Not bad, but the devil is in the details

After 3 years my last Tefal steam iron has capitulated to the extremely calcareous Munich tap water. (In the manual was discouraged from distilled water, ironing water or ion exchangers; it should be explicitly filled with tap water ...) Since I was very happy with the old device basically, I have this week now gained the successor model. I regret the purchase: the new iron does not come close to the quality of the old.

In Detail:

Positives:

+ The device looks solid processed, the lettering and functions are clearly and unambiguously
+ Sole: there are sufficient and strategically placed steam holes; the sole glides well, but my impression is that they are not so easily slides over the materials, such as the "Ultragliss" sole of my old iron. There are more wrinkles, the material gives way to iron out, it shakes slightly. Perhaps there the still when the sole is slightly läner in use.
+ The steam blast comes promptly and vigorously
+ When set to "Eco" are the iron just enough and steam uniformly from
+ The weight is fine. Not too light and not too heavy
+ There is a self-cleaning function through bursts of steam. This has at least removed the last iron always many Kalkbrösel from the device. However, for extremely hard water it seems to be only partially sufficient.

After these points, judging alone: ​​A solid iron with no frills. Who ironed only individual pieces may be satisfied. A safety function ("Auto power off") in the event that one is distracted when ironing, the iron has not. Not ideal, but as long as you take care not a problem.

The devil lies in the detail. There are some, at first glance pretty minor niggles, which then can be surprisingly uncomfortable the longer iron but:

1) The cable is 2 meters long, not really generous. The ironing board has to be placed very close to the nearest electrical outlet, so that the cable spans not unpleasant in some movements. That the cable is quite stiff, and does not really help. One feels slightly cramped.

But 2) Really problematic is the position of the push button for the shot of steam directly below the handle. If I take the iron easily, then my index finger and my middle finger half rest directly on the bolt that controls the steam blast. I have so really only the choice between 3 unpleasant decisions:
- I reach now with your fingers really, then I press the steam boost regulator almost permanently. But I do not want to and I do not need, too, when I turn on the steam function.
- In order not to permanently push the knob, I have to constantly frantically away from the button, either the first two fingers of the hand
- Or do I have the iron so far to tackle the back of the handle as possible. Then the hand sits but no longer centered on the iron, but almost at the rear, in the rear third. We then have the run of the iron really been a pretty unpleasant torque because it is more forward than usual. This takes a lot more strength in the wrist as an iron that I consider central.

Short: The really unpleasant position of this button on the bottom of the handle, the hand is always ironed somehow braced. Either in your fingers or the wrist. The attitude is not a moment convenient and on time (if you have to iron more) extremely annoying.

3) The iron is not skin significant parts of the steam in the room air to the laundry. When the duration of the steam iron are permanently off some steam on the laundry - but at the moment in which one sets it up vertically to lie laundry differently, there are always immediate and inevitable a gigantic hissing of steam from. To this extent I have never seen in an iron. The impression is that somehow a part of the sole until shortly come when installing the bracket immerse into water and thus resulting in this absolutely disturbing effect. One would like the steam not get around the ears, but have on the laundry. And if every time I put the iron vertically, a huge cloud of steam is wasted, then the costs unnecessary energy and I have to refill the water tank more often. What the producers have thought in this design, is beyond me.

Especially the last two points make the use of already uncomfortable. I'll try with my old iron now again to get rid of the lime - and look around parallel to my future iron. This here is degraded as soon as possible for replacement. Too bad for the sound processing I expected more.

A note at the end: A point in the manual makes me wonder back: As with my old irons are advised me to use tap water because distilled water is unsuitable. I quote: "Never use distilled water or water with additives (...) or condensation (...) These types of water may contain organic materials or mineral elements that the spitting of brown spots or premature wear on the machine. lead. " However, the manufacturers seem to have realized that the recommendation to take tap water, hard water leads to areas for short-lived, even when applying the cleaning function regularly, because it is right next to it: "If your water is very hard, we must the tap water are mixed in the following ratio with commercially available distilled water: 50% tap water - 50% distilled water. "
Oh? First I should "never" and then I will always 50%? So either what is in the distilled water in it, which the iron harm, then that's still in there, if I the tank only half so befülle - or not. But as these two sets of standing side by side, can not convince.