Black & Decker Textile Iron (Standard, Green)

I spent a few weeks pressing work shirts, napkins, and a set of heavy curtains with this Black+Decker iron, and it surprised me in a few key ways. It’s a compact, 2-pound unit with a green finish and a retractable cord, built around automatic steam regulation and a nonstick soleplate designed to deliver even steam from heel to tip. In daily use, it gets a lot right for the price—and it has a couple quirks worth knowing about before you buy.

Design and build

This is a straightforward, no-nonsense iron: 12.3 inches long, 5.8 inches wide, and 6 inches tall, with a comfortable handle and a tapered nose that’s genuinely useful around buttons and pleats. The TrueGlide nonstick soleplate feels slick on cotton and poly blends, and it stays clean with light care. Balance is good; at about 2 pounds, it has enough mass to press wrinkles without feeling fatiguing. The green housing is semi-translucent enough to monitor the water level in decent light.

The retractable cord is the headline convenience feature. Tap the rewind button and the cord zips back into the base. You’ll still want to guide the plug back with your hand to prevent whipback, but it’s miles better than wrapping a cord around a heel rest.

Controls and setup

SmartSteam is the core control idea here: you set fabric temperature on a single dial, and the iron automatically meters steam to match that heat level. It keeps things simple—no separate steam slider to fiddle with—and for most fabrics it works exactly as intended. There are dedicated buttons for spray mist and a steam boost/burst, plus a lever to open the water fill port.

Two details to note:
- The spray and steam boost buttons sit side-by-side under your thumb. Their left/right positions felt a bit counterintuitive to me at first, and I misfired a couple times. Muscle memory kicked in after a few sessions, but the layout won’t please everyone.
- Baseline steam output varies with temperature. On lower settings (synthetics), the iron keeps steam light to avoid spitting; on higher settings (cotton/linen), output increases automatically.

Warm-up is quick. I could start on synthetics within a minute, and the jump to cotton felt fast enough that I rarely waited on the iron between fabric changes.

Heating and steam performance

On medium to high settings, the SmartSteam system produces consistent steam without fuss. Pressing cotton shirts and pillowcases, I moved at a steady pace and saw even moisture from heel to tip. The Even Steam soleplate channels really do help keep output uniform across the plate, minimizing those hot, dry patches that can scorch or gloss fabric.

For stubborn creases, a tap of the steam boost adds a satisfying punch. It’s strongest when the iron is fully up to temperature—wait for it to stabilize for best results—and recovers quickly between bursts. On thick denim or layered seams, I occasionally hit the boost twice in succession.

One caveat: if you prefer a constantly heavy plume of steam, this iron’s default output may feel modest. It’s tuned conservatively at the lower end and balanced at the top, which is great for preventing leaks and sputter, but less ideal if you want locomotive levels of continuous steam. I found myself using the boost more often when tackling heavy linens, and after a long session the repetitive button presses contributed to some thumb fatigue. If your pressing style leans on near-constant steam bursts, that’s worth considering.

Drips and sputter were rare in normal use. As with any steam iron, you’ll get a few drops if you trigger big bursts before the soleplate is fully hot or if you overfill. Letting the iron preheat fully and matching the dial to the fabric kept it well-behaved.

Soleplate and glide

The TrueGlide coating earns its name. It’s smooth, doesn’t snag on blended fabrics, and resisted starch buildup with periodic wipe-downs. The tapered tip is especially useful around collars, plackets, and between buttons, and the Even Steam design carries actual steam all the way to that tip, which makes precise wrinkle removal easier.

Scratches weren’t an issue in my testing, though as always, avoid zippers and metal buttons. The soleplate cleans up with a damp cloth after cooling.

Vertical steaming and curtains

Vertical steaming is competent and handy for quick refreshes. For light wrinkles on shirts hung on a door frame, a slow pass a few inches away softened creases without wetting the fabric. On heavier curtains, it worked, but it was a patience play: several passes per panel, and the boost button helped move things along. It’s not as powerful as a dedicated garment steamer, but for a home iron, it held its own.

As with horizontal use, preheat fully before vertical steaming to minimize condensation. I noticed a couple droplets when I rushed, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Safety and maintenance

Safety is well executed. The automatic shutoff is fast: about 30 seconds if the iron is left on its side or soleplate, and roughly eight minutes on the heel rest. I appreciated the handle indicator light, which blinks as the iron is about to sleep; a quick shake wakes it. It’s a thoughtful touch that saved me from that “did I turn off the iron?” moment more than once.

For care, I emptied the tank after each session and left the hatch open briefly to air it out. Those two habits go a long way toward preventing mineral buildup and prolonging steam performance. There’s no complex maintenance routine here—just use clean water, avoid overfilling, and keep the soleplate wiped down.

Water capacity and refilling

The tank holds enough for a normal ironing session. I could do several shirts and a couple pillowcases on high steam before topping up. The fill port is wide enough to use under a faucet, though a small measuring cup gives you more control. The translucent housing makes the waterline easy enough to see in good light.

Cord management and storage

The retractable cord is the right answer for anyone who stores an iron in a crowded cabinet. It’s quick, neat, and keeps the plug from catching on other items. The rewind spring is fairly strong; guide the plug in with your hand to prevent snapping back. Footprint is compact, and the heel rest is stable.

What could be better

• Steam intensity expectations: If your ironing style relies on a constant, heavy cloud of steam, the default output may feel restrained. It’s reliable and even, but not aggressive.
• Button layout: The side-by-side spray and boost buttons take getting used to. I would have preferred a more distinct shape or spacing to avoid misfires, and frequent boosting can fatigue your thumb during long sessions.
• Vertical muscle: While capable, vertical steaming on thick textiles is slower than a dedicated steamer, so plan on extra passes.

Who it’s for

• Great for: Everyday ironing, mixed loads of synthetics and cotton, users who want a simple dial-and-go setup with safe auto shutoff and tidy storage.
• Good for: Occasional vertical steaming, small spaces where a retractable cord matters, households that value even steam distribution and a slick soleplate.
• Not ideal for: Users who demand very high continuous steam output for heavy fabrics or who rely on constant steam bursts for long sessions.

Final recommendation

I recommend this Black+Decker iron for most home users who want reliable, even steam with minimal fuss and genuinely useful conveniences. The SmartSteam system keeps the setup simple, the soleplate glides and reaches well, and the safety shutoff is quick without being intrusive. The retractable cord and compact footprint make storage easy, and the water tank supports a full session without constant refills.

If you prioritize maximum continuous steam and plan to tackle heavy fabrics daily, you may want a model with a dedicated high-output steam control or a separate garment steamer. For everyone else—especially if you value easy storage, fast warm-up, and a balanced, nonstick soleplate—this iron is a practical, well-rounded pick.