Vintage Consumer Reports: Steam irons didn't impress in October 1951

"The introduction of the first home steam-electric iron a few years ago was greeted with considerable fanfare, and the fervent hope, among iron-tired housewives that here, at last, was a good answer to their ironing problems."—Consumer Reports, October 1951

Those first-generation steam irons didn't impress. Manufacturers made bold claims, but the irons ran out of steam and clothes still had to be dampened before ironing, according to our 1951 test results. Even worse, for the October 1951 report, nine of 11 steam irons were judged Not Acceptable, eight presented burn or scald hazards, and the soleplate melted and the thermostat failed on the Silex (shown). Talk about ironing problems.

In our latest tests of 26 steam irons, cordless irons, and steam generators, which will appear in the January 2010 issue of Consumer Reports, things got heated when we ironed 482 shirts, 54 linen tablecloths, and 81 napkins, but no meltdowns occurred. We tested and found some terrific irons that delivered a crisp look, had plenty of steam, and handled easily.

Safety is always a concern when ironing, and most of the newly tested models have a safety feature that shuts off the iron within minutes if you leave it upright and usually less than a minute if you leave it facedown.

One thing has remained the same since 1951: the price of a couple of models in the ratings. That Silex that melted cost $20 in 1951, as does the recession-busting Black & Decker Steam Advantage F1060, one of the highest-rated models in our new tests. (According to the federal government's inflation calculator, $20 in 1951 is worth more than $166 today.)—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Check our free buyer's guide to irons and look for our newly updated ratings later this week. If you're in a nostalgic mood, read our other Vintage Consumer Reports items.

Q&A: How do I determine the flood risk of a property I'm considering buying?

We're looking at some homes in what appear to be flood-prone areas and I don't want to get stuck with a place that gets flooded regularly, either during springtime snow melt or the fall rainy season. What's the best way to figure out the flood risk of these properties?

Your best bet is to do a preliminary assessment on FloodSmart.gov, the official site of the National Flood Insurance Program. Fill out the address information in the "One-Step Flood Risk Profile" to get the level of risk, which is determined by the location of the property on the local flood map.

To see the most up-to-date maps, go to the town clerk’s office or the local government department that handles floodplain management. You can also access flood maps at FEMA's Map Service Center, but you have to pay for those.

Read our report for information on flood insurance and premiums.

Forum Friday: Top forums in recent weeks

Washing machines: This has been the most popular appliances forum recently, with the least-repair-prone front-loading washer and LG washer smell among the hottest discussions. These topics have emerged as our other top forums.

Vacuums: Vacuum aficionados have been posting in our best vacuums topic, while picks and pans of deep and steam cleaners have drawn numerous reviews.

Refrigerators: A newer French-door refrigerator discussion has sprung up to replace the old discussion on the same topic, along with a call for the quietest refrigerator.

Mattresses: The hottest non-appliance forum has many folks chatting about latex mattresses. And thanks to the member who posted the last word on how to buy a mattress.

Dishwashers: The I love my dishwasher discussion continues with passionate posts. Can top one member’s tale of her 24-year-old dishwasher?

Central heat/air conditioning: Cold weather and energy prices probably stoked discussions, like Which gas furnace should I buy?, which ranks as our most viewed discussion. We're looking forward to responses to a member's call for opinions on integrated heating and hot-water systems.

Ranges: These kitchen appliances have seen more activity as the holiday-cooking season kicked off and Consumer Reports published new ratings. The pros and cons of induction cooking is especially useful.

Small appliances: Coffeemakers dominate here. As detailed in a recent Forum Friday, numerous threads are percolating away in the wake of our latest review of coffeemakers.

Dryers: You’ll find numerous discussions of particular brands and some interesting exchanges on ventless condensation dryers and ways to prevent clothes and sheets from “balling.”

While it didn't crack the Top 10 in traffic, the energy saving in your home forum has had some wonderful insights to put more green in your holidays.