Review of the Garlyn GT-300 electric iron with vertical steaming and fabric illumination functions

The Garlyn GT-300 iron is equipped with a new generation anodized soleplate, which ensures easy and smooth ironing of any fabric. The key features of this device are the elongated rounded shape of the spout, a groove for buttons along the entire length of the sole and LED lighting, which is especially useful when ironing difficult areas, especially on dark fabrics.

With a power of 2500 W, the iron provides a constant steam supply of 35 g/min and a steam boost of up to 200 g/min. The manufacturer claims that the device can handle any fabric, from linen to thick denim, and is also suitable for ironing curtains hanging directly on the curtain rod and outerwear on a hanger. The three-meter electric cord provides freedom of movement both during normal ironing and during vertical steaming. The Self Clean self-cleaning system allows you to quickly and effectively remove scale from the 250 ml water tank.

The iron is equipped with the most modern technologies for the safe use of household appliances: auto-shut-off function, drip-stop system, comprehensive protection of M-Pro elements and class I protection against electric shock.

^* Contrary to popular belief, this is not the time limit after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

The brand traditionally pleases us with festive and protective packaging. The outer corrugated cardboard box is simple, with a vector image of the device and minimal information about it. Inside there is a colorful box with a bow and a detailed description.

The inner black box contains a photograph of the iron and pictograms depicting its benefits. On one of the sides there are photographs of individual parts of the device and their descriptions. Technical specifications are provided in Russian and English.

Inside the box we found:

• iron
• beaker
• user manual, brief user manual and warranty card

Inside the package, the iron is held motionless by a cardboard insert. The device is also protected from external damage by a plastic bag.

Our iron is practically no different from modern models: a body with a soleplate, a water tank and the ability to adjust the temperature, a handle with controls and a long cord in a fabric braid with protection against bending and a hinged fastening. The body is made in white and gray tones, and the appearance is enlivened by an orange water tank and small details in dark gray and black.

The lower walls of the water tank are opaque, but the liquid level can be seen through the panel, which houses an LED display with temperature options.

The handle of the iron is rubberized at the point of contact with the palm and has a slight relief for better grip, which prevents slipping. In the grip zone there are black buttons for switching operating modes — their convenience will become clear during testing. The orange steam and spray buttons are in the usual place and are easy to press with your thumb. The steam mode switch is located just above. Closer to the spout of the iron there is a translucent gray cap that covers the hole for filling water, and under it there is a spray nozzle. The design is standard.

The reservoir lid opens and closes easily with a slight click. The hole for filling with water has a size of 2x2 cm and is sealed with a silicone gasket along the inner perimeter.

The fabric-braided power cord is attached to the housing at the rear of the handle via a ball joint. The connection point is protected by a flexible 5 cm casing that prevents damage to the cable from bending. The cord length of three meters ensures ease of use of the iron both on the ironing board and during vertical steaming.

The iron stands stably in a vertical position. At the bottom of the case, next to the sole, there is a sticker with brief technical information. The sole has a teardrop shape with a narrow rounded top. The steam outlets are located in a single row along the side edges and in the upper part of the sole. The coating is applied perfectly evenly.

The kit includes a transparent plastic cup with a capacity of 100 ml. The cup is equipped with a spout to ensure the convenience and safety of filling the iron reservoir with water.

Overall, the iron looks modern and high quality. Upon inspection, we did not find any significant differences from other models with similar functionality, but we also did not identify any visible shortcomings.

A thin pocket brochure of 25 pages contains information only in Russian. On the first pages, users will find safety measures, a description of the iron’s structure and the names of its individual parts. Recommendations for preparation for work, operation, as well as the use of basic and additional functions are rules and tips familiar to everyone who irons clothes or other textile products. Inexperienced users are advised to read the section on choosing ironing modes for different types of fabrics and how to troubleshoot possible problems.

In our opinion, five minutes is enough to study the instructions, after which you can safely forget the document. If necessary, you can always use the brief instructions, which are located on an A5 sheet.

The instructions recommend setting the required heating temperature for the soleplate and selecting the steam generation mode before turning on the iron. The temperature regulator rotates easily and freely, accompanied by specific clicks. The device provides four traditional heating options.

• Synthetic
• Silk Wool
• Linen-Cotton
• Max

The steam supply regulator can be in the following positions:

• ironing without steam
• ironing with medium steam power
• ironing with powerful steam

After turning on the iron, a white indicator appears on the display, flashing and indicating the selected heating mode. Green indicators also appear at the bottom, indicating the available heating levels. When the soleplate reaches the set temperature, the indicators begin to light continuously.

If the iron is not used in a vertical position for more than 8 minutes or in a horizontal position for more than 30 seconds, a red “Off” indicator appears on the display and the iron automatically turns off.

Upon completion of work, it is recommended to move the steam supply regulator to position “0”.

The orange “Self Clean” button located on the water compartment will be needed when manually cleaning the device. We described its use in more detail in the “Care” section.

There are six LEDs on the front of the iron that can illuminate the fabric while ironing if necessary. To activate the backlight, press the orange button located on the back panel of the device.

Before use, it is recommended to remove all packaging materials, wipe the body and soleplate with a soft damp cloth, and then wipe the device dry. When turned on for the first time, a temporary foreign odor may occur.

During practical experiments, the iron proved to be a simple and easy-to-use device. There were no particular difficulties; everything turned out to be expected and familiar. However, there are a few important points to pay attention to:

• You can pour water into the tank either using the supplied cup or without it, since the hole is quite spacious.
• The steam boost and spray buttons are conveniently located and easy to press.
• When using a steam boost, be aware that the steam power weakens after several blows.
• Vertical steaming may leave a small amount of water droplets on the floor, but the fabric will receive a sufficient amount of moisture.
• The iron sole glides easily over any type of fabric.
• The cord is more than long enough for convenient use.

Despite the ease of use, there are some drawbacks, such as the awkward placement of the adjustment buttons and the need to drain the remaining water from the reservoir after each use to avoid the formation of deposits.

Before cleaning, you must unplug the iron and wait until it cools down completely. It is recommended to use a soft, damp cloth or sponge to clean the body and sole. It is important to avoid using abrasive and alcohol-containing detergents, as well as hard or metal brushes.

It is recommended to carry out the self-cleaning procedure 2-3 times a month, depending on the frequency of use of the iron and the hardness of the water in the region. To clean your iron:

1. Fill the reservoir with water.
2. Turn the steam supply regulator to the “0” position, and the heating temperature regulator to the “Max” position and connect the iron to the power supply.
3. After heating the iron, unplug it and place it in a horizontal position above the sink.
4. Press and hold the “Self Clean” button until hot water and steam stop coming out of the holes in the soleplate, while rocking the iron back and forth.

The cleaning procedure is simple and takes little time, making it convenient even when using an iron with hard water.

The power of the iron reaches 2200 W when heating the soleplate, which corresponds to the characteristics declared by the manufacturer.

The sole reaches the maximum temperature in 30 seconds and the first temperature level in 10 seconds. The heating temperature varies in different parts of the soleplate: the maximum temperature is recorded in the upper narrow part of the iron, and the lowest in the wide lower part. Here are the sole temperature measurements in different modes:

• I mode: 90—110 °C
• II mode: 120—170 °C
• III mode: 150—180 °C
• Max: 170—240 °C

As a first test, we took a white cotton T-shirt with a large print.

We used the iron on the third sole heating mode, processing the fabric from the wrong side. Additionally, a constant supply of steam with a powerful jet was turned on. The result was excellent: the medium-weight cotton fabric was smoothed out easily and without problems. The fabric did not wrinkle or wrinkle, so only one or two passes of the iron were enough to achieve the desired result.

To conduct this test, we turned off the steam supply and set the heating of the sole to the first mode. Next, we ironed a heavily wrinkled blouse made of thick synthetic fabric that had been pre-washed and dried.

The first mode turned out to be insufficient, so we switched the iron to the second mode and turned on the steam supply to a minimum. This helped improve the result: although the final result did not seem ideal to us, it is worth noting that the fabric was quite stubborn.

For the next test, we took a “grandmother’s” felt robe with a belt. Both are after washing, with many creases and wrinkles.

Ironing went perfectly, and we were especially pleased with the thoughtfulness of the button groove. It grabbed the buttons deftly and discreetly, giving us comfort and allowing us to iron in almost any direction, and the sole could easily slide over the fabric under the buttons.

We ironed a large robe and belt in just 4 minutes on mode 3 with maximum steam.

To test the iron's ability to handle delicate fabrics, we took a thin cashmere sweater. Although it could not be called very wrinkled, we were more interested in how the soleplate of the iron interacts with such a delicate material and whether it will damage an expensive item.

Within 1.5 minutes on the second mode with a light supply of steam, the sweater acquired a more presentable appearance. The sole of the iron glided over the fabric easily and smoothly, leaving no drops or marks on the clothes.

One of the most difficult fabrics to wear and care for is linen. Linen is great to wear in the heat, it allows the skin to breathe and even seems to cool the body, but its ability to wrinkle strongly and instantly is a real headache. Perhaps that’s why crumpled linen items have come into fashion, because it’s much easier to live this way.

Our dress was obediently ironed in the third mode with strong steam supply in 2-3 approaches. The whole dress took about 6 minutes.

Knitwear is another amazing cotton fabric that is pleasant to the touch, but has its own characteristics due to the way it is made. The main characteristic is that the fabric stretches greatly in all directions. Only experienced craftsmen can sew even seams on such fabric. Ironing such fabric is, of course, easier, but it is worth remembering that a heavy iron can easily deform the edges of clothes, pulling them in different directions, so for knitwear an iron with a perfectly smooth sole (or without ironing at all) is suitable.

Our iron did a great job. The sole did not cling and easily slid over clothes.

In the modern world, many have stopped ironing clothes and bedding. But let's face it, nothing beats the feeling of smooth pillowcases and sheets while you sleep. After washing, linen often remains wrinkled and creased, so if you have the opportunity, sometimes treat yourself to such a pleasant moment as sleeping on smooth bedding.

We took a sweatshirt with a composition of 80% cotton and 20% polyester. By itself, it is not very wrinkled, thanks to the synthetic material that holds its shape, but it still does not look very neat.

To eliminate such light wrinkles, we needed the 3rd mode, medium steam supply and 1 minute.

Viscose is a fine cotton material that is renowned for its excellent breathability, but is prone to warping. Fabric can shrink significantly after washing and often remains wrinkled when allowed to dry naturally or when stored in a closet.

But if you iron this fabric, it looks simply magical. It took us 2 minutes on setting 3 with high steam to transform this dress.

To test vertical steaming, we chose a difficult material — dense and fairly rough corduroy.

Our sundress resisted with a weak steam supply, but with a strong steam supply it began to become moisturized and straightened, and the steam shocks smoothed out even strong creases on the pockets.

We decided to use an iron to repair damaged clothing. We had a children's cotton polo with a small hole and children's outdoor waterproof pants with a larger hole. Typically, such damage is repaired using special thermal patches or thermal stickers. This procedure requires a low temperature, so we set the iron to “3” mode.

Setting the iron to “no steam” mode, we applied the sticker and ironed it for 20-30 seconds. Then pressed tightly over the entire area for several seconds and left to cool.

We did the same with the pants.

The iron helped us a lot and didn't damage anything in the process. 2 minutes and 2 items saved is a good day, though.

The Garlyn GT-300 iron is a typical device in its class, combining high quality manufacturing and assembly, as well as rich functionality. Its equipment includes many basic and additional features: three levels of constant steam supply, adjustable heating of the soleplate, a spray arm that produces extremely fine sprays, a powerful steam boost that allows you to use the iron as a vertical steamer, as well as “Drip-stop” and self-cleaning systems, as well as an automatic shutdown function when inactive.

Particularly noteworthy is the convenient button groove, as well as the excellent shape and coating of the sole, making it easy to iron small and complex items of clothing. The iron also reaches maximum temperature quickly, in just 30 seconds.

In all the basic tests, including ironing tough, dry cotton fabrics, the Garlyn GT-300 performed excellently. However, during operation, some shortcomings were revealed: an interfering wire, sometimes annoyingly hitting the wrist, the location of the mode switching buttons on the handle, as well as the significant weight of the iron, which affects the comfort when using it as a steamer.

Pros:

• fast heating
• three modes of constant steam supply
• ease of use and maintenance
• perfectly smooth sole
• adjustable steam supply
• fabric lighting

Minuses:

• heavy, especially when used suspended as a steamer
• The location of the mode switching buttons is quite unusual