Philips GC8735/80 Perfect Care Performer Steam Generator Iron, 1.8 Litre, 2600 W, 6.5 Bar, Blue [Energy Class A]
Philips PerfectCare Performer GC8735
Next generation technology for ultra-fast ironing.
OptimalTEMP Technology Explained
The advanced smart control processor inside the iron replaces the traditional temperature dial and maintains a constant, reliable setting that is safe on all ironable fabrics. When combined with powerful steam, ironing becomes faster than ever before, so you can spend more time doing the things that matter the most.
Philips PerfectCare Performer Steam Generator Iron GC8735/80
Even faster ironing
Effortless, perfect ironing results can now be achieved with Philips next generation ironing technologies.
ProVelocity technology: delivers ultra-fast ironing through powerful and continuous steam.
OptimalTEMP technology: waste no more time pre-sorting laundry or waiting for temperature settings to adjust, with the perfect combination of steam and temperature. Iron from thick cotton shirts and jeans to delicate silk blouses, no adjustment required and no fabric burns guaranteed.
Highlights
| | | |
|---|---|---|
Powerful Continuous SteamThis steam generator iron produces a maximum 6.5 bar pump steam pressure, 120 g/min of consistently powerful steam and 420 g steam boost that can deeply penetrate the fabric fibres and clothing layers, reducing the number of ironing strokes required. Philips ProVelocity high pressure steam pump innovation makes it possible to pack high steam power into such a small steam generator base for easy storage and use. Also with silent steam technology, it’s quiet yet powerful so you can relax and iron in peace, ideal if you like watching the TV as you iron. | One Setting For All Ironable FabricsOptimalTEMP combines the ideal balance of soleplate temperature and powerful steam to remove creases effectively, without changing the settings, from thick denim to delicate silk, no fabric burn guaranteed. | Tested and Approved by Fabric ExpertsThis iron is tested and approved by independent textile experts. Philips, with its exclusive OptimalTEMP technology, is so far the only brand to be certified with the Gold standard from Wool Mark – trusted on all woollen clothes and woollen blends. |
| | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
Light Weight IronThe iron is lighter without the heel rest, you can leave the iron directly soleplate down on clothes or ironing board without risk of damage. This iron will automatically switch itself off when left unattended for more than three minutes. | Easy Fill and DetachableThe water tank can be easily detached from the steam generating base and filled with tap water. This 1.8 L water tank can produce up to two hours of steam and can be refilled anytime – no need to switch off if in use. | Steam Ready in Two MinutesPress the On button at the back of the steam generator base, steam will be ready to use in two minutes. | Smart Calc Cleaning SystemMinerals in tap water can build up (calc/scale residue) in all irons over time reducing steam performance. After 10 hours of ironing the smart calc button will flash and beep to indicate when to carry out the smart calc clean process that takes two minutes to perform. For hard water areas, there’s no need to wait for the reminder, clean anytime and enjoy powerful steam performance for longer. |
 |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam pressure / continuous steam output. More steam = faster results | Maximum 6 bar pump, 120 g/minute | Maximum 6.5 bar pump, 120 g/minute | Maximum 6.5 bars, 120 g/minute | Maximum 6.7 bars, 120 g/minute | Maximum 6.7 bars, 135 g/minute |
| Steam boost – targets deep set creases | 360 g | 420 g | 440 g | 450 g | 470 g |
| Additional steam benefits | Ideal for vertically steaming curtains and hanging garments | Ideal for vertically steaming curtains and hanging garments. Powerful silent steam for use in front of the TV | Ideal for vertically steaming curtains and hanging garments | Ideal for vertically steaming curtains and hanging garments. Powerful silent steam for use in front of the TV. | Ideal for vertically steaming curtains and hanging garments |
| Water tank: bigger = longer steam time. Detachable = easy fill | 1.8 L detachable | 1.8 L detachable | 2.5 L | 2.5 L | 1.8 L detachable |
| Weight of iron / total weight of iron + steam generating base | Light 1.2 Kg / ultra compact and light 3.2 Kg | Light 1.2 Kg / ultra compact and light 3.2 Kg | Ultra-light 0.8 Kg / regular 4.2 Kg | Ultra-light 0.8 Kg / regular 4.2 Kg | Ultra-light 0.8 Kg / regular 5.1 Kg |
| Heat up time – ready to use | Two minutes | Two minutes | Two minutes | Two minutes | Two minutes |
| Power cord – distance from power socket | 1.8 m | 1.8 m | 1.8 m | 1.8 m | 1.8 m |
| Temperature settings | One perfect setting (OptimalTEMP) for all ironable fabrics, no fabric burn guarantee | One perfect setting (OptimalTEMP) for all ironable fabrics, no fabric burn guarantee | One perfect setting (OptimalTEMP) for all ironable fabrics, no fabric burn guarantee | One perfect setting (OptimalTEMP) for all ironable fabrics, no fabric burn guarantee | One perfect setting (OptimalTEMP) for all ironable fabrics, no fabric burn guarantee |
| Soleplate design | SteamGlide Ceramic. 5 star glide. 4 star scratch resistance | SteamGlide Ceramic. 5 star glide. 4 star scratch resistance | T-ionicGlide Ceramic. 5 star glide. 5 star scratch resistance | T-ionicGlide Ceramic. 5 star glide. 5 star scratch resistance | T-ionicGlide Ceramic. 5 star glide. 5 star scratch resistance |
| Cleaning extends lifetime of iron | Smart calc clean with light and sound reminder, takes two minutes to clean, scale collector in box | Smart calc clean with light and sound reminder, takes two minutes to clean, scale collector in box | Easy Decalc Release with light reminder, takes less than one minute to clean | Easy Decalc Release with light reminder, takes less than one minute to clean | Easy Decalc Plus with light reminder, takes less than one minute to clean |
| Weight: | 3.2 kg |
| Dimensions: | 22 x 37 x 24 cm; 3.2 Kilograms |
| Brand: | Philips |
| Model: | GC8735/80 |
| Colour: | Blue |
| Colour: | Blue |
Good steam production and nice light iron. Great thing too is that the tank is removable and refill quick and easy.
I bought this last year . Recently it stopped steaming . We live a hard water area . I contacted Amazon. explained what happened. They contacted Phillips. Philips organised a courier company and picked the machine up from home. They repaired and sent it back. It is a very powerful machine, ergonomic, easy to use. The most importantly, you know that seller and maker of this product will be there for you . It is great .
Love this iron, very easy to use, took a while for me to get used to the temperature control but once I did, it does a great job thanks
This iron is so easy to use and also gives great end results.
This is a fab Iron, easy to use, lightweight, effective.. best one I have owned and I’m 64!
Love this steam generator. Makes ironing so much easier and quicker. The powerful steam removes creases very well. You don’t have to keep filling it with water. There is no temperature control as the iron adjusts itself to the fabric. The descaler system is so easy and takes just a couple of minutes.
I was a bit unsure of this when I opened up the large box that it arrived in, compared to my previous Bosch steam generator this was tiny and very light. But, needs must, I filled it of water and allowed it to come to heat – still very unsure of it, the light flashed in the handle which worried me but I got out my manual, everything okay it was coming to heat and building up its pressure- time to start, I felt a bit unsure of it but WOW – it’s absolutely fantastic, sailed through everything and really quickly. I didn’t know if I would like the open ended handle, but it’s just so easy and as it’s light it’s the perfect size! I really do recommend this, didn’t think anything could match my Bosch. (I’ve tried a few different makes) but this is a great replacement for it and a lot lighter and smaller!
It does what it says on the box. I wear a lot of linen and cotton which it irons perfectly, no creases. I like it because you do not have to keep thinking what heat level it should be on and as I have badly deformed artritic hands it was difficult to turn the dial to the required setting on my other one. However, the iron itself is, for me at least, heavy but overall I would not change it and I feel secure that it is fairly stable and solid because my other, lighter one, did not feel secure and was forever falling off the ironing board.
Love these steam irons this is my second one. Like the open handle – easy to use.
I’ve had a few steam generator irons and this one of the best ones would definitely recommend this one
The iron is so easy to use, and with the amount or steam it makes ironing so much quicker than a normal steam iron. The other feature which sets this iron apart from the rest is the fact that its single temperature operates across all fabrics for perfect ironing without the risk of ever burning the most delicate items.
I really don’t think this Steam Iron produces as much steam as is advertised. I wouldn’t buy had I known.
This is ok. It’s not as efficient as the Tefal I had previously. The steam seems to come out at the wrong time & isn’t as effective as the Tefal, which I hardly needed to touch the items with for them to be wrinkle & crease free.
It’s not bad but not brilliant for the money.
Much smaller than my Tefal model so I was a bit worried that it would be less powerful. However, this is a dream of an iron. No hassle, great ironing and simply a pleasure to use. Far outperforms any previous iron. My weekly chore is now a chilled experience. Highly recommended.
Easy to use, love that it works out the temperature level of what you are ironing so you cannot burn delicate clothing.
Very good value for money, would highly recommend.
Definitely one for the steam train enthusiast! The noise reminded me of Victoria Station back in the 1950’s and is surprisingly loud. No midnight ironing sessions when others are asleep. Does a good job though and the actual thing doing the work is reasonably light and easy to handle.
This iron is amazing and worth every penny – I can do a whole basket in 15 minutes. It is lightweight, quiet do I can watch tv at the same time as iron – fabulous!
A bit expensive but it works well,only thing is the water container is blue and is hard to tell when the water needs filled up,could have been left clear.
Ive had a steam generator iron for many years but this new one is better on all counts. Large water tank, works on tap water, removeable water tank for easy filling. Variable steam settings.and automatic temperature control. What else do you want.
Easy to use and glides through my ironing actually enjoy ironing now
I gave a four star because it does leak water on the clothes during ironing. Otherwise temp control is great and it will never burn clothes also it is a quieter iron.
what a great purchase, best iron I have ever had. Worth every penny
Had one before, it was dropped and broke the handle, but best steam generator iron we’ve had, maybe had 5 before this one
So much better than my previous iron. The steam does continue after you release the button which feels a bit unsafe but I now just release a little earlier than before. It heats up a lot faster and beeps to let you know it’s ready. The de-Calc programme is brilliant and a feature my old one didn’t have (and is why i think it eventually gave up) it also “sleeps” and turns itself off if you leave it on without using it. Easy to refill and you can see the water level easily. Good purchase
Excellent iron, very light and easy to use.
Making ironing a pleasure again. Great value for money
I am generally really happy with the iron. Not as noisy as other previously generated irons bought, which is a bonus, much lighter in weight.
My only issue is the steam shot button is quite powerful in terms that it continues to steam even after moving the iron away from the garment. I believe it’s just a matter of getting use to using it…. Release the steam button a few seconds before moving away from the garment. It was a great buy paid less, as it was deal of the day.
Easy to use and is lightweight.
Makes ironing a doddle!! Lol
I love this iron. Fast start up , no need to adjust the temperature, easy to clean ..
As they are expensive I spent a week looking at different makes, styles and of course the feedback and finally decided on this Philips steam generator.
It is definitely lighter and more compact than previous steam generators, and stores the cable and steam hose quickly and safely. The biggest change over my previous one is that this one really is silent, noticeably so. No gurgling or grinding to get the steam through. I was very sceptical about the one heat does all but I have put this steam generator through its paces over the last month and it has performed really well on cotton, linen, wool and a host of synthetic fabrics, in particular a dress and jogging bottoms that had a habit of sticking to previous iron. Creases gone and no sticking.
My one grizzle is the same as other users, it occasionally spits water across the clothes which is fine with bedding and things that don’t matter but I would be livid if it happened on silk as it would leave a water stain. This however is not an issue I currently have as I don’t own any silk items 🙁
As a guy who does the ironing this is a must… Iron any fabric without burning
So far so good. It does not spray crap from the iron all over your clothes and the self clean feature works very well. Overall a good purchase and would recommend.
I took the plunge as now have a lot of bedlinen to iron for a rental property and wanted to reduce the laundry bill. This makes short work of large sheets and duvets, and everything else. Took a short while to adjust to a slightly different way of working but it is intuitive and fast.
Excellent product would highly recommend especially as you don’t have to keep on altering the temperature
All steam generators are bulky in comparison to a ‘normal’ iron but they work so much better. I have really enjoyed this irons temperature sensing ability and have not had any issues moving from cotton shirts to jeans and to dress trousers. It does what it claims. Well recommended.
Great iron no need to fix temperature, it does it for you, light and easy to manage
Only gave 4 stars as it is expensive but every household should have one. Easy to use, easy to descale, don’t need to change temperature, easy to fill. I use eco setting for most items. I have had many steam generator irons over the years and this one is the best. I tend to descale regularly due to being in an area of hard water.
Fantastic steam iron it’s so easy to use just what our household needs, excellent price,a lightweight and very versatile item for the home
Changing to a steam iron from a normal iron took some getting used to. Initially I kept lifting the iron which resulted in a lot of noise.
Once I got the technique nailed it turned out to be so much easier and seamless to get the ironing done.
As Philips products usually are it seems like a really well made bit of kit. I’d say it’s a little bit overpriced which is why I’m going for a 4-star rating
I actually enjoy ironing with this iron. Just switch it on and go. Irons everything from delicate to denim with ease.
We live in a hard water area so I love the cleaning function preventing my iron splattering my clothes with mucky water like my old one used to.
The iron is also incredibly light unlike my old one so I can confidently place it on the holder of my ironing board without worrying it’s going to break it.
Only thing I’ve had to get used to is leaving the iron flat down on the board whilst I rearrange the clothes to be ironed. My old iron would have burned through the cover. This one is great…not even a scorch mark.
Highly recommend this iron. Love using it which is a bonus as there are 2 Adults and 3 teens in this house = tons of washing and piles of ironing.
This is my second Philip’s steam generator iron and purposely chose Philip’s as it has the automatic temperature control which I find fantastic as you can use it on all different fabrics and transfers without burning and having to adjust the temperature.
I live in a hard water area so the descaling process is a lot easier than my last meaning I have been doing it more frequently.
Having the removable water tank is another great feature and most importantly it irons great, only needing to iron one side.
Highly recommended!
Very easy to use and the ironing us perfect for any fabric. A fantastic product that I would recommend to anyone.
Love the fact you do not have to adjust the temperature on this iron for different materials it does it for you, so no more burning my silk clothes.
I do find it strange not standing the iron on the board but I am now getting used to putting it back on the stand.
I reviewed hundreds of customer reports on steam generator irons until I was very confused … in the end most people said Phillips the best make for irons and when I went to Tesco that’s the only brand they where stocking so they must feel the best also . I went for this one as it was middle of the road price wise .. some a lot dearer …,some bit cheaper . I have used it once for the usual mountain of rumpled clothes which makes the heart sink, and all I can say is wow … amazing worth every penny ,easy to set up and use no complicated studying of instructions … it made my mountain feel likeca little mole hill and actually can’t wait to do more ironing … wish I had bought this year’s ago .. never use an ordinary iron again, spend a bit more and make your life a lot easier.
It’s like a “Ferrari ” in ironing. I have only one question. How do I descaler it? Do I need to pour anything in the tank before use?
Working well, doing its job, doing annoying noise when working.(to me)
The Phillips GC steam iron is a very attractive product, the metallic blue finish with accented blue led lights give it an almost futuristic Tron look.
Usage is simplicity in itself, power the iron on, wait two minutes until an audible beep indicates the iron is up to temperature, and off you go.
By pressing the power button in for two seconds the blue power light will turn white indicating that the iron is in turbo steam mode, giving you extra steam power to attack the most stubborn creases.
Additionally there is a separate tray for when you need to decalc your iron and by attaching to the iron and running the decalc button setting, should bring your Phillips GC back to its best.
The ceramic heat plate glides through ironing making a chore almost enjoyable and the omission of buttons and dials make every task a simple to execute job.
Very pleased with the iron easy to use and clear instructions. makes ironing a pleasant experience
My Sister In Law has this iron and I had ‘iron envy’ tried other ones but this is so easy to use and so effective – highly recommend!
Works well, takes a little time to get used to but worth it. Irons well . Arrived quickly which was important as it was a replacement for my old one.
Love this iron. I spent quite a while looking through all the different irons to make sure they did what I wanted from them. Also I didn’t want to pay more for an iron with features I wouldn’t use. There are two of us at home and ironing is just so easy and quick I would certainly recommend this iron even for families. I was a little concerned about the iron setting it’s own temperature but no need to worry. For me this is the iron.
Lovely design and easy to use the automatic temperature control is amazing. We just love this iro
This is the second we’ve bought – initially it took some getting used to as you can’t stand it up in its end. I now live this iron and the anti-Calc process is mush easier than for other steam irons I’ve used.
Works slightly differently from my previous iron, but now getting to grips with it. Much lighter and quieter.
Simples: this makes ironing far quicker and less tiring, and the automatic temperature control eliminates any possibility of burning /melting delicate fabrics. Automatic de scaling is a bonus.
Top tip: buy a new ironing board, with an undertray to hold the steam unit.
Use the time and energy you save by using this to eat chocolate and drink cava, as a reward for being smart and buying this.
Found temp control, a little tricky, to use hot steam, used hot air blast, producing too much water on garments, cut down temp, not hot enough? Meaning more ironing time on one item!! Safety features,- body of iron has a good weight, keeping it firm on surface, no unexpected movements. Flex ok, could do with being a bit longer -couple of ft. Liked the Velcro fastening for the flex. One more thing: attractive to look at and no awkward edges.
Excellent product and so easy to use. Not burnt an item since
It is super easy to use, powerful steam but not too much to make you feel that you are in a sauna. Effective and practical. It is very quiet and the steam button on the handle is very useful to not waste steam without need.
Will highly recommend this to everyone that wants perfect and quick results.
Love this iron to bits
If you want to use your 2 year guarantee, to spare you wasting your time looking for the product number, which isn’t the one on the front of the pamphlet, it’s on the base of the iron storage unit… ummmm there are 3 numbers so try each one…
For an iron this is quite exciting. Very light and extremely steamy! It’s sort of liberating to be able to put it face down on the ironing board without worrying about it burning anything. It irons really efficiently and seems to clear out all the calcium at the end of each use. It is expensive but worth it.
I have just used this iron for the first time and find it really good to use, light and glides over the clothing and slips back into its stand very smoothly.
I hate ironing so am up for anything that makes it eaiser. This iron is much like all of the other stream generator irons i have experienced, tank, base unit, small iron, thick steam pipe joining iron to base unit, power cord. To use the iron you pull the steam tank out of the base unit and fill it with tap water. Do not buy a steam generator iron without a removable tank, dragging the whole thing to the tap will get old quite quickly. Also do not fill this with special ironing water, just tap or demineralised water. My mate had never had such a posh iron and wanted to treat her steam generator iron with loving care and bought special perfumed iron water for it and killed her iron (genuine story!)
I put the tank back on the unit and switched it on, as it says it took just less than 2 mins to be ready, it beeped when it was hot enough and the long light on the handle stopped flashing. The book said it will take steam 30secs to start on first use so i just held the button down and sat there (and counted – scientist alert). It took 27 seconds!
Because im mean i started this iron on freshly washed and dried jeans (hehehehe!) i followed the instructions and pressed the start button down for 2 secs to start the turbo function (button goes blue, in normal mode start button is white) picked up the iron, pressed the button and off i went.
HECK!!!! This iron is a steam breathing monster, honestly it was like ironing with a dragon. I have NEVER been so impressed with an iron as i am with this one. Ironing on the hottest day of the year was probably less fun but seriously this thing steams.
The steam starts about half a second after pressing the button (thats fine) then in turbo mode it carries on releasing steam for about 2 seconds after releasing the button, certainly in turbo mode i release the button and carry on ironing for a couple of seconds. The steam stops sooner in normal mode. It irons jeans so easily (i have no iron that actually remove all the creases from my jeans, i have no idea what they are made from!) I love that i dont have to worry about changing the temperature of the iron, im no good at remembering things like that and i tend to burn things, but not anymore!
The iron itself is quiet in operation apart from the steam breathing dragon it summons hissing wildly. I have no problem with this, i like a lot of steam.
It has a lock to lock the iron to the base unit that is easy to use. and very handy for carrying the unit around. The steam cord sits neatly in the base unit when not in use and the power cord has a hand velcro strap to keep it tidy and out of the way
My only complaint? Id like a longer power cord so i dont have to iron near a socket. Seriously, this iron is fab.
Love the generator however it has been descaled x10 since I bought it 4 months ago & it’s only been light to moderate use
Steam generators as a whole are a new way of ironing – so much easier than the traditional iron (believe me when the last one broke and I had to borrow my neighbours for the night I thought I was going to throw it though the window) steam generators are so effective the steam works hard through the creases and only requires one or two “irons” per area – therefore so much more effective than the traditional irons.
Ok so I chose this one but it is different to the other 2 I have had- the down side is the wire placement on the iron handset is in such a way that you can’t put the iron on its end as you normally would when you pause to adjust the clothing – the instructions tell you that the unique perfect care means that it will know when it’s “paused” and won’t burn the ironing board cover. The steam key only requires you to trigger it occasionally during ironing whereas the previous versions you could press for steam and it would appear and go away with the trigger – this version you pull the trigger and if you keep pressing the steam builds and shoots in a very noisy pressurised jet – I think it’s a question of me getting used to it rather than a fault in the design -the power is there- just need to change my technique. The special thermostat is amazing you can go from dealing with linen to silk without changing the temperature.
I would definitely recommend this produc
Good iron, can be a little annoying with the amount of steam but that’s probably down to me, would recommend.
Excellent performance. Fast ironing and safe to use. The power cable can be a bit longer though.
apparently Philips is the best one on the market – and yes it is!
I will mainly be writing about those negative reviews (especially the one with the video in)
I read a lot about funny clicking noise= wake up people.!!!it is the sensor telling the iron whether it is moving or just ,,relaxing,,
-the iron seems too noisy when the steam comes out???=well, the steam is noisy when you lift the iron and point it out into the air – but that’s not what you’re doing whilst ironing isn’t it? = so it is not true that the iron is noisy.it is amazingly quiet you can watch tv or listen to the radio at the time of ironing
-the iron makes weird noise(according to the video in one of those neg reviews)=let me explain this – the person who was making the video didn’t have much water in the tank.because this noise is made only when it needs refilling- so no weird noise at all ( of course you can hear the pump but it is very quiet )
-the steam doesn’t come out when the button is pressed? = there is no delay in the steam to come out =SIMPLY HOLD (press and hold)THE BUTTON- if you want the steam HOLD the button . if you don’t want the steam release the button – simple as that
-other person was complaining about the iron not standing and if you’ve got a weak wrist don’t buy??? = you don’t need to stand – this just glides on the ironing board and only requires pushing (sliding) forward and back – simple as that – no need to lift this at all
my mum irons for a living and she owns the latest TEFAL steam generator model – she’s brought me one of the most tricky shirt to iron (as she struggles to iron this particular one with her tefal) and it was done in no time without a single crease.
the iron itself looks very stylish too and is not as big as tefal steam generators and also very light.
worth every penny!!!
LOVING this iron, had to buy a new one as the previous one broke – this is a great product for those of you who like steam irons – would recommend
I thought I had a great iron until I tried this one out. It is much lighter, heats up quicker and the larger water tank means I can just keep going.
It’s the first iron that I’ve had that has no temperature adjust dial so I was worried about scorching the the first few items, but soon got used to it. It’s serious no fuss,quick ironing.
Super impressed with the steam function and found it powered through creases.
fantastic iron.
Large water tank means that you can get through the chore of ironing without having to stop and refill the iron with water.
The steam is generated quickly and the iron warns you when you need to try and descale it.
My favourite part is the auto temperature setting, I have no idea how this witchcraft works but its fantastic!
I’m a stickler for a good iron and something that will do the job properly and quickly. This steam generator is just the ticket, simple and easy to use and it makes ironing things much quicker.
It features a large water tank so I don’t have to refill halfway through my ironing pile like my old iron. There is also no temperature dial present which seemed a bit odd at first and took some getting used to as I often need to adjust for different items. After a few uses it’s something you get used to and so far I haven’t had any issues when ironing different fabrics.
All in all it makes ironing quicker and easier, just fill up the water tank and away you go without having to think about different settings. It provides enough steam to get the job done quicker so my ironing time has been cut. Very pleased overall.
Not sure I’d concur with the “perfect silence” tag. It lets out a pretty threatening hiss – which the kids are scared of. That’s no bad thing. I want kids to be scared of hot irons but that aside it’s a great iron. What’s more, the clothes seem to be scared of it too which makes ironing less of a chore. A huge improvement compared with my old iron.
I’ve owned an earlier version and was really impressed, however after time I eventually had to get a new iron, so went back to the old style due to price. Big mistake! It has made me realise just how good steam irons are, hence getting this new one! The product itself obviously performs well and is really light, just gliding across whatever you are ironing. There are some new neat little features like a tray for descaling and a velcro cable tie. You could say these are small things but they show thought has gone into improving the design.
The one down point is that there does seem to be a bit of a delay on the steam when you press the button. Reading other reviews this seems to be a common issue. I’d still recommend the iron, but the delay is a bit annoying and can then mean excess water comes out because you have pressed the button too many times
4 out of 5.
The silence claim is obviously a bit of a nonsense, but this steam generator iron is noticeably quiter than the several others that we have had, which is particularly important for me as I suffer badly from hyperacusis at times. The noise of the steam realease might be describe as being soft and pleasant, but there are other odd noises during heating up and cooling down.
Noise aside I would honestly have been prepared to pay a little extra for the improved looks of the “silence” version over the regular Perfectcare Performer. It also offers a more powerful steam boost, although that is of little importance.
The detachable tank makes filling much each and it isn’t something that you need to do often. It takes roughy 2 minutes for the iron to be ready once switched on and there is a slight delay before steams come out. The is an audible alert when the iron is ready and a safety autocut out if the iron is left on.
The iron is relatively lightweight and glides superbly. Comfortable to hold.
Overall this an excellent iron, well worth considering. The price seems comparitively high, but it is so hard to judge prices at the moment with the value of the pound constantly falling.
What an iron! Apparently in a household of four, appromxiately 75 shirts are worn every week. Standard irons make this an utter chore, but this steam generator has cut so much time off the task, that I’m considering submitting it for consideration in the Honours List. Decent sized cord and fits well on my normal ironing board. Heats up really quickly and the cooldown is fine. Light, simple to descale, there’s nothing about this product to hate. Hugely and highly recommended.
Another very good steam generator from Philips
It heats up quickly and I like that all the cables wrap up neatly inside the base so that makes storing it really easy. It does seem to go through the water in the tank quickly but I think it’s because the steam tends to come out really fast. It’s good that you can put it down on the ironing board and it won’t burn it (I have no idea how it works but it does!).
The two things I have found though is that it’s quite loud and also that once you’ve been ironing for a while with the steam it starts to leak water onto the clothes. Oh and if you don’t have a thick cover on the board you’ll get water on the floor through condensation.
I also really like that it comes with a descaling kit and it will tell you when you need to do it.
So in summary a good iron at this price point but if you can afford to spend more the higher end models don’t appear to have the niggles.
Having never used a steam generator iron of this calibre before I have to admit I wasn’t too sure what to expect and although I have seen demonstrations on a well-known shopping channel (although not this model), I thought the finished results would have been slightly better.
Yes it glides through shirts, t-shirts, jeans and trousers, but they were still slightly creased, so a little disappointing. Duvet covers have proved a little difficult to in getting those creases out – even when using the boost option of steam. I came to the conclusion the steam wasn’t quite hot enough!
The electric cable I thought might benefit from being slightly longer, especially if you want to place the base on the ironing board, however the steam cord I found an ideal length so no issues with that.
The reservoir is easy to fill with a 2.5L tank, so no more fill-ups mid-way through the ironing – and it uses tap water, normally I use perfumed ironing water but unfortunately this cannot be used.
On a more positive side, the instructions are easy to follow, the iron is lightweight as opposed to the heavier weight of a conventional steam iron, making it manageable and easy to use – so no issues for those who may have wrist problems. A big bonus is the iron can be placed flat down on your ironing surface in the safe knowledge it won’t burn or scorch.
In summary, this is a nice looking machine, it’s easy to use and easy to store, especially given the fact that the iron locks onto the base, and admittedly appears to make getting through that weekly ironing a lot quicker but I do still feel that it could be a little better given the price tag, however, overall I’m awarding it 4 stars.
This is the newer upmarket of steam generation iron,light to use easy to deal with when the ironing pile is a large one, the iron has a cord store and a large tank to fill with water to keep you going when ironing,it is quieter than my steam generation iron and is lighter in the hand,i really like the fact it has a good sole plate with a good glide action to,would i recommend one of these most definitely,they are quick and easy and seem to chew through ironing quicker than that,very impressed with this steam generation iron.
Philips have been making irons for donkeys years and in the last five years or so the increasing
level of technology has been added designed to make the chore of ironing that little bit easier.
In addition there is a big market out there in terms of manufacturers for customers together with
the price of the product. It roughly boils down to – the more features on the iron many of which
are excellent and make the task easier- the higher the cost.
I have been testing the Philips GC8735/80 PerfectCare Performer Silence Steam Generator Iron.
First appearances -it’s an attractive looking iron but how did it fare?
When used it performed excellently-particularly on the bedding which let’s face it -can be a chore but
with the steam generator -an awful lot easier. I am not certain about the ‘Silence” aspect of the iron as
when you activate the steam -that in itself makes a noise. I did not find it loud but would clearly trade it
to make the effort of ironing those sheets a lot less of a strain on your arm!
It has large capacity water tank, so you don’t have to constantly re-fill it. The removable water tank is a distinct
improvement on previous models as you merely detach it and fill up.
The iron itself is not particularly heavy and in performance excelled as it has a self-adjusting temperature for
different fabrics and it does so automatically. The iron glides across clothing and is comfortable to hold.
There is an alerting light to advise you when to ‘decals’. A tray is provided with the product for this to be
carried out.
In summary, if you want an iron to make the job of ironing easier -look no further.
Philips GC8735 iron – king of irons?
Like any Philips product this iron is well packaged, it fits neatly in the cardboard packaging, I like the way they used cardboard to pack the box out instead of traditional Polystyrene which is better for the environment, it would be better if they didn’t put every single component in its own plastic bag, which i think is totally over the top, unnecessary and un-environmentally friendly.
The iron looks great, it has a very classy navy look to it, which makes it look slick and advanced. it’s probably the best looking iron I’ve seen ever. Usually irons are dull & ugly; to designed to server a purpose but someone had to actually go to a lot of trouble to try and and shake that image with this and it works, I wouldn’t put it on display but i did look forward to using it the first time I try it. Not sure if the novelty will wear off.
The iron it self is vey easy to use, just fill the tank with water, press the on button and off you go, no dials, temperature to set or configuration to do.
You don’t need to worry about the type of material you are ironing, the iron apparently works all that out.
It performs well, I’d say it almost twice as fast of my old iron, its lighter to as the tank and most of the working parts are attached to the base. It glides effortlessly and seldom do you need to re-iron what you’ve already done, unless it’s creased badly.
Another excellent feature of this iron is that it has a built-in descaler if you live in hard water area. Although I use purified water, it is very useful as limescale can shorten the life of an iron & cause problems. (Please note previous Philips models needed a cartridge which was expensive to keep replacing every 3-6 months but they’ve improved this feature now).
This is a steam generator iron which is quite bulky (the iron itself is quite small but the accompanying tank is huge and is very heavy when filled with 1.8l water) so make sure you have space for it and an ironing board strong enough to take the load.
The iron is designed to make life easy. You don’t need to adjust the temperature, and it figures out how to deal with each piece of fabric. It takes a couple of minutes for the water to be heated it and it generated a huge amount of steam! To get the steam you press a button on the handle and it comes with only a short delay. Once you get in the groove you can go through a load of ironing much more quickly than with a conventional iron. It’s better for big loads than just the odd thing I would say.
Ironing may still be a necessary evil, but as long as I need a smart shirt to go to the office in then I’ll still need to do it. I’ve been using steam generators over regular irons for a number of years now, so I’m already a convert to the technology. I’ve been using an older model in this line for a few years now and whilst the results have always been good, it was bit too large and bulky to use. I’ve tried this on linen, cotton and denim clothes and it smooths out creases easily and hasn’t left any damp marks/wet stains that some steam generators can do. The time taken to do my weekly ironing is also much less than a regular iron would need since the constant high pressure steam makes such short work of it. I’ve also tried some more delicate garments, such as scarves too I am very pleased with the results.
The Philips GC8735/80 PerfectCare Performer Silence Steam Generator Iron certainly does the job it claims to do; it really makes simple work of the ironing.
The packaging was thoughtfully designed, being efficient enough to protect the appliance without being overdone, which boded well for the product itself. The weight of the iron itself is lighter than my old traditional iron when it was empty so that was a good start. The detachable tank makes refilling easy – although to honest, the amount of ironing I have had to do hasn’t warranted a refill, so far. There is also a ‘Smart-calc’ facility to avoid a build-up of limescale and for ease when carrying, the iron can be locked to its base.
As to the ironing, itself, the iron glides easily on its ceramic soleplate, whilst ‘OptimalTEMP’ means there’s no worrying about heat seatings, thus one can iron a delicate fabric after pressing linen, without waiting for the iron to cool or having to organise the order of garments to iron in the first place. This takes some getting used to, as is being able to just rest the iron on the ironing board (one has to do as one can’t sit the iron down due to its shape). Both these things, plus the clicking sound when depressing the steam button, are, in my opinion, simply things that one gets used to, and would not be sufficient to justify the deduction of a star.
An excellent product – 5 stars!
Top Features:
MASSIVE 1.8l tank … good enough according to the instruction for 2 hours of ironing … so no having to fill it up all the time
HUGE amounts of stream … far more than any normal steam iron
NO BURN or Stickness. On some irons I’ve had issues where on delicates and wool the temp can cause a problem … well not with this… in fact I deliberately tried to see if it would burn some fabrics and it simply didn’t
Calcium build up is negated as the iron will tell you when it needs de-calced and it comes with everything you need to do this.
Cable tidy is very easy and takes all the cable easily
The steam button really does dump a huge amount of pressure and steam so ironing everything including Denim is easy
Has a lock to keep the iron itself locked in to a storage pad while not being used.
The handle is light and easy to use and feel very tough and of great quality
The only draw back and it’s tiny is I takes a couple of minutes to get up to temperature to be ready for use
This iron is currently around 100 cheaper than a Tefal Iron I had recently, yet the continuous steam output is the same and the boost steam slightly higher. It does a easy job of ploughing through the ironing pile and the OptimalTemp technology means that you don’t have to worry about adjusting the temperature up or down to cope with delicates. It’s steam that gets rid of creases, so they have worked out a way of reducing the sole plate to a minimum setting that will cope with all situations and push the steam out to manage the creases. You still need to be mindful of the plate as it can still burn. On the point of steam, this will saturate the air quite quickly, so make sure you have a window open or risk wet walls.
The iron itself is one of the lightest in the hand that I have tried, with the handle being comfortable to hold. As with all steam generator irons they are bulky (with some bigger than others), so you will need an ironing board that will take it. The 1.8lt removable tank takes untreated tap water and when full can be quite heavy, hence the need for a stable ironing board. With this iron being continuous steam you may need to top up if you have a big batch of ironing, but you can refill on-the-fly. I can’t comment on how effective the self descaling is on this as yet, because the need hasn’t arisen. I am in a soft water area so scale isn’t a huge problem. If there are any issues I will update this review. The iron when running is not as noisy as some steam generators I have had, they can make loud grinding noises as they build up steam. this one is not completely silent, but it is a good deal quieter than my old Tefal.
The base has a lock to hold the iron in place to keep it secure and allow you to carry the base by the handle. It shuts off if left alone. Because of the OptimalTemp it won’t burn clothes which means in between garments, just leave it flat, which is a bit safer than other irons balanced on the heel. This takes a bit of getting used to if you normally stand the iron up like I traditionally did.
So far it has given good performance and makes short work of the ironing and having a large family I get through a lot of ironing!
This is such a handy type of iron. Mainly because you can go from ironing a pair of jeans to a silk blouse without changing temperature and hanging around till the iron cools.
It irons woollens nicely too (and has a gold standard award from Wool Mark).
A good while back I owned an older model that could be quite noisy at times (obscuring important information from Poirot, who I often watch while ironing). This one is much more TV viewing friendly, that is, quieter.
This iron has no heel making it lighter to use. You can rest it on the stand or flat on the ironing board. Without the steam pressed through it it is only warm and you can leave it for a few minutes. It will also switch itself off if left for 3 minutes unused.
The tank takes tap water and you don’t need to switch the iron off and on again if you need to refill.
I’m very happy with this Philips iron.
Why is ironing still a thing? Doesn’t standing at a fold-out table pressing fabric with a bit of hot metal feel oddly archaic, like shoeing a horse, or applying a lentil poultice to a septic gumboil? Get your act together, ironing boffins.
However,I suppose if we do have to still do ironing – IN THE 21ST CENTURY -we might as well do it with something like this, which looks like something Darth Vader might use to initiate the destruction of an uncooperative planet.With it’s two-minute heating time, enormous quantity of steam and other such jiggery-pokery, It’s high-tech in every possible way, apart from the odd noises it makes, a succession of exhalations,, ticks, and bubblings that recall a traction engine cooling down I didn’t mind that -perhaps it’s one of those things that’s impossible to get rid of, no matter how advancecd the tech, but I can see it being a bit annoying to some punters.
I already use a Philips iron with the material sensor and it works! No fiddling with heat controls, just switch it on and use it! Go from cotton to delicates – no problem at all. Amazing.
This machine has a removable tank so you can take it to the sink to refill without disturbing the iron. Very good. It is light to use, warms up quickly and is easy to store with space for the steam pipe and cable. Plastic but robust, it looks as though it will last. There is a long guarantee. One thing I haven’t tried yet is the auto “Decalc” – looks easy and avoids having to buy and mess about with the cartridges that have to be replaced.
So, although expensive, this looks and acts like a “top of the range” product, has the strength of the Philips name and works really well.
I will update when I’ve tried out all the functions.
Here we are in September and all is working well. I’ve now had the “Decalc” alarm and run that through. Easy, not messy and gets all the gunge out of the system. This has happened twice since I got the machine and I live in a hard water area.
I remain very impressed.
Brilliant but doesn’t stand up. Needs to be put back on its base or lay iron side down on board inbetween ironing.
So my initial impressions of the Philips steam generator perfect care is as follows. (after 6 days usage)
1) Packaging adequate without being over the top. A concern I know to those with environmental concerns.
2) Very easy to set up. matter of a couple of minutes at most. even though the “quick start guide” was not present and had to read the main
instruction manual. which was very easy and strait forward to read/follow.
3) Very easy to use, though I find it a bit fiddly when trying to put the full water reservoir in position. I am sure this will improve with use.
4) It takes approx 2 mins for the generator to heat up, a blue light flashes on the handle and then stops when ready, it also gives an audible bleep
when ready.
5) The steam generator performs well under pressure, to activate steam you have to squeeze a trigger on the inside of the handle and maintain
your grip for continuous steam. there is a lag between pressing the trigger and steam delivery, though after a few garments you get used to it .
It copes well with mixed loads of laundry from heavy denim to light delicate material. with the luxury of not having to wait for change of
temperatures on the sole plate. Their is ample steam for denim and difficult over dry creases, though extra steam is available by squeezing the
steam trigger twice quickly which delivers an intense steam jet for approx 15 seconds.
6) At this stage I have not had to de- calc the system but i am assured by the instruction manual that it will remind me to do this, only time will tell.
CONCLUSION
I love this steam generator, it is easy to use, relatively light to handle and compared to my previous steam generator very quite.. I would highly recommend this generator to family and friends. so why only 4 stars?
A) The price
B) extra steam pressure a little difficult to activate.
UPDATE
February 2020
After 2 and a half years of faithful service, this iron is still performing as well today as it did out of the box. I am delighted with all aspects of this irons performance . It is well worth the money.
This is the 4th or 5 th turbo steam iron I have had and this is the best . Arrived on time and no delivery problems.
I purchased this iron after much deliberation. It is a bit pricier than some of the other steam gen irons on the market but I had used a Morphy Richards steam gen iron in the past and was fed up with it being too much like a normal steam iron, you would expect these types of irons to produce LOADS of steam not just some but the Morphy Richards just didn’t do this… Hence the decision to switch to Phillips.
The Phillips so far has certainly beat my original expectations. The amount of steam that this iron produces is phenomenal. It heats up very quickly and is certainly easy to use – 1 press of the trigger provides steam, 2 presses provides a turbo steam feature which gives a short blast of masses of steam which is good for those stubborn creases. The fact that this model has a detachable water tank means its easy to continue to get the steam that I needed most, I can’t believe manufacturers are still making steam gen irons with fixed water tanks!
There are a few areas which I think take some getting used to. The first being the iron hasn’t got a flat bottom to it so you can’t rest the iron vertically. Something that I have done for years. The Phillips uses a technology which ensures it won’t burn so its not a problem to leave the iron horizontally down – it just takes some getting used to. The second being it makes a clicking noise when you press the steam trigger, again this just takes some getting used to!
Based on past experiences of this type of iron, I couldn’t recommend the Phillips enough!
I have had this a few weeks now, and am really impressed. Firstly vs my impression of bulk it is actually quite a sleek unit – looks good in the kitchen, does not take up too much space and is light enough to be easily moved round.
Performance wise it has also been excellent…it certainly creates far more steam than my existing iron which makes it easier to glide and a noticeable difference in getting my shirts crisp. I have not needed to go back over any parts, and would say this saves me about 10% of time!
would definitely recommend!