I've been using the Amazon Basics Steam Iron for a few weeks now, and it's been a rollercoaster of experiences. At first glance, the stainless-steel soleplate and 1700-watt power seemed promising, but reality had some surprises.

The iron glides smoothly on fabrics, and the water spray function is handy for stubborn wrinkles. However, I noticed it only produces steam at higher settings (like Linen), even when ironing cotton. This feels counterintuitive and wastes energy.

One major annoyance is the leaking issue. When set to fast steam release, water drips out if I stand the iron upright. It’s messy and forces me to use the slower setting, which isn’t always efficient for heavy fabrics.

On the bright side, it heats up quickly, and the lightweight design reduces arm fatigue during long ironing sessions. The cord is a bit short (6.7 ft), so I have to position my ironing board carefully near an outlet.

Would I recommend it? If you get a good unit (some are defective), it’s decent for casual use. But if you need consistent high heat or heavy steaming, look elsewhere.