Product test

Braun CareStyle Compact IS 2043 steam ironing station tested

3.1.2020

Translation: machine translated

The right iron doesn't make ironing more fun, but it does make it easier. Find out whether this is the case with the IS 2043 steam ironing station from Braun here.

Whoever wears crease-free clothes usually looks more stylish and well-groomed than their colleagues and friends who didn't feel like ironing. For the best ironing results, you need a steam ironing station. These are usually really big, but Braun has created a space-saving model with its CareStyle Compact IS 2043 variant.

Design

Other steam ironing stations are more cuboid in shape and the iron lies lengthways on the surface. This makes them very large. Braun has taken a different approach here and designed the water tank to be round. The iron sits vertically on top. The manufacturer saves a lot of space with this design. This also makes it much easier to put the iron down and pick it up again.

I particularly like a small detail here: a lock anchors the iron firmly on the tank. This means I can simply put the entire station with a full water tank in the cupboard. The cable can be wrapped around the water tank.

On the station there is a button for switching the steam strength, a reset button for changing the limescale filters and a lock that securely connects the iron to the station.

The back of the iron is slightly curved upwards. The manufacturer compares the design to that of a snowboard. In practice, this helps a lot when sliding backwards over shirt buttons or thicker pockets and appliqués. The iron itself is very light and handy and glides over all fabrics thanks to its coating.

Easy to use

As soon as you take the ironing station out of the packaging, it is almost ready to use. Simply insert one of the two limescale cartridges supplied into the water tank and fill it up with water. The limescale filters are necessary. The steam iron cannot be used without them. Now I could complain that these cartridges cost around eight euros or ten francs each to run, but they actually last quite a while and at least ensure that the water tank is limescale-free so that I don't even have to empty it after an ironing session. I find descaling conventional steam irons much more annoying.

The water tank is filled at the side with a maximum of 1.3 litres. There is also space for the limescale cartridge here.

The limescale filters are available separately. To use the steam function, a cartridge must always be inserted. — The water tank is filled at the side with a maximum of 1.3 litres. There is also space for the limescale cartridge here.

I personally have very hard water, iron about 10 to 20 textiles once or twice a week (half the water tank) and have been using my limescale cartridge for two months now. According to the manufacturer, one filter is enough for around 30 litres. That corresponds to 23 water tank fillings. With my ironing behaviour, one cartridge should last me about half a year. According to user reports on the internet, those who use distilled water don't even have to change the cartridge, but just press the reset button when the iron asks for a new cartridge.

Ironing results

It's not unusual these days for an iron to deliver great results if you use it properly. For me, it's more about whether I, as a non-professional, can get creases out of things without despairing or taking ages. And that's where the Braun model scores across the board. The cable that connects the water tank and iron is long enough at 1.5 metres and doesn't get in the way when ironing. The steam is also very easy to adjust. I just switch back and forth between two settings: the gentle setting produces less steam and is suitable for delicate fabrics. The full power setting is intended for all normal textiles. I personally can't and don't need to set more than this when ironing. However, professionals may have different needs.

All cables can be wrapped around the station.

The iron sends out a lot of steam at the touch of a button (300g/min at 5 bar). As a result, all textiles are literally penetrated by the steam and creases are removed. The button is located under the handle at index finger height and is therefore very easy to reach. You can also freshen up garments with steam if they are still hanging on the hanger.

The water tank holds 1.3 litres. Depending on the amount of steam used, this is enough for around 15-20 shirts or more. The iron heats up and is ready to use after around 90 seconds. Ten minutes after the last steam burst, the iron switches off automatically. To reactivate it, the plug must be unplugged and plugged in again. Sometimes this can be a bit annoying, but it is a safety feature.

The tip of the iron can also reach hard-to-reach places thanks to its shape.

Conclusion: Practical steam machine

If you want really good ironing results with little effort and are also interested in a space-saving steam ironing station, the Braun IS 2043 CareStyle Compact is the perfect model for you. Some may be annoyed by the need to buy the descaling cartridges, but the iron does not have to be descaled by hand.

Clothes irons

Braun IS 2043 CareStyle Compact

2200 W, 300 g/min

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Stefanie Enge

Autorin

techjournalistin@gmail.com

Most of the time I'm living between bits and bytes, testing alternative Android operating systems and trying to make my life smarter with Open Source technology - always with a focus on privacy and data protection. When I'm not testing cool gadgets, I'm developing video games, writing stories and playing the accordion.

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