When I was a kid, I remember my dad had a giant Black+Decker toolbox filled with tools, and it was the most awesome thing for a kid to play with.
For as long as I can remember Black+ Decker has meant power tools and other various carpentry gadgets. However, Black & Decker doesn’t only help with your home improvement when a renovation is going on, they also are a well-regarded manufacturer of steam irons.
In today’s post, I want to take a close look at the Black+Decker D2030 Digital Advantage, one of the best selling professional steam irons out there and easily the best steam iron under 30 dollars.
Variable Temperature And Steam Controls
If there was one word to sum up the Black+Decker D2030 it would be this: versatile.
This steam iron offers variable preset temperature and steam controls, which allow you to handle many different types of fabric without having to manually determine what the optimal temperature would be.
Additionally, the LCD digital temperature control allows you to quickly dial in the appropriate settings no matter what garment or fabric you may be needing to de-wrinkle.
The steam controls are independent of the temperature controls, which more than doubles the amount of settings that are available to you. If you’ve got a stubborn wrinkled blazer or wrinkled curtains, you are able to dial in the appropriate temperature, and then add precision to the amount of steam generated at that temperature.
Easy to Use
The Black+Decker D2030 may look like a rhino of a steam iron, but it is very easy to use. While it may not have a 400-hole soleplate like other steam irons, it does have a heavy duty stainless steel soleplate that lets you glide across your fabrics. Combine that with the comfort grip handle, and you can easily handle a variety of fabrics, even steaming vertically if you need to iron something directly on the hangar.
Check The Price Now At Amazon.com
Specifications
- Dimensions: 5 x 11.5 x 6 inches
- Item weight: 3.2 pounds
- Shipping weight: 3.9 pounds
- 1500W of power generated by 120V
- 8 oz water reservoir
- Works with tap water (includes auto clean cycle to help with mineral buildup)
- 8 foot non-retractable power cord
- 7 temperature settings ranging from driest to most heat: acetate/acrylic, nylon/silk, polyester/rayon, cotton blend, wool, cotton, and linen
- Gray exterior color (there is a blue model available at a slightly higher cost)
Pros
This iron comes equipped with an auto clean system to help with mineral buildups and other scaling issues that can occur when using tap water in an iron. The iron will give you a “Clean” alert when it has determined that the auto-clean cycle needs to be run.
For the safety conscious, you can be sure there won’t be any accidents because the D2030 also has auto shut-off features, which can help power down the iron if it is in a dangerous position. The auto shut-off will activate after the iron has been on its side or soleplate for 30 seconds, or after 8 minutes sitting on the heel rest.
Cons
The power cord is non-retractable, meaning you have to roll it up or otherwise organize it when you’re finished with your ironing and putting the iron away.
The temperature control buttons are below the handle, which makes it easy to switch the temperatures accidentally with the top of your fingers when you’re using the iron.
The variable temperatures are preset from 1 to 7, meaning that while you have a variety of temperature options available, you’re not able to dial in a particular custom temperature. Instead, you would need to find the nearest preset and then manipulate the steam level.
Some online reviewers also mention that this iron can be tricky to turn off, as there is not an on/off button. The trick is in the temperature set button right below the LCD screen – hold down the button for a few seconds to power off the iron.
What Customer Reviews Say
The Black+Decker D2030 has over 6 thousand online reviews just on Amazon alone, which is a very high number of reviews for a steam iron. Of these, 64% are 5-star reviews and 13% are 1-star reviews.
Many of the reviews report this iron has good quality for its low price point. In fact, many even point out that they’ve owned the D2030 for many years, and then when it is time to upgrade to a new iron, they replace their existing with another D2030.
With so many reviews, you can expect some dissatisfied customers. The negatives tend to focus on particular use cases. For example, some reviewers mention this iron is not too great for traveling, and doesn’t even work properly when used with an international adapter.
The heating element also seems to be one of the more common complaints people have. After a while of use, the heating element seems to be the first thing that fails in the iron. A couple of reviewers mention not having a working heating element right out the box, however they were able to return it for another working unit.
Here’s a video review from Iron Topic:
Conclusion
Black+Decker isn’t just for power tools to build a deck in your backyard, they can also help you around the house. The Black+Decker D2030 is rightly one of the most popular steam irons out there, due to its temperature controls, easy to read LCD screen, and ease of use.
