Russell Hobbs 24430 SteamPower Series 2
Russell hobbs
Ironing rarely tops anyone's list of favourite chores, and the tools most of us grew up with — a single-unit iron dragging a small onboard tank around the board — haven't done much to change that. The Russell Hobbs 24430 SteamPower Series 2 takes a different approach: separate the water reservoir from the iron itself, pressurise the steam, and hand you a head that's lighter than almost anything else in the segment. For anyone facing a weekly basket of school uniforms, work shirts, and bedding, that single design decision changes the physical experience of ironing more than any spec sheet number could suggest. Here's what that actually means once the iron is out of the box and in your hand.
Design And Build: Why The Weight Distribution Matters More Than The Numbers
The headline figure here is the iron head itself, which tips the scales at well under a kilogram — light enough that wrist and shoulder fatigue, the real reason most people dread long ironing sessions, is dramatically reduced. All the bulk and heft lives in the separate base unit that sits beside the board, connected to the iron by a supply hose. That base, water tank included, brings the total package to around two kilograms, but because you're never lifting that weight during actual ironing, it's largely irrelevant to how the iron feels in use.
The soleplate is ceramic rather than stainless steel or the aluminium found on some ultra-cheap irons. Ceramic soleplates are prized in this category because they combine a naturally smooth, low-friction glide with even heat distribution across the plate, so heat doesn't concentrate in hot spots that can scorch delicate fabric or drag on structured fabric like denim. Customer feedback on this model is largely positive about that glide quality, with several owners specifically praising how effortlessly it moves across everything from bedsheets to fine underwear. A smaller number of users have reported occasional sticking on certain fabrics, which is worth flagging honestly rather than glossing over — ceramic soleplates generally perform very well, but no soleplate is entirely immune to drag on heavily starched or synthetic materials.
Footprint-wise, the base station measures roughly 42 centimetres wide, 30 centimetres deep, and 30 centimetres tall — sized more like a small toaster than a compact travel iron, so you'll want a permanent home for it in a utility room or cupboard rather than expecting it to tuck away in a drawer. Both the power cord and the steam hose run to just under two metres, which is generous enough to reach most sockets without an extension lead, and long enough that the hose doesn't constantly tug at the iron head mid-stroke — a common annoyance on cheaper steam generators with shorter connectors.
Steam Performance: What The Pressure And Output Figures Actually Deliver
This is where buyers need the clearest translation, because the two headline numbers — steam pressure and steam output — mean very different things and both matter.
Steam pressure is the force behind each burst, measured in bar. Higher pressure pushes steam deeper into fabric fibres in a single pass, which is what actually loosens stubborn creases rather than just sitting on the surface. The SteamPower Series 2 sits at the entry-to-mid end of the steam generator category on this metric. Premium models from rival brands routinely push toward double this figure, and those extra bars translate into faster results on heavily creased items like linen shirts or thick cotton bedding straight out of the wash.
Steam output, measured in grams per minute, is the volume of steam being generated continuously. Here too, this iron sits toward the lighter end compared with higher-end steam generators, which often deliver twice the continuous output plus a separate "boost" burst for stubborn spots that this model doesn't offer as a distinct mode.
What does that mean in practice? For routine laundry — shirts, trousers, everyday cottons and blends — the combination is more than sufficient, and the lighter iron head arguably does more for your ironing speed than raw steam force would. Where you'll notice the difference against a more powerful (and heavier, pricier) steam generator is on genuinely stubborn material: thick linen, heavily creased bedding straight from the dryer, or multiple layers of denim. It'll get there, but it may take an extra pass where a higher-pressure unit would clear the crease in one.
The 60-second heat-up time is a genuine convenience feature worth calling out. Many steam generators ask you to wait several minutes before the first burst of usable steam; being ready to iron within a minute of switching on means you can start a quick job — like pressing a shirt five minutes before you need to leave — without the usual delay.
Key Features And What They're For
Vertical steam function.
Rather than being limited to a flat board, you can hold the iron upright and blast steam directly into hanging garments or curtains. This is genuinely useful for refreshing a jacket or dress that's slightly creased from travel or storage, without needing to fully unpack the board — though it works best on lighter fabrics; heavy curtain material may need a more thorough approach.
Continuous fill system.
Because the tank is separate from the heating unit, you can top up water mid-session without switching the iron off or waiting for anything to cool down. For anyone ironing a full basket in one sitting, this removes what is otherwise one of the most disruptive parts of the process — stopping, cooling, refilling, restarting.
Anti-drip protection.
Steam irons can spit unheated water onto fabric if steam is released before the plate reaches temperature, leaving damp marks or watermarks on delicate items. The anti-drip system is designed to hold back that flow until the plate is properly up to heat, protecting fabric from spotting.
Anti-scale system with replaceable cartridge.
Hard water is the single biggest long-term threat to any steam appliance, gradually clogging steam vents with mineral deposits until output drops and the iron eventually needs descaling or replacing. This model addresses that with a filtering cartridge that treats water before it reaches the tank, plus an additional limescale filter. Based on user experience shared through the retailer's own product support, the cartridge typically lasts around 100 uses in a soft water area — expect it to need replacing sooner if you're in a hard water region, and budget for the ongoing cost of replacement cartridges as part of owning this iron, since they aren't a one-off purchase.
Safety locking system.
The iron head locks to the base for upright, contained storage — useful for keeping the hot plate away from small hands and pets when not stored flat on a heatproof surface, and for transporting the unit between rooms without the head swinging loose.
Temperature-ready indicator.
A visible light confirms when the plate has reached ironing temperature, removing the guesswork of starting too early and risking uneven results.
Tank Capacity And Session Endurance
The 1.3-litre water tank is on the smaller side for this category — some premium steam generators carry upward of 2 litres, extending continuous ironing sessions considerably before a refill is needed. In real terms, a 1.3-litre tank should comfortably see most people through a standard laundry basket's worth of shirts, trousers, and everyday items in one sitting. Where it starts to matter is with genuinely large loads — a full weekend's ironing for a family, or bedding for several beds — where you may need one or two top-ups along the way. The continuous fill feature softens this limitation considerably, since refilling doesn't interrupt your ironing rhythm the way it would on a sealed-tank iron; you're topping up on the fly rather than stopping the whole process.
Who This Iron Is Actually For
This is best suited to:
- Anyone who irons regularly enough that arm and wrist fatigue from a heavy traditional iron is a real, recurring annoyance
- Households managing a steady stream of everyday laundry — shirts, school uniforms, work clothing, bedding — rather than occasional heavily starched formalwear
- Buyers upgrading from a basic single-unit steam iron who want a noticeable jump in steam performance and glide, without stepping up to premium steam generator pricing
- Anyone short on patience for slow heat-up times, given the roughly one-minute readiness
It's less suited to:
- Buyers who iron large volumes of heavy linen, thick curtains, or multiple layers of denim on a regular basis and want maximum crease-busting force in the fewest passes
- Very large households doing extensive multi-hour ironing sessions where a bigger tank and higher continuous steam output would meaningfully cut total time
- Anyone in a hard water area unwilling to budget for regular anti-scale cartridge replacement
How It Stacks Up Against The Rest Of The Steam Generator Market
Steam generator irons as a category typically split into two tiers. At the premium end, models push toward far higher bar pressure and steam output, often paired with a separate high-power "boost" burst, larger 1.6- to 2.2-litre tanks, and correspondingly higher price tags — frequently two to three times what this Russell Hobbs model costs. Those irons make sense for buyers who iron in real volume or work with consistently heavy fabric, and who don't mind the extra bulk that comes with bigger boilers and tanks.
The trade-off across that premium tier is almost always weight and price. Total unit weight on many higher-pressure competitors runs noticeably heavier once you account for the larger boiler and tank, and that weight sits in the base rather than the iron head — which is more comfortable, admittedly, but the units themselves take up more space and cost considerably more to buy.
The SteamPower Series 2 positions itself at the accessible end of that spectrum: modest by comparison on pressure and continuous output, but priced well below the premium segment, and lighter in the hand than the vast majority of steam generators regardless of tier. For buyers whose priority is escaping the fatigue and time cost of a basic iron without committing to premium steam generator pricing, that's a coherent and honest trade-off rather than a compromise dressed up as an advantage.
The Honest Take: Strengths And Weaknesses
Strengths
The single strongest thing about this iron is how little effort it demands from the person using it. The genuinely light iron head, fast one-minute warm-up, and glide-friendly ceramic soleplate combine to make ironing feel less like a workout — and the volume of positive owner feedback specifically calling out reduced ironing time and ease of use backs that up as a real, lived benefit rather than marketing language. The continuous fill and vertical steam functions are both practical, everyday-useful additions rather than features that sound good on paper and go unused.
Considerations
Set against that, the steam pressure and output are genuinely modest next to higher-tier steam generators, and buyers coming from a premium unit — or expecting steam generator performance on the level of £200-plus models — may find themselves making an extra pass on stubborn creases rather than clearing them instantly. The 1.3-litre tank, while manageable for typical laundry loads, isn't generous by category standards, and the anti-scale cartridge represents a genuine, recurring cost that buyers should factor into total ownership rather than treating as a one-time purchase. A minority of owners have also reported the soleplate sticking on certain fabrics, which, while not the majority experience, is worth going in aware of.
Build quality and reliability signals from the wider owner base are solid rather than spectacular, and the standard guarantee can be extended by registering the product with the manufacturer shortly after purchase — a step worth taking given it costs nothing and meaningfully extends your protection window.
The Verdict
The Russell Hobbs 24430 SteamPower Series 2 does exactly what it sets out to do: it takes the physical strain out of ironing without asking you to pay premium steam generator prices for the privilege. If your ironing load is the everyday kind — shirts, uniforms, bedding, the routine stuff most households actually deal with week to week — this iron will get through it comfortably, quickly, and with far less arm fatigue than a traditional iron or even many higher-powered steam generators, purely because the head itself is so light to handle.
Where it makes sense to look elsewhere is if your ironing regularly involves heavy linens, thick curtains, or large multi-hour sessions where raw steam force and a bigger tank would save real time — that's a job better suited to the premium end of the category, at premium pricing to match. For everyone else, this is a sensibly priced, genuinely comfortable steam generator that solves the actual problem most people have with ironing: not the creases themselves, but the effort of getting rid of them.
What People Say
151 commentsGreat features Easy to use
I recently purchased the **Russell Hobbs SteamPower Series 2 Steam Generator Iron (24430)**, and it has been an absolute game-changer for my ironing routine!
First off, the **powerful steam output**
makes ironing so much faster and easier. It effortlessly smooths out even the toughest creases in jeans, shirts, and bedding.
The **large 1.3L water tank** means I can get through a whole pile of laundry without constantly refilling, which is a huge time saver.
Another great feature is how **lightweight and easy to use** it is. The iron itself glides smoothly over fabrics,
and the **ceramic soleplate** ensures an even heat distribution without any sticking. Plus, it heats up quickly, so I can start ironing almost immediately.
I also appreciate the **vertical steam function**, which works brilliantly for refreshing hanging garments and curtains.
The **automatic shut-off** feature provides extra peace of mind, which is always a plus.
Overall, this steam generator iron is **excellent value for money** and delivers professional-quality results at home. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performing iron that makes laundry day easier,
I highly recommend the Russell Hobbs SteamPower Series 2!
Doesn't get out creases!
Thought I'd try this out as it was a cheap steam generator and has good reviews on site. Took it back. It's more expensive than your normal hand held iron and no where near as good as many of them - first evening I bought it thought I'd get shirts done but it takes ages to heat, the steam doesn't arrive until after you need it and even with that, the creases didn't come out. For me it would have been absolutely useless so it went back and I got a more expensive and many times better steam generator iron. You'd be better off spending more on a good generator OR less on a decent hand held.
Makes ironing effortless and no longer a chore.
I bought it as a necessity as my Morphy Richards finally gave up. I was, however, totally glad it died. I had bought it on offer, because of the make, but the steam never did seem to work properly. I was told by M R, on more than one occasion, that's how it is.
I honestly couldn't believe the difference with my new Russell Hobbs.
It's quiet, it's light, it's easy to use, it throws out steam on demand every time the button is pushed.
If I could have given it 10 stars I would. * * * * * * * * * * There, done it!
I LOVE it and highly recommend it.
Disappointed
Poor Quality - replaced another model, Tower Ceraglide which had been damaged in transit when we moved house so I needed a replacement quickly. This RH iron was more expensive but is light, flimsy and not as efficient. It melted a lining on my shorts & when I tried to clean it off I have slightly scratched the sole plate so now I’m stuck with it however it constantly spits out water despite me checking the temperature control regularly. I should have bought a replacement of the same make - very disappointed and certainly would not recommend this item…
Great iron for the price
Recently purchased this iron to replace an older steam iron that we have had for a number of years.
Our old one was nearly double the price of this but nowhere near as good.
The water tank is huge which great for not needing to fill often and the anti limescale system is a great addition.
The iron itself glides across garments with ease and makes ironing the toughest fabrics a breeze.
Would 100% recommend this product
Lightweight irons flawlessly
Researched irons a lot afterbuying a £200 one last time, same style but not happy with far too heavy awkward etc.Took a gamble on the price of this one but good reviews and doesn’t fail . Much better. Light as a feather , cords don’t get in the way, tank easily removed so not lifting whole base, tank lasts well and I iron almost constantly with steam! Drives through creases minimum effort. Highly recommend!
Think twice before buying!
The inlet point for the water tank is close to the handle. Thus it is difficult to fill without getting the handle wet. The handle gets slippery, the tank is heavy when even half full, and in my case it slid out of my hand and landed on the floor, where it cracked. THEY DO NOT MANUFACTURE SPARE WATER TANKS!!!! I wasted 90 quid in December 2023 when I bought what is now a totally useless item.
Good but can be a noisy.
Bought this iron as a replacement for one that I returned having read earlier reviews. The iron works fine but the steam takes a few seconds to get to the sole plate after pressing the call for steam button, bit of a pain. Also when the iron is returned to the standing position there's a lot of noise as though water is running back into the water tank, gurgling noise. Would I recommend it. NO.
Steam feature is awful
Bought this iron as my last iron was playing up… I ended up returning it because the steam feature was, well, awful! Instead of steam, boiling water came out of the iron and drenched the clean clothes I was trying to iron so has to re wash them. When I pulled the iron away from the clothes I was trying to iron, I ended up scalding myself from the boiling waterfall that was the iron.
Exactly what I wanted
I bought this after a lot of should I shouldn’t I but as there was a 20% discount on Morphy Richards products it seemed like a genuine bargain, it really is a good piece of equipment once you fill the water tank the steam keeps coming and lasts a really long time, very easy to use and gets stubborn creases out without having to apply much manual pressure, very pleased so far
Good choice
I'm very happy with this iron. Two weeks ago, I bought a well know leading brand one which was extremely disappointing so I returned it. Then I bought this one and it does the job perfectly. The reason that I didn't give a 5 star is because when I press for instant steam it takes a few seconds to come out. Otherwise I'm very very happy with it and I love ironing!!
Great Steam Generator
I bought this as a replacement for my old iron which is showing its age, I've wanted a steam generator one for a while and after reading reviews on this one I opted for it straight away.
Heats up amazingly quick, plenty of steam when required, easy to store cord and lightweight also, decent size water tank on it. Glad I got this, would recommend anyone to buy one
Reliable and Durable Steam Iron – Very Satisfied
I’m very happy with the Russell Hobbs steam iron. It heats up quickly, glides smoothly over fabrics, and does a great job removing wrinkles. The steam function is powerful and makes ironing much easier. I really like this brand, and most of my kitchen appliances are from them because they are durable and reliable. Overall, it’s excellent value for the price !!
Easy to maintain
Living in a hard water area normally cause any iron I have owned to give up. But with this Russell Hobbs steam generator iron you get a filter that you can actually remove and rinse away the limescale. This make the maintenance of the iron so easy to manage. The steam cord wraps away neatly for storage also. Very pleased with this purchase and would recommend
Easy fast lightweight
But this after my old morphy Richards died. Was so pleased I picked this one out of hundreds. Glides over clothes easily, even the most wrinkled of duvets come out perfectly. Its lightweight, the extra clip on the side is great for storing the wire and the little plug socket on the side is also great for packing away and storing, vertical or horizontal.
Loving my new iron!
I bought a steam iron after my loyal iron of 9 years finally packed in- I couldn't complain, it lasted longer then my marriage and was far more useful than he ever was! I was really surprised at how much lighter and quieter this model was compared to my last- with a tank to remove to fill straight from the tap as well. Really pleased with my purchase.
Nice iron
This was an emergency purchase as our Philips of about a year old just stopped working and I had run out of work shirts... Easy to use, heats up quickly, loads of steam, water tank can be taken to the sink for ease of filling and everything is now nicely ironed. Is it the most glamorous purchase? No. Does it do the job for a decent price? Yes
Russell Hobbs SteamPower Series 2 Steam Generator
I have used my Steam generator dry for 3 times which I was pleased with the results.
I used it with steam today for the first time and again very pleased with the results. Easy Ironing.
Having the large water tank makes it easier. Also the steam only come out when you press the button which I find doesn't soak the clothes to much. Overall
Fabulous
I was unsure of buying this as I was replacing one that had lasted less that a year and felt I should buy a more expensive one. So glad I decided on this one, it is fantastic, I cannot recommend it enough, it is easy to carry with the handles and it irons to perfection without any real effort, by far the best steam generator I have had.
Well worth the money
This iron is well worth the money and compared to more expensive irons, this one ticked all the boxes. It has a filter which stops the iron scaling up and where we live you need it. Plenty of steam from this iron too which makes ironing my many shirts an absolute breeze. Save your money and grab this bargain while it’s still around.
