Recs for hand mixer AND iron

[sheryl]

Mixer:         DH and DD bought me a Cuisinart hand mixer about 12-15 years ago, I guess.  It's served me well (I have a KA lift stand mixer) for all those years for the smaller tasks.  Even though I do have the KA I'd still like a hand mixer.

Multiple speed, easy grip and eject button, actually easy to use (design) all around.  Which one would you recommend?

Iron:  My Shark iron is several years old and performs fairly well actually but I'm looking for the mother of irons.  One that will actually help to iron out wrinkles.  Go figure.  🙂

Which iron do you recommend?

Thanks!

[Carol in Cal.]

All the quilters I know swear by the Rowenta irons, so when I saw one at Costco I snapped it up.

OMGosh.

The manual is half an inch thick.  It is the least intuitive appliance I have ever owned.  I couldn’t even figure out how to get it open to put water in for steam ironing, and then I realized that the wattage was too high for my plug so I never have actually used it.  So my advice is, if you get one of those get someone to help you figure it out.

[sheryl]

36 minutes ago, Carol in Cal. said:

All the quilters I know swear by the Rowenta irons, so when I saw one at Costco I snapped it up.

OMGosh.

The manual is half an inch thick.  It is the least intuitive appliance I have ever owned.  I couldn’t even figure out how to get it open to put water in for steam ironing, and then I realized that the wattage was too high for my plug so I never have actually used it.  So my advice is, if you get one of those get someone to help you figure it out.

Yes, Rowenta.  They are premium.  I forgot about that brand.  Can you get an adapter; call an electrician?  Maybe someone here could help.  Or, call Rowenta and ask.    ???

[PeterPan]

KA makes a delightful hand mixer, so there you go. Comes in great colors too. I'm on my 2nd in many years, highly recommend. 

As far as the iron, yeah Rowentas will solve your problem. What you need is both wattage and weight. There's also the kind that is crazy light and has a water tank. Rowenta I think makes one and there are commercial versions. 

While you're at it, how is your ironing board? You want a *wide* ironing board. I read an article once that said the real trick to ironing was not to rewrinkle it while it was still damp. They were advertising ironing boards that had air flow. I thought that was wild, lol. But it means having a place to hang your shirts nearby and a wide board so you're moving less can help. 

Also, I had a few Sharks. They didn't last as well, but some had really good wattage. So again, look at the wattage to compare the irons. My MIL was this ironing queen and would go through Rowentas even. Apparently some are picky about their water.

[PeterPan]

https://www.allbrands.com/categories/83  I think I ordered something from this company years ago. They're legit and they carry some stuff that might interest you. They have a whole section with categories of irons and another whole section for boards. You can get very obsessed if you want. 

[Terabith]

We're onto our third generation of non-ironers here.  Our solution is to only buy permanent press clothing.  Apparently when I was five, I was pretending a toy iron was a car.  

[itsheresomewhere]

Kitchen Aid has a fabulous hand mixer.  

I only use an iron for sewing but I hated the rowenta. It was not that impressive to me. Instead, I ended up with a Black and Decker professional model.  It is used often and works well.  

[Carol in Cal.]

3 hours ago, sheryl said:

Yes, Rowenta.  They are premium.  I forgot about that brand.  Can you get an adapter; call an electrician?  Maybe someone here could help.  Or, call Rowenta and ask.    ???

No, it’s in one of those built in wired ironing board systems with the timer on the plug and three heights for the ironing board and swivels so you can iron left or right handed.  It’s awesome, but the wattage max is less than the stupid Rowenta from Costco.

[aaplank]

Another vote for the Kitchen Aid hand mixer!  

Irons, I have no idea about.  I stopped ironing a decade ago.

[BusyMom5]

I also have a KA hand mixer!  And I bought one for my SIL,  too.  Pretty colors, easy to use.  

[gardenmom5]

I bought a KA handmixer because it had an actual low speed.  (it also has a good high speed.)

 While I liked the handmixer I had before (it died)- it's low speed was *not* "low".

[sheryl]

OK, collective reply here -

Do you KA hand mixer owners have a model number or link?  

Rowenta, Black and Decker vs. iron-free.

itsheresomewhere, do you have a model/link for your iron?

Terabith - lol.  On that note, you non-ironers, I'm glad you spoke up b/c I'd like to not iron or at least not often.  

Peter Pan, I used to take dh's shirt from washer and jelly roll them until ready to iron.  I even put them in freezer as it was suggested to keep wrinkles at bay.  Either they were wrong or I didn't do something right b/c the shirts still turned out messy.  I think the best way now is to take immediately from washer and hang!  What do y'all do?

[itsheresomewhere]

9 minutes ago, sheryl said:

OK, collective reply here -

Do you KA hand mixer owners have a model number or link?  

Rowenta, Black and Decker vs. iron-free.

itsheresomewhere, do you have a model/link for your iron?

Terabith - lol.  On that note, you non-ironers, I'm glad you spoke up b/c I'd like to not iron or at least not often.  

Peter Pan, I used to take dh's shirt from washer and jelly roll them until ready to iron.  I even put them in freezer as it was suggested to keep wrinkles at bay.  Either they were wrong or I didn't do something right b/c the shirts still turned out messy.  I think the best way now is to take immediately from washer and hang!  What do y'all do?

I just take from the washer, give the shirts a few shakes and hang up DH’s dress shirts.  No wrinkles and if some should need a touch up, I have a steam feature on the dryer or hang it up in the bathroom while showering.   
 

My iron is older but this might be the current version 

 

 BLACK+DECKER D3030 Allure Professional Steam Iron, Gray/Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X5ILD0K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MDINFbFKNBRT6

[PeterPan]

24 minutes ago, sheryl said:

What do y'all do?

I don't get it done. My dh buy's wrinkle free and calls it good enough. Not saying it's good enough, just that that's what happens, lol.

[katilac]

3 hours ago, Terabith said:

We're onto our third generation of non-ironers here.  Our solution is to only buy permanent press clothing.  Apparently when I was five, I was pretending a toy iron was a car.  

When my kids were little, we visited a Braille printing house with the grandparents. The guide was trying to explain some of the machinery to the kids: 

Guide: It's kind of like an iron, you know like the iron your mom has at home? 

Kids: *blank stares* 

Guide: An iron, like for clothes? 

Kids: *blank stares* 

Guide, sounding increasingly frustrated: An iron gets hot, and you've probably seen your mom using it to get wrinkles out of clothes? 

Kids: Ohhhh! An iron, yeah. Mommy doesn't ever do that. 

The minute he said 'like the iron your mom has,' I knew where the conversation was going, and I just let it roll, because it was sexist and also because it's  always fun to horrify the grandparents. My m-i-l ironed f-i-l's clothes every day. Heck, she ironed the sheets 😂 and I just cannot identify with that on any level.  

[Ellie]

I've had two Rowentas. I gave them both away because they began leaking. I now have a Shark which is close to 10 years old and still not leaking. 🙂

I have a Bosch mixer, but I also have a KA hand mixer for small jobs. I don't think the model number matters; just buy one. 🙂

[sheryl]

Thanks everyone. I'm off to find that KA hand mixer and read current reviews to purchase the B/D or Rowenta iron.  

[sheryl]

12 hours ago, katilac said:

When my kids were little, we visited a Braille printing house with the grandparents. The guide was trying to explain some of the machinery to the kids: 

Guide: It's kind of like an iron, you know like the iron your mom has at home? 

Kids: *blank stares* 

Guide: An iron, like for clothes? 

Kids: *blank stares* 

Guide, sounding increasingly frustrated: An iron gets hot, and you've probably seen your mom using it to get wrinkles out of clothes? 

Kids: Ohhhh! An iron, yeah. Mommy doesn't ever do that. 

The minute he said 'like the iron your mom has,' I knew where the conversation was going, and I just let it roll, because it was sexist and also because it's  always fun to horrify the grandparents. My m-i-l ironed f-i-l's clothes every day. Heck, she ironed the sheets 😂 and I just cannot identify with that on any level.  

Funny! 

[PeterPan]

That mixer will be the kind of thing that goes on a black friday sale. You might set an alert on camelcamelcamel.

[sheryl]

10 hours ago, PeterPan said:

That mixer will be the kind of thing that goes on a black friday sale. You might set an alert on camelcamelcamel.

Right, I like like a good deal and have found many but I didn't want to wait for this purchase

9 hours ago, Margaret in CO said:

My B&D iron finally died--had it for maybe 20 years? I went with a PUR Steam this time. So far, so good. 

Pur - how long have you had it?

OK, y'all, I researched using CR (Consumer Reports).  It's my go-to for purchasing important items (even my current vehicle).  CR ranks Cuisinart Mixer as top, well the hand mixer.  You'd have to research to learn what features they tested.  I was all set on buying the KA hand but when I learned of that I bought the Cuisinart Power Advantage Deluxe 8-Speed Hand Mixer.  I figured I have some of the return time to decide if it holds up to its ranking.  If so, good.  If not, I'll get the KA which also ranks high. 

We don't have a CR subscription so I have to rely on search engines or go to the library to look through the current year's buying guide.  I believe the Black/Decker iron is ranked very high but need to confirm that.  

So, Cuisinart or KA mixer and possibly a B/D iron.

Thanks all!

[Ausmumof3]

No brand recommendations but check the cord length if you buy a cheaper iron.  Made that mistake and ended up with a cord that barely reached both ends of the ironing board.  

[KungFuPanda]

Once I got my stand mixer I never used the hand held again. I used to task children to hold the hand mixer for me. The stand mixer as a gift for me was Dd’s idea. 🤣