Customer Reviews

Rowenta DG-980 Expert Steam Generator

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Ok I will be the first to review - and from a guy :) Let me start off with I iron all of my clothes which my wife stipulated before we got married :) Ok so being a guy I did not want to spend hours ironing my shirts plus I wanted them to look as if they came from the dry cleaners. I had the Rowenta Professional and honestly it was horrible. So I almost did not go with Rowenta but as I researched steam generators it came down to this and Euro-Pro. I decided to stick with Rowenta and I am glad I did. My ironing is a snap. The steam that comes out of this machine is unbelievable and that is what removes wrinkles. I highly recommend this iron if you want to cut your ironing in half. Also be sure and call Rowenta customer service and see if there is a rebate. I called with questions and then asked about a rebate they then sent out a form just from Rowenta - 20 bucks. Helps with the sting of a $200 iron :)

Pros:
1.STEAM!!! Lots of it and very powerful.
2.You can steam hanging garments.
3.Big water basin in the base so no more running out of water

Cons:
1. It is bulky. Can't hang on the wall :)
2. After about 15 irons you do need to rinse out the boiler. Very easy but price you pay for the steam.
3.Creates a rumble noise every once in awhile while the water is being injected into the boiler.

Okay - I'll admit right from the start that I'm an ironing fanatic. I iron everything - including towels, socks, and cleaning rags. I probably come as close to an ironing expert as you'll ever encounter.

That said, I've used a lot of irons, and a steam generator iron is no ordinary iron. If you've never used a Rowenta iron at all, it's hard to imagine the difference a good iron makes. And if you've never used a steam generator iron, it's even harder to imagine the difference. But trust me on this one.

I've had a Rowenta Professional (regular steam iron) for about 10 years. It's performed very well for me and the steam function is beyond the capability of almost any iron out there. Rowenta irons are generally heavy but well balanced and make the job of ironing much less tedious, although I won't go so far as to say pleasurable.

However, I recently had the occasion to use a steam generator iron (another brand), and I knew right then that I would never go back to a traditional steam iron. Fortunately, my old workhorse Rowenta Professional was either feeling jilted or decided to help me towards my goal, and it coughed and sputtered to it's eventual death. It did, however, have a long and well used life.

I decided on this Rowenta steam generator for several reasons. First, my experience with Rowenta. I think that Rowenta is simply stated the top of the line when it comes to ironing products. Secondly, this particular model appealed to me because it can be filled while in use, although unless you are a heavy ironer like me, it's unlikely that you will ever need to do that. You can literally iron for hours with almost constant steam with this baby before refilling.

The iron is heavy but well balanced and easy to handle. The handle is comfortable, and the location of the steam trigger (underside of the handle) is very comfortable to use. The steam generator is easy to fill with water. It heats up incredibly quickly - about 3 minutes or less - which makes it convenient to turn it off and on between loads of laundry.

The soleplate of the iron gets very hot, but is nonstick and helps the ironing go much faster.

However, the best feature of this iron definitely is the steam. Again, if you haven't used a steam generator, it's difficult to describe how much of a difference the constant steam makes to the final outcome of the job. The steam can be either a damp or dry steam and can also be used vertically on hanging items or curtains. I have never been able to get my clothing and linens to look as professionally pressed with any other iron.

Yes, a $200+ iron is a large investment, but it is an iron that will last for years and years and will make the job much easier, and possibly even enjoyable. I can't guarantee that you will come to love ironing as much I do, but I can guarantee that this iron will make you not hate it so much.

After a year of wanting a Laurastar unit, but not wanting to spring for the hefty price tag, my wife finally bought me a Rowenta DG-980 for Christmas. I must say I'm delighted with it. As the other reviewers have said, there's so much steam that your ironing takes at least 50% less time (for me). Plus, the results are better than a conventional steam iron. My mom tried it and she loved it, too. I'm thinking of getting her one for Mother's Day. (LOL).

Anyways, if you're considering a Laurastar but don't have the $800 - $1000, try my set up: a Brabantia 18" wide ironing board with iron rest and linen rack. The steam generator can be placed nicely on the linen rack underneath where it's out of the way and it fits nicely there. (Don't worry, the steam hose reaches perfectly from that location.) The Brabantia's iron rest has a high temperature silicone rubber bumper, the same material Rowenta uses on the DG-980's iron rest. The Brabantia is very stable, too. It's a great set up. Highly recommended!

This is the 3rd Rowenta iron I've owned and the 2nd steam generator version. My earlier one (similar to the DG580) lasted through about four years of heavy use. (With that one, it was the on/off switch that gave out.) I have to hand it to the engineers at Rowenta; they have made significant improvements to what was already a fine system.

First of all, the steam on this 980 is amazing. I actually think they may have improved on the volume. (As a side note, if you are sick of irons that leak water, then you should absolutely buy a generator.)

The biggest reason why I really like this iron over its predecessor is that it holds a lot more water, heats up quickly, displays the water level and lets you refill it while it's hot. Plus they made the ironing end sturdier, and the base bit more narrow. Obviously though, this system will take up more space in a closet than a regular iron.

I am giving this 5 stars even though I am worried about one aspect. To make the big improvements I listed above, Rowenta had to introduce an internal pump that moves water from the tank to the heating chamber. (This is the cause of the periodic rumbling another reviewer mentioned.) I am worried because whenever you introduce a motor you provide a new way for the machine to break. However it's not really fair to knock something for having the "potential" to break, and all in all I think it's a good trade off.

In my opinion, buyers should not have their heart set on this this machine lasting 8 to 10 years, in the way a typical iron might. That being said, I have no doubt that users will be BLOWN AWAY by the volume and quality of steam it creates. I truly will shorten your ironing time, and raise the quality of your work.

I first used the Rowenta Steam Generator a couple of weeks ago while on a Radisson Cruise ship in the Caribean a couple of weeks ago. It was so much quicker than a regular iron and did such a professional job that I was actually enjoying ironing! There is tons of steam and that is what makes the process so fast and the results so professional looking. I bought one as soon as I got back and love it.

This is my first steam generator, and I must say it works great!! In the past, I've always purchased inexpensive irons because I've always thought every iron was the same. I'd have to struggle and repeatedly pass the iron a few times in the same area just to get some of the wringles out, and it still had the "just came out of the hamper" look!

I HATE IRONING!! Fed up with cheap irons, I felt there had to be an iron out there that can handle like a dream and take out the wrinkles with ease. I researched on-line and read all the good reviews on the Rowenta Expert Steam Generator, so I made up my mind and purchased the iron. A bit pricey, but it handles like a dream! The Rowenta Expert irons with ease, smooths out the wrinkles professionally, and clothes come out just as crisp as if you had sent them to the cleaners. I still hate to iron, but it makes my job easier and my clothes looked professionally pressed. Thanks, Rowenta!

This iron is well worth the little extra space it takes up on my ironing board. Wrinkle-removing steam is produced within the 3 minutes mentioned in the literature. I easily glid the iron over heavily creased cotton once and the wrinkles disappeared. Thus far I am very pleased and would recommend this model. I purchased a $100 Rowenta iron in 1996 and it still heats up nicely and am keeping it for messy craft projects. However, I recommend using bottled water in the unit as tap water, particularly in areas where the infrastructure is old, can stain garments and leave residue behind in any iron which is time consuming to remove. I researched other units and the removable tank and the secure iron receptacle on the base are important features to me. The price on Amazon was fair with the promotional $25 discount and free shipping given the unit recently auctioned off on e-Bay for $193 plus shipping. Hope to be using this iron years from now as was the case with my old Rowenta.

As a quilter, I bought the Rowenta Steam Generator to hopefully improve my time and trouble in the "ironing" part of the quilting process. I spent way more time at the iron then at the sewing machine - messing with fabric sizing and clunky steam irons struggling to get the results I needed in order to proceed with the project.

OHMYGOSH! With the Rowenta Steam Generator I feel like I am cheating! It is so easy and so simple now to get away from the ironing board and back to the sewing machine! I have no need of messy spray starch or magic sizing because the steam conquers those wrinkles and resizes the fabric in the way that I want - just from the pure power of steam, and lots of it! (In fact, do not waste your money and effort using starches or sizing, because it is just not neccessary as well as sticks to the sole plate-UGH!)

My family fell in love with my steam generator as well. After they got over the shock of using such a different looking "critter," they lined up to do their daily ironing chores with such enthusiasm! I am now proud to say that my 20 yr old daughter is finally sporting crisply ironed denim and cotton dresses - that she avoided ironing or even wearing before! My husband apologizes as he trips over my quilting stuff to get to my steam generator to iron his work shirts - yes he loves ironing them himself now!

I have read where some people have complained of running out of water too fast for such a large tank. Not a problem for me! Before I would have to fill those messy spitting steam irons with a cup and had water pouring out all over my projects! And had to do that many, MANY times a day! Now I simply lift the tank and take it to the sink for an easy - even enjoyable filling up of my wonderful steam tank. The opening is sized just right to let the stream of water from my bathroom sink fill it up full force without spraying over! So easy and efficient! Plus - I only have to fill it once per day!

I also read of someone complaining of the space it takes up on the ironing board. You won't hear me complain - it takes up just a little more then a regular iron - but I don't have spray starch cans on the ironing board anymore! Not only did I have a couple of brands sitting on the edge, I also had a small pan to balance them on - to keep them from falling off as I ironed! (it all fell off anyway as I had to so aggressively iron to get the fabric smoothed and re-sized!) I also used to have problems with the iron itself, falling off the ironing board. Not anymore - with the special frame and grips on which you place the iron, I have NEVER had it fall off.

(I got used to placing it back on - the first day!)

I also went though several irons a year, because of damage done to the irons from falling off the ironing board. When You buy higher end irons - that really adds up! With this permanent investement - I will certainly save money!

I love my new set-up!

Turned all the way up, the steam will steam up your glasses -but just backing it off a little will help with that problem.

I wish I had bought the Rowenta soleplate cleaner when I bought the steam generator originally, because now I need it to get the starch off - but it really has not hindered its performance in anyway. Just discolored it a little.

Oh and about my quilting - I am getting through my projects 4 times faster now! FOUR TIMES!

It has defintely outperformed my hopes and expectations.

Again - its worth Every penny! More quilts made - more money made!

This is my second Rowenta steam generator iron. I would never use any other brand or type of iron!!! To iron with it is pure heaven!!! I never liked to iron before I had this type and as weird as it sounds, ironing is actually fun with this one. (Fun meaning it is easy to use and you get great results.) I previously bought the Superpress 050 model approximately three years ago. It recently developed a problem that I am sure was caused by my not flushing out the tank periodically as recommended. (So when the instructions tell you to do that I guess they really mean it!) Rather than part with it to send it off to be repaired I didn't hesitate to buy a new one and in doing that I upgraded to this model. This model has some additional features that make it well worth the extra money. It has a removable fill tank that is invaluable to have if you run out of steam while ironing. (My old model had to completely cool down before refilling....not good if you have to iron something right away.....the cool down takes a long time.) The other great feature is a special hose to use to periodically flush out the tank.....as recommended! I love this iron so much that I have joked about starting an Internet fan club for it. If you iron your clothes and enjoy having them look professionally ironed you will not be dissapointed with this appliance!!!

I work in a fine retail clothing store. Because of old wiring we are limited on the type of irons we can use. We give irons extremely heavy use and have gone through 3 of these irons in 3 years so I don't recommend it for commercial use, but all of us would love to have one at home. Not only does it press well, vertical steaming is wonderful and the iron itself is very lightweight because the water is in the boiler rather than the iron. It can be refilled without having to cool off first. (The biggest advantage over their older model.) Do be sure to use tap or drinking water. Distilled is a real no-no. A nice hose system is included to clean out the boiler. Just do it regularly and don't let water sit in the boiler without use for long periods of time. We are currently using a commercial iron at work (Reliable brand) that works with our electric service. It is Italian and stainless steel and no problems after 8 months of use, but also cost $500 and much heavier to hold up during vertical steaming. Very nice but I'd take the Rowenta for home use any day.