Russell Hobbs Rapid Steam Iron RHC902

I bought this iron because it was supposedly non stick. After only several months it is heavily stained for a NON stick iron. Not happy Jan! Picture is after trying to clean it again. Show details

The manager at Dubbo spotlight store did NOT want to honour the Russell Hobbs 2 year REPLACEMENT warranty policy. And finally after a very long INTERROGATION session that l had to put up with from her, she did agree. Then she then wanted to refund the iron and have me re-buy it back, as it was on sale originally, only 4 months old when l purchased… Read more

it & was more expensive now. It had a sticking problem to fabrics when ironed & l finally got tired of having to keep cleaning the burnt debre off. I think it was only that there was another customer there waiting to be served that she finally swapped it over. I repeatedly showed her on my phone, Russell Hobbs 2 year warranty replacement policy, but it fell on deaf ears. She was hell bent on either not honouring the warranty at all or refunding it & making me pay more to re-buy the new one again. I am very discussed & for a manager as well, for the dreadful service l received while l was at the Dubbo spotlight store & l would never recommend that store to anyone. My advice to anyone reading this, BEWARE, of buying ANYTHING at that store, if you have a problem, YOU WILL BE STUCK WITH IT!

Overrated – Plate burned and stained in a matter of weeks. Now it's eroded inside so when you spray steam leaves rust iron shaped stain on work shirts. Not even 9 months old Show details

Well Priced and Simple Iron With Smart Design – This is a straightforward iron at a great price. There aren’t lots of extra features, but if you want something that just works and doesn’t need mucking around with adjustments and buttons, this will fit the bill. Actually, it has interesting features which are of real use - the cord, the filling method and auto shutoff, as explained below. I now… Read more

have several Russell Hobbs appliances and I always find they are well designed, nice looking and well priced. I will continue to buy them. Since I don’t iron many things anymore, I wanted something to chuck in the cupboard and be able to use quickly. I really liked the small size and light weight of this iron - it doesn’t give your wrists a workout like some other irons I have used. Maybe if you have a large ironing job to do, such as sheets or curtains then you may need something heavy duty, like a steaming station.

The standout features for me are: The cord – longer than most and this is an important feature, you don’t want to be wrangling around an ironing board with a short cord. The actual cord material is high quality and tangle free so it slides nicely across the ironing board. The cord entry at the iron has a natty swivel design, which also helps stop the cord restricting your ironing action. Very thoughtful design.

The filling system – the water entry point is larger than most and a clever cover that clicks down stops and water from sloshing out. The window showing the level is full length and width, so it’s easy to see how much water is on board. I’m so pleased, I included a photo,

The coating – now, this may be because I haven’t had a new iron for some time, but it really glides along clothes well.

The auto shutoff system - this is a bonus, I hadn't thought about this until I read the instructions and is a no-brainer now. A significant safety feature, especially with children (or forgetful adults) around. And it resets if you start using the iron again.

Can’t find any cons, other reviews have mentioned that it is suited for smaller jobs, but at its price point of $39 or so, it exceeded my expectations.

Surprisingly good compact steam iron – I have an office job that requires me to wear business shirts and trousers, and on many days a suit and tie. Ironing is daily routine for me. Each day I iron a business shirt to be worn on that day from the freshly washed and dried pile of clothes. Like most people, I am time-poor and need to iron my shirt as quickly as possible as I often do not… Read more

leave myself much time to spare in the mornings.

I would not normally use a small steam iron of this type. I have been using a steam generator for many years now. Although an excellent way to iron my clothes, it is bulky, heavy and can often produce too much steam and moisture, leaving the ironing board wet. This is particularly the case when ironing a larger volume of clothes, sheets, towels and other items in one session.

A compact steam iron such as this Russell Hobbs model is significantly cheaper than a steam generator, being about one-twelfth of the price of the steam generator I own.

I do however have the need for a compact iron for two main reasons - the first reason being a backup iron for when there is a failure with the steam generator – I have had this occur to me before at a very inconvenient time. The second reason is to have a compact unit that I can take with me on holidays. Many holiday units do not provide an iron and when they do, I have learnt over the years to not trust them. They are usually old irons, not used very often and rarely cleaned. I have stained clothing with rust from an iron that was not emptied or used for a long time.

I have been using the Russell Hobbs Rapid Steam Iron RHC902 for two weeks now and have been pleasantly surprised by how well it can iron.

There is not a lot in the box - the iron itself, a small 100ml plastic jug and a manual. The iron looks good – the outer body is mainly plastic and has a clear water tank, so it is easy to see how much water is left in the unit. The iron has all the standard features that most irons of this class have, and the positioning of the controls, dials and water tank lid is like most other irons – so there is nothing that is different or out of the ordinary to have to get used to.

The ceramic sole plate feels sturdy and very smooth. The outer edge is separated from the body of the iron all the way round the iron – approximately 4mm – which allows ironing around buttons. The steam holes on the sole plate are evenly distributed, however, I do note that there are no extra holes close to the tip of the iron, which would have been useful when ironing some clothes that have closely spaced buttons. Having the steam jets close to the tip allows steam ironing in those tight spots. Perhaps something Russell Hobbs may consider in future models, however, I suspect the cost may go up as well.

The iron is easily filled using the jug that is supplied. The jug has graduations of 50ml and 100ml. The iron when empty can take about 230ml. There is a high water mark on the tank. The tank is clear allowing easy observation of the amount of water remaining while ironing. The iron needs to be filled while the iron is in the horizontal position. This could be a problem if the iron requires more water midway during an ironing session – particularly if you do not have anywhere to set down a hot iron when filling.

Russell Hobbs claims that the iron produces 35g of continuous steam. This is released constantly and to be honest, it is not very noticeable if you are looking for steam coming out of the sole plate. However, it is noticeable as you iron, although gentle, it does assist in the ironing process.

It also has a steam burst, which Russell Hobbs state is 90g. The steam burst is impressive and makes a significant difference while ironing. This burst is activated by pressing a button on the top of the unit with your thumb. Typically, three consecutive bursts in quick succession is possible after which it loses intensity. However, the steam burst recovers after a few seconds. The steam burst is useful in target areas of the clothing that are more creased and need a little more attention.

The iron states that it is anti-drip. This has proven true so far with my daily usage of the last couple of weeks.

The iron also has a manual spray, which sprays cool water in front of the iron. This is a common feature on most compact irons. This is a fine spray which is activated by pressing a button that is next to the steam burst button. The button simply operates a small pump that creates a fine spray through the nozzle. I have found that the more vigorous the press the finer the spray is created. This feature is useful and I find that I often use it to deal with stubborn creases.

When I iron a business shirt I typically use somewhere between a half to two-thirds of the water in the tank per shirt. This does vary depending on the type of shirt and how creased it is.

The temperature dial sits on top of the water tank and under the handle. The dial is a ratchet type (i.e. clicks as it is turned) and allows the appropriate temperature to be selected based on the type of material being ironed. The lower temperatures for more delicate materials such as silk and nylon. The higher ranges also turn on the steam for cotton and linen.

There is a knob towards the front of the iron that can be turned to turn on and off the steam. It can be rotated to control the amount of steam. It is hard to tell whether this knob has much impact on the amount of steam produced. Even when it is turned to the steam off position, it is still possible to activate the steam burst. It is my understanding that this knob relates to the continuous steam function, thus allowing the continuous steam amount to be adjusted from zero to 35g. This however is not a problem for me as I would typically seek either the highest amount of steam when steam ironing or have it turned off completely when ironing something that is delicate.

Interesting to note, the iron has a button on the tank which allows you to clean the iron. This is referred to a self-clean function, even though you still need to press the button. It releases water and steam through the sole plate to assist in cleaning the iron.

The iron is light and glides effortlessly. It is also very stable when left in the upright position.

The only thing I needed to get used to is my fingers accidentally touching the temperature dial while holding the iron and adjusting my grip as I ironed. This resulted in me shifting the dial and having to check and adjust the dial to where it should be. The dial makes a ratchet clicking sound and therefore it is obvious if it has been moved. I must admit that I have large hands and fingers which perhaps creates this problem for me. I must also say that this problem has lessened the longer I have been using the iron.

The iron has a 3-metre cord which is great. You can never have too much cord and there is nothing worse than having to use an extension cord. I move around the ironing board a fair bit when I iron trying to get all the different angles. The cord on this iron is long enough to give me all the movement I need. Where the cord connects to the iron, it has a flared plastic sleeve that swivels on a ball joint - this is a good approach to address what is normally a high stress and wear point for cords in most appliances.

Another feature that is important is the auto shut-off. The iron turns off after 30 seconds if it is left motionless on its sole plate or side. It will also shut-off automatically after 8 minutes if it is left motionless in its upright position.

Overall, apart from the initial annoyance of accidentally touching the dial with my big hands and fingers, the iron has proved to be excellent value for money. It has performed well, generates ample steam, is easy to fill, operate and clean, it heats up quickly, looks good and is compact enough to throw in a bag if you need a reliable iron on your travels. I would recommend this iron if you are looking for a compact and easy to use iron that won’t break the bank.

Modest Iron For Daily Household Tasks – For a budget friendly iron, the Russell Hobbs RHC902 Rapid Steam Iron tackles a range of basic household tasks with ease. One feature that is not largely mentioned is that is it quite light in comparison to other irons. Perfect for those who either regularly iron or with poor use of their arms. As expected, it completes a range of simple ironing… Read more

tasks all while protecting garments and textiles with its non-stick ceramic plate.

Glides on most fabrics with ease, takes a little longer with delicate fabrics but I generally go slower with those items anyway.

Good features in a budget iron; does the job – What: Domestic Steam Iron, manual temperature control, plus steam, spray and flush capabilities Features: Safety Power off after 30 seconds on flat, 8 minutes standing vertically; wide button / zipper slot around the soleplate base, ceramic soleplate with 25 steam holes, burst of steam (button on handle), vertical steam function, self… Read more

clean (flush), variable steam control. Other Data: 3 metre cord, two indicator lights, one on the handle which is power available and auto shutoff, the other near the thermostat which indicates when the soleplate is heating. The soleplate has a 2400 watt heating element inside it, so it heats rapidly. The iron is fairly light, only 880g when empty, so it is easy to handle. Water tank capacity is about 320ml. Steaming capability as stated on the box is 35g continuous and 90g burst - a bit on the low side compared to the average iron.

Controls: Temperature control is the typical medium size dial in the control of the space under the handle with guides printed around its perimeter. This is the usual place as it connects with the electromechanical thermostat placed on top of the sole plate that switches the power on and off. Is it accurate? - within the usual parameters for this type of thermostat, it is quite good. All these type of mechanical thermostats, once they have switched on, won't come back on until they have cooled enough to reset, so the heating temperature is usually a range - so for instance at the 3 dot (•••) hot iron setting, which the iso standard is 200ºC, the RHC902 cycles between 170ºC and 205ºC. This may not matter for light cotton, but for heavy weight / denim the iron will perform better on MAX. Test ranges for Iso standard 150ºC warm Iron (••) are 122ºC to 165ºC, and for the Iso standard 110ºC Cool Iron (•) was 75ºC - 115ºC. If the ironing results were little inconsistent because of the temperature fall off towards the lower end of the range, you could set the temperature dial a little higher so that most of the time the soleplate is close to the Iso setting. But be warned: When the iron first switched on, because the soleplate and element is really cool, it overshoots the marker for temperature. For instance, on the Nylon settings the soleplate temperature hit 145ºC before settling down to the 75ºC - 115ºC range. And it does take a while to cool, so the advice in the handbook, and as seen from other iron manufacturers, is to start with the Cool iron fabrics first - and wait a little - don't charge into it straight away as the soleplate may be hotter than you think at first - you wouldn't want to melt a synthetic piece of clothing!

In Use: I did a test run with a mixed range of fabrics, from Cool iron synthetics, prints (reverse side ironing and with Ironing cloth) shirts, dresses, pants up to heavy denim jeans. Overall, it did the job with the settings as recommended on items with only light creasing or folds. Demin ironed best on MAX (treat thick denim like linen). Items with an ironing/pressing cloth needed a slightly hotter setting to compensate for the extra thickness & protection of the cloth. The auto shutoff worked as expected when left standing on the heel. No sticking or grabbing, but that's also why you use an ironing cloth on susceptible synthetics!

Steam: The steam control is variable from Off to full - handy, though I found I left it on full for most fabrics. The specifications on this iron are on the side of the box - 35g / 90 is on the low side, and this became obvious with some annoying creases, interestingly enough in some of the thinner cotton or composite fabrics - I found I needed to hit the burst of steam to compensate for the lower steam flow, and a couple of annoying creases would not resolve until I actually used the water sprayer on the crease. The buttons for the spray and burst of steam are like a split button on the top of the handle - a bit awkward for larger thumbs being so close together.

Other observations: The Mark for the temperature setting is just a raised piece of plastic under the centre of the handle - it is not coloured in any way: it could be clearer with a contrasting colour - I was tempted to run a black texta on it to make it stand out more. On the weight - easy to use, but with the narrowish base, also easy to tip over. Some irons have a widened base to make them more stable and able to better resist being tipped over. Sprayer: push firmly to get a fine spray, if you don't, it will blurt drops of water with the spray mist.

Overall: For the price, hard to fault. It does the job for most fabrics without stubborn creases, but a little underpowered on the steam side, so you may need to use the sprayer from time to time. Reliability will only come to the fore as more of these irons are in the market and owned and used for a while.

(Item tested as part of the Ambassador program)

Just ok for a budget iron – If you do alot of ironing this iron is not for you. If you iron your sheets or need lots of steam like me, again, this iron is not for you. If you just iron a few items for yourself or need it for general light clothing etc this is a great iron for the price. Without water in it it is super light. With the water in it it's still a good weight.… Read more

The water cannister seems to hold a reasonable amount. If you keep pressing the steam button you get an ok (nothing spectacular) amount of steam but it stops and starts a bit - it's not continuous. The cord is amazingly long ! About 2 metres at least - longest cord I have ever seen on an iron! The soleplate is excellent. A great plus is it has an auto shut-off and if you leave the iron sitting flat down for too long it has an alarm. What completely lets this iron down is the position of the steam burst button. This iron has 2 buttons on top - one for steam burst and one for mist spray. The steam burst button is on the far side of the handle, not closest to your thumb!? So, you have to reach your thumb up and across the mist spray button to get to the steam button on the far side of the handle. Your thumb ends up in an uncomfortable position to continually press the steam. After a long session of ironing I ended up using my pointer finger as my thumb and hand was sore. I rarely if ever use the mist button so for me this should be positioned where the steam button is - take note Russell Hobbs. For constant use I found this a very tiring iron on my hand and my hand was quite sore after using the iron for 1/2 hour. So to recap, if you iron alot this iron is not for you. If you just iron bits and pieces and don't use the steam a great deal it's a well priced little iron.