BLACK+DECKER D2030 Digital Advantage Professional Steam Iron, Gray

I have just received and used for one day the Black & Decker D2030 Digital Advantage Iron. I would describe myself as an iron aficionado. I love to iron (really -- even sheets) and am very picky about the tools for doing it right. I have owned many irons, from the very expensive to the least. At $39.99, this one is as good as or better than the pricey ones and a great value.So far, I only have good things to say about this iron:Design:(1) The steam setting is away from your hands so that you can't accidentally shut the steam off while you are ironing.(2) Temperature setting button is easy to use and access, digital reading is bright and large enough to see without strain in any lighting(3) Spray and steam burst buttons are easily accessed with the thumb while ironing and do not require excessive pressure(4) This iron fills while standing upright. Big plus!(5) The aesthetics are nice, too. It looks clean and modern and feels substantial.Function:(1) Heats and produces steam quickly. Best to start with full reservoir.(2) The temperature settings mean what they say. Some irons don't really get hot enough at the lower settings. With most irons, I find myself using the Cotton setting for most things, and the Linen setting for heavy cottons. This one is plenty hot at the Blend setting for most clothing and certainly hot enough for cottons at the cotton setting.(3) Produces steam well. No spitting or leaking. (Caveat: In my experience,any iron will leak after about two years. This is Day One.)(4) Heft. The iron is heavy enough to make ironing go faster and neater without being too heavy for me to use comfortably.Cons:I have not found any significant cons for my taste yet.If you prefer a lightweight iron, this one might not be right for you.The temperature setting toggles from 1 to 7. If you toggle from 7, it takes you immediately back to 1. No way to go backwards without going all the way around again. I personally like this, because it keeps things simple, but some people might prefer a setting that lets you take the temperature down a notch without having to cycle all the way through all the settings.

I've had a few bad iron relationships and was ready to break-up with the current one that enjoyed throwing up on everything, leaving water stains that required washing before wearing. It's been so long since I had an iron I really liked that I began to think it was me, not them.I did a bit of research in the Amazon reviews and was all ready to buy an expensive iron by another manufacturerer that was twice the price until I saw recent reviews that indicated a product decline that came after they moved their manufacturing to another country. I decided to try this iron based on the many favorable reviews - thanks to all who contribute - and it being listed as their #1 Best Selling Iron.When I saw how well the iron was packaged, I had a good feeling about it. I don't think I've ever had an iron that was wrapped in tissue and the plate had cardboard attached to protect it. There were also cardboard inserts that prevented the iron from moving - simply awesome protective packaging. Then I encountered something amazing - an instruction manual! The last few appliances we received had none, so this was absolutely impressive.The iron has the largest water reservoir of any I've seen and I was able to iron several man's shirts with the steam setting in the mid-range without using half the water. It even comes with a little container with a small spout for filling the reservoir. The iron has multiple steam settings and is effective even at the lowest steam setting - and the higher settings produce such plentiful steam that you can almost give yourself a facial (OK, so I exaggerate, but only a bit).While the weight of the iron is a bit more than my past few irons, I quickly adjusted and the glide of the iron across clothing was so smooth it actually required less effort than the lighter weight.The iron has a digital display and you press a little button to increase the temperature settings. At each setting, the display shows the numerical setting and the type of fabric it is appropriate for. To turn the iron off, you hold the button in for a few seconds until the display darkens, indicating it is shut off.I love this iron and am almost tempted to buy another to have a spare for the day when this has met it's shelf life. At half the price of the one I was contemplating, it's a real bargain and I don't think you'll be disappointed by the ease of ironing you'll find with this iron.