Morphy Richards 332013
Morphy Richards
Ironing is one of those chores everyone wants to finish faster, and a stack of school shirts, bedding, and jeans piling up on a Sunday night is exactly the scenario the Morphy Richards 332013 Steam Generator Iron with Autoclean was built to solve. This isn't a compact travel iron or a basic steam iron you'd use for the occasional shirt — it's a full steam generator system, meaning a separate pressurised boiler does the hard work of producing steam, while the iron itself stays light in your hand. For households drowning in laundry, that distinction matters more than almost anything else on the spec sheet. Below, we break down exactly what that means in daily use, where this iron earns its keep, and where it falls short.
Design and Build Quality
A steam generator iron is really two products in one: a compact iron head and a separate steam-producing base unit connected by a hose. On the 332013, that base station carries almost all of the weight — the total package tips the scales at just under 5kg, but the iron you actually lift and manoeuvre over your ironing board weighs only about 1kg. That's a meaningful difference from a traditional heavy-bottomed iron, where all that mass is in your hand and wrist for the entire session. Here, the heft sits on the ironing board (or a stable surface beside it) while your arm only has to guide a genuinely light head across the fabric.
The soleplate is ceramic rather than stainless steel or non-stick coated aluminium. Ceramic soleplates are prized for glide because they heat evenly and have a naturally smooth, low-friction surface, which matters when you're working across a mix of fabrics — cottons and linens one minute, delicates the next. The handle is described as soft-grip, which is a small detail that becomes important during long ironing sessions, since a slick or hard-edged handle turns an hour of ironing into a genuinely tiring one.
Cabling is one of those unglamorous specs that quietly makes or breaks the ownership experience. This model comes with a 2-metre power cord and a 1.8-metre steam supply hose connecting the iron to the base. Combined, that gives you real freedom to position the base unit away from the wall socket and still comfortably reach every corner of a full-size ironing board, rather than fighting a cord that's just slightly too short.
Core Performance: Steam Output and Pressure Explained
The headline numbers here are steam output, boost pressure, and bar pressure, so let's translate what they actually mean for the person doing the ironing.
| Specification | What It Means For You |
|---|---|
| Bar pressure (6.5 bar) | This figure describes how forcefully steam is pushed through the soleplate. Higher pressure means steam penetrates deeper into thick or layered fabric rather than just sitting on the surface, so creases in heavy fabric release with less back-and-forth effort from you. In practical terms, a higher-pressure system like this is what allows the manufacturer's claim of ironing folded sheets or duvets in one pass on each side, rather than having to iron every single layer individually. |
| Continuous steam output (200g/min) | This is the steady stream of steam the iron produces during normal use — think of it as the baseline "engine" that's constantly softening fibres as you glide across fabric. A higher continuous output generally means less repeated passing over the same spot to loosen a crease. |
| Steam boost (310g/min) | This is a short, more concentrated burst you trigger on demand for particularly stubborn areas — a folded hem, a heavy seam, or a crumpled cuff. It's worth understanding that this boost function is not something you can hold down for continuous extra steam; it fires a short, factory-timed burst each time you press it, with a brief pause needed before it can fire again. Think of it as a targeted spot-treatment tool rather than a sustained power mode, and plan your ironing technique accordingly — one firm press per stubborn spot, not repeated stabbing at the button. |
| Heat-up time (2 minutes) | Steam generators need to bring a separate boiler up to temperature and pressure, which historically has been slower than a simple iron. Two minutes is fast for this category, meaning you're not standing around waiting once you've decided it's ironing time. |
| Power (2400 watts) | This is simply the electrical draw needed to run a boiler capable of producing that pressure and volume of steam. It's a reasonable figure for a steam generator of this output, and worth knowing if you're conscious of what's on the same electrical circuit as other high-draw kitchen or utility appliances. |
Key Features and What They Actually Do for You
AutoClean and Anti-Scale System
Limescale build-up inside the boiler is the single biggest long-term threat to any steam generator's performance — it's the reason steam output on unmaintained irons gradually weakens over months and years. The AutoClean function is designed to flush scale deposits out of the boiler before they can accumulate, rather than requiring you to manually descale with vinegar solutions or replacement cartridges. It's a maintenance feature, not a one-off gimmick, and its real value only shows up after months of regular use rather than in the first few sessions.
Variable Steam Control
Not every fabric wants the same treatment — a linen tablecloth can handle aggressive steam, while a delicate blouse needs a gentler touch. This iron lets you dial the steam humidity, direction, and power up or down, which is the difference between a one-setting-fits-all approach and actually tailoring output to what's on your board.
Vertical Steam Function
This lets you steam wrinkles out of garments and curtains while they're still hanging, rather than laying everything flat first. It's particularly useful for suit jackets, dresses, or curtains you don't want to unhook and rehang.
Continuous Fill with Dry Tank Alert
The detachable 2.2-litre water tank can be topped up mid-session without switching the iron off or waiting for it to cool, which is essential when you're working through a genuinely large ironing pile. The dry tank alert gives you a warning before you run out entirely, rather than leaving you to discover an empty tank halfway through a shirt.
Anti-Drip System
Steam generators can be prone to spitting water droplets rather than pure steam, especially at lower temperatures, which can leave visible water marks on fabric. The anti-drip system is designed to prevent this — though it's worth noting in the honest assessment below.
Safety Locking and Auto Shut-Off
The locking system secures the iron to the base for transport or storage, while auto shut-off cuts power if the iron is left idle or knocked over, reducing fire risk and giving you peace of mind if you step away mid-session.
Steam Tip
A tapered tip design at the front of the soleplate is aimed at reaching into awkward spots — collar points, pleats, and button plackets — where a broader soleplate shape can't easily get in close.
Water Tank Capacity and Ironing Endurance
Because this is a mains-powered appliance rather than a battery device, "endurance" here is really about how long you can iron before you need to stop and refill. The 2.2-litre detachable tank is on the larger side for a domestic steam generator, and combined with the ability to top it up without powering down, it's built around the reality of tackling a genuinely large laundry pile in one sitting rather than a shirt or two. In real-world terms, that should translate to considerably fewer refill interruptions than a basic steam iron with a tank a fraction of that size, though exactly how many garments you get through per tank will always depend on how liberally you use the steam trigger and boost function.
One maintenance point worth flagging for longevity: like most steam generators, this iron performs best and lasts longest when it isn't fed straight hard tap water indefinitely, since mineral content is what causes scale in the first place. Even with an AutoClean system doing the heavy lifting, giving the boiler a lower-mineral water source extends the interval between any noticeable drop in steam performance.
Who This Iron Is Genuinely Right For
This iron is built for a specific type of household, and being honest about that upfront saves everyone time and money.
It's a strong fit if you:
- Regularly face a large ironing pile — family laundry, bedding, or work shirts for multiple people
- Iron heavier fabrics like denim, cotton twill, or layered bedding, where high-pressure steam actually shows its advantage
- Want to iron folded items like duvet covers or sheets and cut your total ironing time
- Hang-dry or steam-refresh garments and curtains without wanting to unhook them
- Dislike arm fatigue from heavy traditional irons and want a genuinely light iron head
- Iron often enough that a self-cleaning boiler system will pay off over months of use
It's probably not the right choice if you:
- Only iron the occasional item and don't want the counter space or setup time a two-part steam generator system demands
- Need something ultra-portable for travel or a small flat with limited storage
- Want the absolute simplest possible appliance with no separate water tank, hose, or base unit to manage
- Are on a tight budget, since steam generators like this sit well above the price of a basic steam iron
How It Compares to the Alternatives
Steam generator irons broadly split into a few tiers: entry-level models that offer a boiler and continuous steam but modest pressure (often in the 3–4.5 bar range), and higher-pressure models like this one that push into the 6+ bar territory specifically to handle thicker fabrics and multi-layer ironing with less physical effort. If your ironing is mostly light shirts and everyday clothing, a lower-pressure, lower-priced steam generator will likely feel similar in day-to-day use and cost less upfront. Where the 332013's higher pressure and boost function earn their place is specifically with denim, bedding, and stacked layers — tasks where lower-pressure systems require noticeably more physical passes to get the same result.
Compared to standalone steam irons without a separate boiler at all, the difference is stark: those units are cheaper and more compact, but they can't match the continuous steam volume, pressure, or heat-up consistency of a true steam generator, and they tend to tire out your arm faster since all the weight sits in your hand throughout.
Within the steam generator category specifically, the standout differentiators here are the AutoClean system (not every competing model automates descaling to the same degree) and the combination of a genuinely light 1kg iron head with a high-capacity, refillable-on-the-go tank. Positioned at a premium price point for the category, it's competing against other higher-end steam generators rather than budget models, so the fairest comparison is against similarly specced boiler-based irons rather than basic steam irons a third of the price.
Honest Strengths and Weaknesses
The Strong Case
The strongest case for this iron is built on genuine physical performance: high steam pressure combined with a lightweight iron head is a hard combination to beat when you're working through a large, mixed laundry pile, and the ceramic soleplate glide reduces friction fatigue over a long session. The large, refillable tank and fast heat-up mean fewer stoppages, and the automated descaling system addresses the single most common long-term failure point in this category — creeping limescale that quietly kills steam output over months of ownership. Owners replacing an older Morphy Richards steam generator with this model consistently describe it as lighter and smoother than what it's replacing, which speaks well to iterative design improvements within this specific product line.
The Honest Counterpoint
The honest counterpoint comes from a recurring pattern in customer feedback: a meaningful minority of buyers report water spitting or dripping onto fabric rather than pure steam, which is precisely the failure mode the anti-drip system is meant to prevent — suggesting that while it works well for most users, it isn't foolproof for everyone. There are also scattered reports of the steam function pausing mid-session and needing a short recovery period before resuming, and a small number of buyers have experienced the steam function failing entirely within weeks of purchase, which points to inconsistent quality control on at least some units rather than a fundamental design flaw. None of these issues appear to be the dominant experience — most feedback describes reliable, powerful, low-effort ironing — but they're common enough to flag honestly rather than gloss over, especially given the premium price this iron commands. Given that, registering the extended manufacturer's guarantee promptly after purchase isn't just a nice-to-have here; it's a genuinely sensible step given the small but real minority of early failures reported.
Final Verdict
The Morphy Richards 332013 earns its place for exactly one type of buyer: someone facing a genuinely large, varied ironing pile who wants high-pressure steam and a lightweight iron head to get through it faster and with less physical effort. The combination of 6.5 bar pressure, a substantial continuously-refillable tank, fast heat-up, and an automated descaling system addresses the practical pain points that actually matter over months of ownership, not just on day one.
If your ironing needs are light and occasional, this is more iron than you need, and a simpler, cheaper steam iron will serve you just as well. But for family-sized laundry loads, denim, bedding, and anyone who's tired of arm fatigue from a heavy traditional iron, this is a well-specified, genuinely capable steam generator — provided you register the extended guarantee and keep an eye out for the water-spitting issue a portion of owners have reported, just in case your unit is one of the exceptions rather than the rule.
What People Say
159 commentsGood but has its downsides.
After my 25 year old Tefal steam generator went faulty I needed a new one.
After buying a cheaper one that was returned next day as it was faulty I settled on this due to a friends recommendation.
Steam power is excellent as is the water capacity however I find it has to be kept on full steam power or it tries to stick to and grab the fabric. full steam can still be used even on the 2 dot temperature setting but does mean there can be some excess water on the garment (not really an issue though).
This brings me to one of the reasons I dropped the unit by one star, the iron sole plate. It’s effective and removes creases well but due to its material it grabs at the material if not using lots of steam. Had this not been in the high end of the Morphy Richards range I wouldn’t be so disappointed but a better coating on the iron some plate would have made this a much better appliance.
Next “omission “ by Morphy is the mains cable storage. Both the cable and the steam line wrap around the water tank base area.
This is a nightmare to repeat and never gets the right tension to stay like this, resulting in the mains cable or the steam lines coming slack and therefore loose. Again a self retracting mains cable would have cured this issue easily.
The iron locks to the base for storage and carrying which is an excellent feature.
The unit also has an automatic descale function for those living in hard water areas. Nothing needs done, just power up and if it needs a descale it goes ahead and does it. The water tank has a seperate area within it that the dirty water from this goes into and you just literally empty it down the drain.
So the results are:
Good: excellent high steam power.
Quiet in use.
Sturdy and safe locking/carry system.
Good ironing results if max steam used constantly.
Decent length of cables, both power and steam.
Automatic descale program when required.
Bad:
Cable “tidy” not very good resulting in awkward and usually slack cable storage.
Not the best sole plate material resulting in sticking In use unless on full steam.
Instruction leaflet could be better.
Definitely a steam generator!
Now ironed several times using this iron. It does the job it’s supposed to. It does produce a lot of steam, so much so that I had to open the door and window and take my glasses off. I’ve never run out of water in the tank yet but I suppose that depends on how much ironing you have. You do need to buy either distilled or deionised water (Tesco sell it) which isn’t expensive itself but does add to overall running cost. The unit is more than double the size of a regular iron. The cable which delivers the steam does get very warm and is quite chunky. It isn’t as long as a normal iron cable so you have to have the steam base close to the ironing board. One advantage of this iron is that you can iron over transfers on clothing without the iron sticking or pulling the transfer off. It is quicker to iron a garment due to the continuous steam feature but not by much. Other than that It’s an iron. I wouldn’t buy another steam generator. A good steam iron is a lot cheaper and does the same job.
Fantastic, to a certain extent
I bought this steam generator to replace another in perfect working order with one serious irritating flaw; the controls were in such a position that when my hand slid down the handle the iron would switch off.
As an ameateur dressmaker I like a powerful steam option and i chose this model not only for it's impressive tank size and steam output, but specifically because of the placement of the controls (well out if palms reach!!). I feel as though I have completely wasted my money because this one turns itself off if the steam jet or power shot is not used for ten minutes.
Who irons laundry within ten minutes, or solely using steam and why cannot this feature be disabled ???????,
I am furious that Iwas not made aware of this before I purchased (automatic shut-off is very misleading and does not imply the steam option has to be in constant use).
Yet another disasterous purchase that I wish I could return for a full refund.
Fantastic iron! So much steam!
The steam on this iron is amazing! It’s so much better than my previous steam generator and actually makes ironing a pleasure. The water tank is a really good size which is needed for the amount of steam the iron can produce. I like the idea of the self descale function but only time will tell whether this feature will definitely prolong the life of the iron but it’s got to help either way. An improvement on the design for me would be to have a place where the electrical plug could plug into the body of the base of the iron which would keep it in place when storing away. My previous steam gen had this which I did prefer as I have to tuck the plug on this one through the steam wire in order to keep it in place.
Very good iron
I bought this a few weeks ago, having returned a steam generator iron that was £100 cheaper. The first one was rubbish, but thankfully this iron is so much better. It is sturdy and powerful. The steam gets creases out of the clothes quickly, whether steaming vertically or horizontally. It is possible to add water during use, which I find helpful, and not all models have this feature. The cord tucks away at the end for easy storage, and you can lift it by the handle once the iron itself is locked into the base, allowing it to be moved easily even when hot. The best thing is that it has sufficient steam power. It makes ironing quick and easy, and let’s just say ironing isn’t my strong point ;)
2nd Morphy Richards
Since they came out, I've had various makes of these irons - but they never lasted beyond a couple of years. My last one was MR and I ..had it for 8-9 years so I thought I'd buy another MR. I wasn't disappointed. All the niggles of the older one have been 'ironed' out ! for example, specific function buttons that light up when in use and to highlight, the iron locks into place when not in use, cord storage, a button releases the fill tank, dirty
water tank. The iron itself is substantial and is of a good quality, and all the buttons etc are solid. I am reallly pleased with it.
Easy timescale removal
I bought this because my previous one died. Completely my fault I might add. So, because I had one I already knew exactly the quality and easy of use this steam generator would give me. I had a good look around to see if there were any new comparable makes or models around but none measured up to the Morphy Richards. It has cut my iron time in half (compared to an ordinary iron) and I'm the person who irons everything including all the bedding. It will self clean the timescale every 5liters or so. Do use deionised tap water mix as suggested in the instructions.
Great level of steaming
i’ve had it a few weeks now and feel enough time has passed to appraise how good it is. The overall size and weight of the iron is reasonable and comparable with my previous model. The level of steam however is significantly better on high level, and in fairness it’s the only level I use. The only slight criticism I have is the length of time it takes to heat up, however I will get used to it and the speed at which the tank emptys. However obviously on the high steam you go through a lot of water. Overall very good.
another excellent product from morphy richards
i bout this 3 weeks ago as my old one stopped working and to be fair id had it quite a few years but this newer model is so much better and has a lot of great features including a good amount of steam so you dont need to iron both sides just the one side and the steam is forced through to the other side of your garments only note i would add is to make sure your ironing board has a mesh top so that the steam can penetrate the fabrics so glad i chose to purchase this product and not a cheaper one
Best small appliance purchase I’ve ever made
How pleased am I with this Morphy Richards steam generator. I have never really liked ironing because my clothes never seemed to be ironed properly. So I decided to invest in a steam generator. I researched the various brands on the market with the various retailers and kept coming back to this one and I wasn’t disappointed.. It’s cut my ironing time in half and the results after ironing is remarkable. I never thought I would say this about a domestic appliance but I can’t wait to use it again
Excellent but noisy
Fab iron, love the ease of descaling, it just does it automatically, no filter to replace either!! The iron also locks onto the generator, so you can use the handle to carry it.
Three different strengths of steam...plus being able to alter the temperature.
The only downside of this iron is the noise when it charges up, and I find i have to rewind the tele as I've missed a bit of dialogue!! Having said that it is only a couple of times per load of ironing that it happens. Would recommend!!!
Avoid
This is the second one that I have had in the last month which has developed the same issue of ‘spitting’ and leaving wet dots on my ironing. They seem to work properly for about 10 days then the problem develops. Such a shame.
Minor niggles that I could have put up with are that it’s difficult to see the fill line on the tank due to the thickness and colour of the plastic. The other thing is that the iron sole plate does not glide as well as other steam generators that I have had.
Brilliant Iron
Have bought this iron before, it is lightweight & the steam button is underneath which suits me as I have arthritis in my thumb. There is an "extra shot of steam " button on top but I rarely need this. Cannot praise the actual working use of the iron & sometimes you only need to iron one side of a garment.
The downside- my last iron only lasted about 2 years & the iron sopped auto cleaning!!!
This iron does have a 3 year warranty which is why I bought the more expensive iron.
practical features
overall a good iron, but I am the sort of person that prefers an iron with just one fixed temperature that irons everything without having to remember to adjust the heat from time to time. Although it does its job very well. I like the storage wrap around to keep the cable tidy and protect from being damaged. The water container looks very small but actually lasts a long time. I like the automatic descaling and the compartment that catches the descaled bits.
Powerful steam.
I bought this iron and was extremely pleased with it especially the speed it ironed dry wrinkled clothes.
Then after just two months it unexpectedly refused to work even though the unit was getting power.
A call to Morphy Richards customer helpline and a replacement was agreed.
Now 10 days later it turns out that this particular model is not available for weeks so we have agreed to take a different model just to get an iron over the Christmas period.
Brilliant steam but too many flaws
This was a replacement my last one was faulty. The steam and power of this iron is great the last one wouldn’t get to temperature and kept leaking brown liquid over everything. Iron is great so far but the cable is a nightmare it just will not unwind so it makes the job so much harder as I am having to continually unwind it after every item. Usually after a couple of uses this problem fixes itself but at the minute it is still happening
Everything you need is here
Only had it a week but bought it to replace my previous Morphy Richards steam generator which I had for 8yrs with no problems till it decided not to work anymore. This time I’ve upgraded to the auto clean model so I don’t have the faff of turning it over and emptying it out. Also can add water without having to take the tank to the sink to fill. Excellent product and will recommend to anyone who wants to cut down time on ironing.
Good but ….
This is my third steam generator iron and they do I great job of the ironing but they don’t last long. Eventually they will spit out loads of brown liquid even though it has auto clean and I make sure the plate is clean and the steam holes are not clogged. I live in a soft water area not sure if that’s the problem. I have used distilled water as they recommend but it still happens. My last one I only got under two years use.
This iron is much more powerful than my previous standard steam iron. I’ve considered upgrading my iron for a long time and so far this seems to be a good purchase. Not tried it for the vertical steaming yet but normal ironing it does seem much quicker. Don’t know if I was missing some instructions in my box but what I did have didn’t seem very detailed but seems simple enough to figure out. So far so good!
Very pleased
Had this 2 weeks and so far I’m very pleased with it. It’s a good weight and not too heavy. I’ve been totally happy with the ironing when I’ve finished. Look forward to ironing but that’s probably because it’s new and will wear off. It packs away very well and is easy to carry with the handle.
So far it hasn’t gone into cleaning mode so can’t comment on that but I’m hoping it’s going to work well
