Just How Perfect Is Rowenta's Perfect Steam Station?

In a hotel room, while attending the 2015 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, it dawned on me: Ironing can be such a chore.

Okay, this idea isn't exactly earth-shattering, but the iron in my hotel room barely fit into my sink to dribble water inside, and then the process of obliterating those creases and wrinkles took longer than it should have. Life is so hard. Why isn't there a device that can take some of the grunt out of the work?

Fortunately, Rowenta’s new DG8250 Perfect Steam Steam Station (MSRP $345) was just a trade show booth away.

By delivering three times more steam than conventional irons, the steam station is able to speed up the ironing process. No wonder Rowenta calls it the Perfect Steam Steam Station. It's a feature so nice they had to name it twice.

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The most obvious difference between the steam station and a conventional iron is the base used to hold the iron. This contraption delivers several key advantages, starting with a 47-ounce removable water tank. The tank attaches to a boiler, and the steam leads through a cord attached to the iron. The cord isn't much thicker than a typical iron's electrical cord, and it's insulated so you won't get burned if it grazes your skin.

By having the boiler and water tank separate from the iron, the device heats up within two minutes and can produce up to 90 minutes of continuous steam. And because the iron itself doesn't hold the water and boiler, it's lighter to use. Coupled with three times the steam output, Rowenta's Perfect Steam Steam Station seems to make the ironing process a bit less onerous—if, at $345, a bit expensive as well.

The powerful steam output and modest weight also mean that you can use the iron for steaming delicates like dresses on hangers, or to refresh fabrics. Rowenta's German heritage—the company is a longstanding manufacturer of smaller home appliances—is hinted at through the steam station's sleek styling, and an "eco" setting that reduces energy consumption by 20 percent.

If there's a downside, it's that the steam station is a bit bulky. You probably wouldn't want it sitting on your ironing board (as we have it pictured above). But the iron comes with a 6-foot cord, meaning the base can sit on the floor under the board (the base comes with a 12-foot electrical cord). The steam station also has a locking system for the iron, allowing for easy transport.

Rowenta has also debuted its new DG7530 Compact Steam Station (MSRP $269.99), offering most of the same features in a slightly smaller package. The model produces two-thirds the steam of the DG8250. The 40.5-ounce water tank for the DG7530 is also not removable.

Rowenta's two steam stations will arrive in stores this August.

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