Black & Decker One Step Steam Cord Reel Iron

Why I reached for this iron

I don’t enjoy ironing, but I do like crisp shirts and smooth seams. I picked up this Black & Decker iron because it promises even steam, simple controls, and a retractable cord—three things that, in theory, make routine pressing less of a chore. After rotating it through a week of laundry—cotton dress shirts, a couple of linen napkins, denim, and a synthetic blouse—I’ve got a clear sense of where it shines and where it needs some finesse.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the iron feels substantial at 2.8 pounds. It isn’t unwieldy, but it’s not a featherweight either. The heft translates to better pressing power on thicker fabrics, and the balance is good enough that it doesn’t feel tip-heavy when you’re navigating around collars or cuffs. The stainless steel soleplate has a pointed tip that’s genuinely useful for threading around buttons and into pleats.

The water tank is easy to fill, though the fill port is on the smaller side. I had the best luck using a measuring cup rather than trying to angle it under a faucet. The window on the tank is clear enough to see the water line. One note: if you fill to the absolute max line, you may experience a little sputter on the first few bursts as the boiler stabilizes. Keeping it at roughly two-thirds to three-quarters full gave me the cleanest, driest steam.

Heat-up and steam performance

Heat-up is quick; by the time I’ve laid out the first shirt, the indicator shows it’s ready. The “Smart Steam” control ties steam output to the temperature setting, which cuts down on guesswork. On synthetics, the iron dials back steam automatically to avoid spitting and water spots; on cotton and linen, it opens up and delivers a consistent plume through the soleplate.

• Everyday cotton: This iron glides well and knocks out wrinkles with one or two passes. The stainless soleplate is smooth and doesn’t snag even when I’m working quickly.
• Linen: I leaned on the steam burst for stubborn seams and creases, and it had enough punch to flatten them without drenching the fabric.
• Denim: The weight helps. Two passes with steady steam were enough for jeans and a jacket hem.
• Synthetics: With the temperature turned down, the steam output appropriately tames itself. No pooling, and I didn’t get the dreaded water droplets.

Vertical steaming is competent. It’s not a replacement for a dedicated garment steamer, but it freshened a hanging cotton shirt and knocked the worst creases out of a lightweight curtain. For heavier fabrics, you’ll need to be patient and give it time between bursts.

Controls and day-to-day use

The controls are intuitive: a central temperature dial with fabric labels, a slider for steam, and dedicated buttons for spray mist and steam burst. I appreciate that I don’t have to micromanage a separate steam knob if I don’t want to—the automatic regulation does a good job matching output to fabric. The spray mist is fine enough to pre-wet a crease without leaving a big wet spot, and the steam burst has real force when you need it.

One usability quirk is timing the steam burst with temperature. If you trigger a burst before the iron is fully back up to the set heat, you can coax a droplet or two. Waiting a second between bursts, especially at lower temperatures, avoids that.

The pointed tip is genuinely helpful. Running along button plackets and into tight corners is less fussy than with rounder plates, and the edges of the plate don’t catch on pocket stitching.

Cord management and storage

The retractable cord is convenient, with a spring-loaded reel actuated by a button on the base. It’s not magic—you’ll still want to guide the cord in with your hand to keep it from whipping back or snagging. On mine, the last inch or two of cord doesn’t always disappear without a nudge. It’s minor, but worth noting if you’re expecting a fully hands-off retraction. That said, the reel keeps the cord neat, and I don’t have to wrestle a looped cable into storage every time.

Auto Clean and maintenance

The Auto Clean function is easy to run: fill, heat, and flush. I gave it a test run after a few days of use and only a small amount of mineral residue flushed out, which is reassuring. I prefer using distilled or low-mineral water to keep the internal passages clean and to minimize sputter; it’s not strictly required, but it pays off over time.

I also make a habit of emptying the tank after each session and giving the soleplate a quick wipe once it’s cool. The stainless plate doesn’t seem to pick up starch easily, but if you do use starch, a cloth wipe keeps it sliding smoothly.

Safety and shutdown

The three-way automatic shutoff is aggressive enough to be meaningful. It cuts power if the iron is left horizontal, on its side, or vertical for a defined period. I’d rather it be conservative, and here it is; you’ll occasionally see it go to sleep if you pause to fold a shirt, but it reheats quickly once you resume. The base is stable, and I didn’t experience any leaking when resting it upright with water in the tank.

Build quality and ergonomics

Fit and finish are solid for a consumer iron. The handle is comfortable, and the buttons have a positive click. The soleplate has a uniform finish with well-distributed steam holes, and it glides well across common fabrics. The weight, again, is a double-edged sword: helpful for pressing, potentially tiring if you have long sessions or trouble with wrist fatigue. For quick jobs and normal batches, I appreciated the mass; for marathon ironing days, I’d want to take breaks.

Things I’d change

• Cord reel behavior: It works, but it needs a guiding hand and sometimes leaves the last inch out. I’d prefer a stronger spring or a tapered cavity to draw the plug fully inside.
• Fill port size: A slightly wider opening would make faucet-filling easier and reduce the chance of drips down the housing.
• Vertical steam power: Adequate, not stellar. Fine for touch-ups; heavy fabrics will test your patience.
• Sputter at max fill: It’s minor and easy to avoid, but the sweet spot seems to be shy of the max line.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re worth noting if they align with your preferences.

Tips for best results

• Use distilled or low-mineral water to reduce sputter and scale.
• Don’t fill to the brim; two-thirds to three-quarters full produces drier, more consistent steam.
• Give the iron a second between steam bursts, particularly at lower temperatures.
• Run Auto Clean periodically, especially if you notice performance dropping.
• Empty the tank after use and store upright to keep the internals tidy.

Who it’s for

If you press a mix of fabrics and want an iron that gets up to temperature quickly, distributes steam evenly, and makes decent attempts at tidying its own cord, this Black & Decker iron is a strong everyday pick. It’s especially good for people who value a pointed soleplate for detail work and who appreciate set-and-forget steam tied to temperature. If you need a featherweight tool or do a lot of vertical steaming on heavy garments, you might look for a lighter or dedicated steamer instead.

Recommendation

I recommend this iron. It heats fast, delivers consistent steam across the plate, and its Smart Steam pairing with the temperature dial takes some thinking out of the process. The precision tip and stainless soleplate make quick work of collars, buttons, and seams, and safety features like the three-way shutoff provide peace of mind. The retractable cord isn’t flawless, and the iron’s weight may not suit everyone, but the overall performance—especially on cotton and linen—wins out. With a few simple habits (don’t overfill, use distilled water, run Auto Clean occasionally), it’s a reliable, straightforward tool that makes ironing less of a hassle and more of a quick, effective routine.