same area too many times.

Even more amazing is its latest technology, even if you leave the iron on a fabric for 5 minutes wont burn your clothes-seriously! This is quite useful for somebody like me who can get easily distracted by kids/phone or whatever...

The only down side about it is the price but honestly I think it is money well spent. Makes life so much easier. When I received it the box was huge but the iron itself is not that bulky,not heavier than the rest. In conclusion, the phillips perfect care is in a league of its own. Worth every penny spent on it.

Wow! I was impressed! I hate ironing, do very little! The steam was amazing, it was quick, and so easy to use, a big thumbs up from me! Sunday mornings wont be the same!

It even has technology that senses what the fabric is, we tried it on a silk scarf, and it didnt burn it after 5 mins! in fact it switched its self off! Wow! No excuses now kids!

I would recommend this product, for use, but I was surprised at its cost, much lower than I expected.

Been looking for an iron for ages and came across the Philips Perfect Care Steam Generator Iron and it sounded too good to be true, but i am so impressed with it i had to write a review !

Im not the perfect housewife and with 3 teenage Children and a husband you can imagine my ironing pile gets bigger and bigger and this iron has saved me loads of time. The Optimal Temp means i don't have to turn the iron up for bedding and linen or turn it down to iron the football tops or delicate clothing it automatically does it for you ! Don't ask me how. You can even sit it on a silk scarf for 5 minutes and it won't burn. The water tank is huge so it means you don't have to keep filling it up water every 5 minutes. It also has a light on it which flashes if you need to de scale it, and it has an easy knob on it that is easy to descale the iron. If you have children its good too as it has a lock on the iron which makes it hard for children to get near the sole plate of the iron. Forgot to say it actually switches itself off if its not been used for ten minutes which is brilliant if your easily distracted like me.

If your looking for an easy to use, save time iron, this is the one for you ! Absolutely Brilliant

After years of being a happy steam iron user, a steam generator iron seemed a pointless luxury - but after having tried one (Philips PerfectCare GC9230/02I) am impressed by the how fast I get through the ironing and how little effort is required even with the heaviest of fabrics such as jeans. Having spent the afternoon ironing silk union jacks I can vouch for the fact that no matter how long you hold the iron on a delicate fabric there was no burn or scorch as you would expect.

If you buy this make sure you look at the ironing board to, it's vast - which again helps get through your shirts faster as there are less turns to make. There are side flaps that rise up to let you iron the chest/collar area. It's sturdy with a handy support for the ironing flex - which is great as my last irons' lead would fray as it rubbed against the metal of the stand.

All-round a good investment if you want to cut your time spent ironing or have lots of delicate fabrics to iron.