The Tefal QT2020 IXEO Power turns the tables

Do you panic when, just as you're about to leave the house, you realise you still have to iron your shirt or blouse? Welcome to the club. I too only iron reluctantly. That's why I forgo the long ironing sessions after washing and iron clothes that tend to crease just before wearing them. Since I haven't yet found the perfect steam brush, I'm on the hunt for an effective solution.

Clothes steamers

EUR382,79

Tefal QT2020 IXEO Power

2170 W, 90 g/min

94

Clothes steamers

EUR382,79

Tefal QT2020 IXEO Power

2170 W, 90 g/min

94

When I heard about Tefal's QT2020 IXEO Power from our Category, my curiosity was immediately piqued. The manufacturer of the all-in-one claims that the device works as an ironing board as well as a steamer. In fact, this is made possible by an adjustable Smartboard that you can use in vertical, horizontal and 30-degree tilt positions. This device is well worth a try. That's also the opinion of user A. Skywalker from our community.

The preparation

The postman delivers to me a parcel weighing just over 14 kilos containing a large box and three small packages all labelled. So I know straight away where each part is for assembly; that said, all those different boxes generate a lot of waste unnecessarily.

Confident, I start unpacking and assembling the various pieces. In a matter of seconds, my living room is transformed into a real battlefield. I'm a bit puzzled at first and, despite the instructions, I don't really know where I should place each piece. In the end, I managed to assemble the steamer in about thirteen minutes. Now I just have to recycle all this rubbish properly.

I notice straight away that the adjustable stand is a bit wobbly; for that matter, even the ironing board could be more stable. Will it be the horror of ironing? Even though the plastic is ubiquitous, the iron and base station are high quality. It looks like Tefal has invested the most in the main part of the device. As well as the board, base station and adjustable stand, the package also contained a textile brush for heavy fabrics, a removable iron and a hook for hanging clothes.

Practice

After filling the tank, which holds 1.1 litres of water, I plug the cable into the socket and press the on button. I search in vain for different modes, as the ironing soleplate can be used on all materials, even silk. That's why there's no need to set the temperature on the QT2020 IXEO Power.

I'm waiting impatiently for the famous gurgling sound that central steamers make. But I hear nothing. Just before the 70 seconds it takes for the appliance to switch on have elapsed, I suddenly hear it. I'm impressed by how little noise the appliance makes. Once the indicator light is no longer flashing, I grab the iron and press the trigger on the underside of the handle three times to activate the steam.

I then place the iron on the stand and grab my green linen blouse, which will be my guinea pig. This natural material is most easily ironed after being washed and dried in 'ready to iron' mode, so still slightly damp. Since I want to see how good the QT2020 IXEO Power really is, I iron my dried blouse in 'ready to store' mode. I hang the hanger vertically from the hook on the Smartboard and use the iron in steamer mode. "According to Tefal, it has a steam pressure of 5.8 bar, a continuous steam flow of up to 90 g/min and a maximum pressing function of 200 g/min. When it comes to steam pressure, this steamer is no match for the Laurastar steam ironing station that my boyfriend owns.

The handle is nice. I'm amazed at how light the iron is. It feels like a child's iron in my hand. The steam function is convincing. I don't get the same results with my traditional portable steam station. Now I position the board horizontally, place the blouse on it and start ironing. The iron satisfactorily smoothes the blouse even without using steam. The result is great.

What always bothers me a little is the weight of the iron. Usually when I iron, I feel like the weight of the iron smooths the fabric even more. I need to get rid of this feeling, because I've noticed green on black (blouse on board) that this featherweight works. What's more, I'm convinced by the precision of the iron's tip, which allows me to reach every nook and cranny of my blouse. What I find a little annoying, however, is the location of the steam button. Every time I put the iron down, I unintentionally press it with my index finger and let steam out.

Ironing and straightening also work really well if I tilt the board at 30°. At first, I have to get used to this unusual ironing position, but in the end, it's the most comfortable, as I can easily alternate between smoothing and ironing this way.

The cable length of 1.9 metres is ideal for me, as I'm 1.73 metres tall. The fact that the board wobbles a bit isn't bothersome, despite my initial scepticism. If it were more stable, the system would still be of higher quality. What's more, the board is deliberately half the size of a conventional ironing board, as it's only intended for clothes and isn't suitable for ironing sheets.

As part of this test, I can't check whether the steam pressure actually eliminates 99.9% of germs and bacteria, as I lack the means to do so. The steam is powerful enough to refresh clothes that have already been worn. Eliminating unpleasant odours is particularly good for the summer months. Thanks to the carrying handle and removable stand, you can easily move the base station to freshen curtains, sofas and bedding. You may need an extension cord, though, as the 1.9 metre cable is relatively short. Speaking of the cable: there's no automatic rewind.

Overview

The Tefal QT2020 IXEO Power is ideal for people like me who are lazy about ironing, as it's compact and can be used quickly. What's more, its steam power is strong enough to smooth and gently iron clothes effortlessly, even my silk blouses. The reservoir allows you to iron five to seven items without interruption. In terms of manoeuvrability, the all-in-one steam steamer is just what I need for everyday use. However, if you're looking for a steam ironing station with which you can also iron large fabrics such as sheets or curtains, this isn't the device for you.

The location of the steam button and the unstable Smartboard are the only downsides to the QT2020 IXEO Power. At a price like this, I'd expect a stable stand. That said, since the result is more important than the design here, I'm going to overlook this detail. This is where my quest for the perfect steam steamer ends.