FUNKY Retro Steam Iron, Ceramic Soleplate, 3m Cord, 450ml Water Tank, Rose Gold Pink (FI-02-ROSEGOLDPINK)

Product Information

This model comes with an iCare mode, which, rather like the Philips models, utilises a smart textile protection system to set the correct temperature for every fabric. And that, in theory, means no more scorched delicates. Steam: Some irons offer steam output, which means constant steam, whereas others offer steam shot which requires the user to push a button for an intense shot of steam to get rid of stubborn creases. This is all down to customer preference. Key specs – Capacity: 0.5L; Dimensions: 19 x 17 x 0.9 cm; Weight: 0.3kg; Cable length: 1.95m; Wattage: 260-420W; Steam output: Not given; Features: Laundry care, patchwork and quilting and sewing settings

With an ethos of putting a funky design twist on small household appliances, husband and wife Joe and Sadie Sillett set up The Funky Appliance Company in 2016, based in West Sussex.

Things to consider

I enjoy spending time with my three children, Sammy, Emily and Heidi. Sadie and I see a lot of each other as we are in the office together every day as well as at home. One of the garments we tested it on was a much-loved, dark-coloured shirt, so in this case we opted to switch the iron to its AntiShine mode to protect the fabric. The shirt came out looking crisp and shine-free, and the decrease in ironing power relative to i-Temp mode was minimal. Picture the scene… You’re about to go to a wedding and you have your favourite shirt – possibly your only shirt – ready on the ironing board. You have just minutes to spare, so you turn on your steam iron, place it on the shirt, pull the steam trigger and – holy mother of pearl – a spurt of limescale splatters itself all over the front. We’ve all been there. Well, the clever bods at Tefal appear to have solved this ridiculous peculiarity by fitting a MicroScale filter to this classy iron that removes 100% of any scale in the steam chamber before it reaches the soleplate. We like that, a lot. Any niggles? Well auto shut-off is a bit too short for my liking (about four minutes) and my test machine does spurt a little water out of the ultra-light soleplate the first time you use it. Hence, I would advise holding the soleplate away from your fabrics until the steam settles. I should add that this is quite a common anomaly with steam generators where condensation collects under the soleplate and in the hose. My wife Sadie. She has always believed in me. We’ve been together for 17 years now and we’ve known had some amazing highs with my working life and some lows. Finding an idea together for this business has been amazing, as it really is a husband and wife creation and she has as much passion for the product and brand as I do. How do you relax outside of work?

The business originally started life as The Funky Iron Company, with Sadie and Joe designing a unique looking electric steam iron. The Funky Iron idea was born from the couple being avid ironers – thanks, in part, to the couple’s three children as there was always a lot of ironing to be done in their household! Water tank capacity: To avoid adding extra weight, look for a small tank (although not so small that you constantly have to refill it).

Each control set comprises a simple knob with a toasting scale from 1 to 6, a reheat setting, a defrost function and an easy-to-see eject button that lights up in red when you push down the carriage. As I mentioned in my recent Sage The ‘A Bit More’ toaster review, I’m a fan of toasters that don’t keep you guessing when smoke starts to pour out of the slots. With this one, it’s plain to see that a simple tap of the red-lit upward-facing arrow will stop all the fire alarms from going off.

Classic steam irons should be more than powerful enough for everyday household use, letting out steam to moisten and relax the fabric before you remove the creases. The Funky Iron has a lifelong anti-scale system built into it. It also has water spray and self-clean buttons. A complimentary heat-resistant silicone pad is included to rest your iron on your ironing board. Like the Philips Azur Elite (below), this model offers an intelligent mode – “i-Temp” – that promises to administer the ideal amount of steam and heat based on what you’re ironing. This helped us blast through our laundry at rapid speed, without having to think too much about settings.Fabric suitability: Some garment steamers specify they can be used on ‘delicate fabrics’ and others go into more detail about which fabrics they can be used on (sequins, beads etc) so buy one that will suit your wardrobe. If you have a habit of accidentally ironing creases into your clothes (full disclosure: the author of this article does), this little iron could be your saviour. Light, small and comfy to grip, it’s exceptionally easy to manoeuvre. Plus, its small footprint minimises the effect of any mistakes you make. Winning the “Best New Product Small Domestic Appliances” at the ERT Awards in London in December 2021 for our Funky Toaster was a true standout moment for the Management Team as well as Sadie and myself. To win such a prestigious award beating Beko, Morphy Richards, Hoover, Roidmi and Dualit to the trophy was incredible. If you have the slightest doubt about whether to do a deal or not, don’t do it’ Do you consider your business to be a disruptor – what’s its USP?

In recent decades, steam generator irons have emerged as a strong competitor to the traditional steam iron. These incorporate a separate steam-generator tank, which will typically be able to deliver a higher volume of steam to the soleplate than a traditional in-built reservoir could. Steam generator irons tend to have higher ironing power compared to a conventional iron – the only real downside is that they take up a lot more room. Things to considerKey specs – Capacity: 0.18L; Dimensions: 29.2 x 21.6 x 17.6 cm; Weight: 2.1kg; Cable length: 1.9m; Wattage: 2000W; Steam output: Not given; Features: Adjustable steam and spray settings Anti-scale technology: This stops limescale from building up (which can damage your iron and your clothes). This makes your iron last longer and is particularly useful for people who live in a hard water area. It has a thermostat with clear temperature and steam output settings for synthetic (dry ironing), silk (dry ironing), wool (dry ironing), cotton (steam) and linen (steam); plus a steam trigger underneath the handle and a maximum/minimum toggle to increase or decrease the steam output. Key specs – Capacity: 1.2L; Dimensions: 28.8(H) x 22(W) x 39.3(D) cm; Weight: 5kg; Cable length: 0.7m; Wattage: 2600W; Steam output: 100gpm; Features: Anytime refilling, auto shut off, double anti-scale system It has to be the Funky Toaster which I think is the best-looking toaster in the world bar none. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt so far building a mainly DTC business?