Black & Decker Light 'N Easy Compact Steam Iron; Teal

A compact iron that covers the basics—and a bit more

I put the Light ’N Easy through several weeks of real-world laundry: cotton dress shirts, a linen blend skirt, a pile of T‑shirts, and a couple of stubborn denim seams. I wasn’t expecting miracles from a compact, affordable iron, but I did want dependable heat, usable steam, and a soleplate that wouldn’t fight me. For the most part, it delivered. It’s a straightforward, lightweight iron with a few thoughtful touches that make day-to-day pressing easier, plus a couple of quirks you should know about before you buy.

Design and ergonomics

This is a compact tool—roughly 11 inches long, just over 5 inches wide, and about 4 inches tall. At 2.4 pounds, it’s light enough to maneuver with one hand yet has enough mass to help flatten wrinkles without excessive pressure. The teal accenting is pleasant, but what matters is how it feels: the handle is comfortable, the heel rest is stable, and the housing gives you a safe place to grab without flirting with the soleplate. I appreciate that the hot plate sits slightly recessed relative to the plastic body; it’s surprisingly easy to grab the wrong area on some irons when you’re juggling a garment. No such mishaps here.

The cord has a swivel at the base, which makes a bigger difference than you might think. I’m right-handed but often switch hands to attack seams from different angles; the swivel keeps the cord from kinking and knocking into fabric.

Controls and ease of use

The marquee control is a single dial that sets both temperature and steam output (the brand calls this SmartSteam). If you like simple, it’s genuinely nice to turn one dial to match your fabric and start pressing. The dial is easy to read and clicks into positions with enough resistance to avoid accidental bumps.

The trade-off is flexibility. Because steam and heat are tied together, you don’t get a separate steam slider to fine-tune moisture at a fixed temperature. On most everyday fabrics—cotton, blends, denim—the automatic mapping works well. For delicate synthetics that prefer low heat but occasionally benefit from a whisper of steam, I found myself relying on the spray mist button instead. It’s a reasonable workaround, but people who want surgical control over steam may miss an independent control.

Glide and soleplate performance

The nonstick stainless-steel soleplate is the workhorse of this iron. It’s smooth, with edges that glide cleanly without snagging on seams or pocket flaps. The tip reaches between buttons and around collars well enough that I didn’t resort to awkward angles. On cotton shirts, I could clear a sleeve in a couple of passes, and the soleplate stayed clean after multiple sessions—no browning or gunk buildup.

One note on pace: like most compact irons, this one is happiest at a measured speed. Move too fast and you’ll outrun the steam delivery; move too slow and you’re just baking fabric. Once I settled into a moderate rhythm, the glide and heat balance felt right.

Steam and wrinkle removal

For a small iron, steam output is respectable. On high heat for cotton, it produces consistent vapor that softens fibers and lets the weight of the iron do the rest. Stubborn wrinkles in denim took a bit of patience—prepping with the spray mist, a pause to let heat penetrate, then a firm pass—but the results were crisp.

On linen and heavier cotton weaves, I sometimes used a quick spritz from the spray button to boost moisture rather than bumping up the dial past where I wanted the temperature. The spray pattern is even and doesn’t spit. For delicates and synthetics, the dial’s lower settings keep steam minimal by design. I ironed a polyester blouse at low and used only the spray when needed; no water spots, no sheen.

Water and moisture management

Two things matter here: anti-drip performance and refill routine. The anti-drip system does its job at proper temperatures—no leaking across a morning’s shirts when the iron was fully preheated. If you try to coax steam at the very bottom of the dial, you’ll get what most irons deliver: a bit of condensation and the occasional light spatter. The fix is simple—let the iron reach temp, start with a dry pass, and reserve steam for mid-to-high settings. I also like to give the iron a quick burst on a towel at the start of a session to clear any condensation from the channels.

Refilling is straightforward. The water door opens wide enough to pour from a bottle without dribbling down the nose, and the reservoir window is easy to read. As with any steam appliance, using distilled or low-mineral water will keep it running smoothly if you live with hard water.

Safety features and day-to-day rhythm

The 3‑way automatic shutoff is exactly what I want on an iron I’ll occasionally set down while folding: it powers down quickly if the iron is left face-down or on its side, and gives you more time when it’s upright on the heel. In practice, it’s a solid safety net. Most of the time it stayed out of my way; when it did kick in, it reheated fast enough that I wasn’t left waiting long.

I did run into a couple of moments where the auto shutoff seemed overzealous during an active session, cutting heat and asking to be woken up again. It was infrequent—more an annoyance than a showstopper—and it didn’t recur after a power cycle. If your unit behaves like that consistently, I’d exchange it; the feature is useful when it works as intended.

Build quality and upkeep

For a compact iron at this price, the build feels solid. The body doesn’t creak under grip, the heel rest is sure-footed on a standard board, and the swivel cord jacket resists twisting. The finish on the soleplate stood up to seams and metal buttons without scoring. After several weeks, I didn’t see scale deposits around the steam ports, though long-term behavior always depends on your water.

There isn’t a dedicated self-clean routine advertised, so I treat this like other basic irons: empty the tank after use, give it a quick wipe when it’s cool, and descale periodically if your water demands it.

Who it’s for

• Home users who want a compact, easy iron for weekly pressing. It fits small laundry setups and stashes easily in a cabinet.
• Anyone who values a simple, one-dial experience over micromanaging steam. If you want “set and go,” this is exactly that.
• Users who prioritize glide and safety. The nonstick stainless soleplate and 3‑way shutoff carry the daily workload with minimal fuss.

Who might want something else:

• Quilters, sewists, or power users who want separate steam control, a dedicated steam burst, or continuous-on behavior for long sessions.
• People who frequently need heavy steam for thick linen or multiple layers; a larger, higher-wattage iron or a steam generator will work faster.

Pros

• Compact, lightweight body with comfortable grip and stable heel rest
• Smooth, nonstick stainless soleplate that glides well and resists sticking
• Simple one-dial system maps steam to temperature effectively for everyday fabrics
• Useful spray mist for stubborn wrinkles without overheating fabric
• 3‑way auto shutoff provides real peace of mind
• Swivel cord keeps the cable out of the way when switching hands

Cons

• No independent steam control; less flexibility for delicates that want low heat with gentle steam
• Steam output is good but not “heavy-duty”; thicker textiles need patience
• Auto shutoff can feel a touch eager; rare mid-session cutouts may require a quick reset

Final recommendation

I recommend the Light ’N Easy for most home users who want a compact, no-drama iron that nails the fundamentals. It heats reliably, glides smoothly, and its automatic steam mapping keeps you from fiddling with multiple controls. The safety shutoff is reassuring, and the spray mist button adds just enough finesse to tackle tough creases without cranking the dial.

If you need granular steam control, constant high steam, or marathon ironing sessions for sewing projects, you’ll be happier stepping up to a more feature-rich model. But for everyday shirts, pants, and the occasional linen challenge, this little iron earns its keep—and does so without taking over your laundry room.