Black & Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage Iron
by Black & Decker
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List Price: Our Price: $39.99 You Save: $25.00 (38%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $33.99 (click here) Category: Home See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker D2030 Auto-Off Digital Advantage Iron
Customer Review: Excellent - Consumer Reports rated it #1, and now I do too!
Summary: 5 Stars
While I don't claim any brand loyalty, my last (and over 6 years old) iron was a Black and Decker Steam Advantage. It's forced steam function finally died, so I went trekking for something new.
I was quite surprised to get my first issue of Consumer reports and see that the D2030 Digital Advantage was #1 above several other $100+ Rowenta's. Their total score given was 74/100 but don't let that fool you. The second place contender was 62/100!
Just for reference, here's their take on the D2030:
Performance: 4/5
Durability: 5/5
Steaming: 4/5
Ease of Use: 4/5
Weight(lbs.): 4.1
Water Tank (oz.): 12
I am... well I WAS used to dial-turn type irons when it came to heat level adjustments. Seeing a high rating on a "digital" iron made me nervous, but hey - why not?!
There's one turn-style knob that adjusts steam output to your preferred level, and when it's fully open it puts out an impressive amount of steam. Not so much as to drown your clothes, but more than any iron I have encountered.
On top there's a digital display that displays the numbers 1-7 as you press the button. Each level is accompanied on the digital display by a fabric type, so if you have it at level 7, the display has a LARGE "7" and below that it reads "cotton". The display, by the way is backlit and large, so it's very readable for pretty much anyone who would want to.
The swivel built into the back end that keeps you from getting cord-entangled is excellent. It moves smoothly, not chunkily. It twists as well as pivots, so there's no annoying sudden POP that makes your iron shoot across that shirt you were ironing. It's the little things like this that make the D2030 impressive.
The water fill opening is near the front of the Iron, and when the iron is standing up - the hole to fill it up is 100% upright. This was a biggie for me. My previous iron needed to be held a certain way to avoid the lid and you always ended up spilling some. The lid/door on the D2030 gets WELL out of the way for filling, and the little filler cup that it comes with is absolutely PERFECT for it. No effort required here, just pop it open and pour. Ok, I COULD complain that it takes 2.5 fills of the filler cup to fill the D2030 up, but I'm not super lazy, so I won't; I'll just point it out in case that's a concern for you. =)
What else.... The steam output, again - amazing. The adjustment from little to fog machine is very precise and it's easy to make slight steam in- or de-creases. It shuts off after 10 minutes if you walk away from it - whether or not it's upright or face down. The weight is slightly heavier than most I have seen, but I can't say it's any less easy to move than any other iron I have used. 4.1lbs isn't much when most are in the 3-3.6 range and I tend to think that the weight helps with those tougher, thicker cottons.
Final thoughts: Buy it. Buy it now! You won't regret this purchase. I would have paid $200+ easily if I had been given a 7 day in-home trial.
Customer Review: We Have a Winner!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had a high end Sears iron, a lesser B&D, a really cheap Sunbeam, one that was mid-priced and so bad I gave it away to a rummage sale in the original box a week later. I also tried out a Rowena for a couple of day's that belonged to family member. The Sears and the lesser B&D just stopped heating within a year.
The first iron I bought was the cheep sunbeam that had great steam and a metal sole plate with a non stick surface the worked good, the trouble was it shut off every 15 min. no matter what you did and if you weren't paying any attention it dumped water all over the garment, but I would tell myself "Hey for 14.95 not a bad iron."
The next was the Sears and it had too little steam and the sole plate was stainless steal that would muck up with, who knows what, and I was cleaning it every two weeks. I had to scratch the surface to get the crud off. It then stopped heating 3 months later. No receit...a loss.
The lesser B@D had great steam, but the same problem with the sole plate. I believe, either the grade of stainless steal. or the fact that both irons (Sears and the lesser B&D) had low points on the sole plate making a spot for the crud to stay in was the reason for this. At any rate it died 4 months later... Another loss.
The one I gave away had more problems than I can list, and I was not impressed with the Rowena let alone at the price.
So I did more research and found this B&D model D2320. It does everything great and I have no complaints. The steam is as good as I have seen on a hand held iron. The sole plate, after 2 months is as clean as when I bought it (I could shave in it if I shaved, :). It only tuns off when not moved and turns off quickly if left on it's sole. I like this arrangement. Cord is real long and it holds a lot of water. If it dies in the first year, as many irons do including Rowena's, according to my research. I have a plan this time. I have taken all information and put it in the original box with info on my registering the iron so I can send it back.
If it keeps working it is all the iron I want.
Customer Review: Best Iron I ever used!
Summary: 5 Stars
Okay staring off, I'm not some super ironer that has used $300 dollar irons. Most of my iron purchases have been between $19.99 and $50.00. My previous iron was a black & decker steam master, which was HORRIBLE. Leaked water constantly, steam was inefficient, and it was weak power wise. Prior to that I had an iron I bought off Amazon, which I cannot find anymore but it was 19.99 and it was a steam iron that came with an attached water container. That iron produced tons of steam, the reason I mentioned these previous irons is that the 2030 produces more steam than both of them. I always always always use the steam function on irons until I got the 2030. It's so powerful and gets so hot that I can iron clothes without the steam and still get pretty pressed shirts.
I read all the reviews currently out prior to ordering from Amazon and they rated this item and the T-Fal iron as the best in class. I chose this iron for the digital indicator and the fact that it lets the use know when it needs to be cleaned.
Everything about this iron is great. I had a few spitups when I first got it but it has adjusted and I've had nothing but good ironing experiences. The iron will cut your actual ironing time down compared to other weaker models.
The iron is a bit heavy in hand but that is good because it leaves a good press and actually feels like it is effortlessly pressing the clothes without any work on my part.
The digital output allows you to see exactly how hot the iron is. To date i have not had any mishaps of burning silk, rayon, or any delicate shirts. I use to burn my replica football jerseys and sometimes my authentic soccer jerseys but not anymore.
Best Iron I ever use, does everything it says it does very well. Do not be cheap, get this IRON or even the TFAL...nothing else can compare in the price range.
Customer Review: I was nervous, but this has been a great iron!
Summary: 5 Stars
I went back and forth for a few weeks (which is so unlike me!) before purchasing this iron. I had read just enough poor reviews that made me hesitant to order. I've had this iron now for 8 months and have used it at least three times per week (lately it's been more like 5-6 times per week since I haven't been traveling as much). I have absolutely no complaints so far. It's such a smooth iron - it really glides over the fabric. I have had zero issues with the cover to the water well, and I'm really having a hard time understanding how others said it was flimsy and/or snapped off easily. The instructions say not to use tap water (which is probably standard for most / all irons, but I never paid attention), so I bought a jug of water and use that to fill it. The steam is great from this iron - very powerful and effective. I like the digital display and have not had any issues with it, but I'm on watch since a few other said theirs stopped working. If this does stop working, the iron will pretty much be unusable since you have to set it every time (once you turn the iron on, you need to push the button until the display shows the setting you want - if you want setting 4, you push the button 4 times). The area where the cord connects to the base of the iron is also very nice. It prevents any tangling and rotates very easily as you move the iron so it doesn't get in your way. My last iron was a Black and Decker as well and I just loved it. I hated to replace it, but had issues with the cord after five years of near daily use and had to replace it. So far, I'm wishing I would have upgraded to this unit sooner! :) Give this a try, it's really a great iron.
ps. I'll be sure to update this review if I begin to have any issues with it.
Customer Review: Better than Rowenta PowerDuo
Summary: 5 Stars
After suffering through three years with a Rowenta PowerDuo, I finally decided to cut my loss (over $100 for the Rowenta) and find a new iron that didn't drip and spit all over my clothes every time I used it.
I read through dozens of product reviews, and the Black and Decker just seemed to be the best overall.
The negative comments about the somewhat flimsy cover on the water spout, and how easy it is to accidentally move the steam dial (along with a relatively small water reservoir) are true, but those are relatively minor details that don't detract from the overall performance - and value - of this iron.
It's not too heavy (it's actually a bit lighter than my old Rowenta), works for hours with no problem and rarely drips (an occasional drop or two, and only after heavy continuous use) and has NEVER spit like my old Rowenta did constantly.
I've had this iron for close to a year now, and love it.
I tend to do laundry in big batches, which means I'm usually ironing a couple of weeks worth of shirts and pants (primarily cotton, cotton/poly blends, and polyester), and have the iron going for two or three hours straight.
The Black & Decker has always worked perfectly, no matter if it's a quick touch up of one small item, or powering through two or three dozen items of differing materials and weights.
It heats up quickly, and adjusts temperature up or down even faster as you switch fabric settings to keep you going through a pile of wrinkled clothes quickly and easily.
I've had lots of irons over the years, and this one is at least as good as any I've ever had. It's a great value, and for most people, is the iron to go with.