Black+Decker D3030 Allure Review

The Black+Decker D3030 Allure is a high-performing iron at a price that has us picking our jaws up off the floor. Its performance is impressive across the board, just a little lower in heating.

Performance Comparison

Ironing Performance

We took the time to test out each iron on a slew of different fabrics. From cotton to silk, the Allure succeeded with flying colors, requiring a maximum of three passes to eradicate every last wrinkle, regardless of how deeply set. Even without extra bursts of steam, the Allure sailed through our ironing tests.

The Allure smooths out cotton and linen wrinkles with two or fewer passes and without the need for additional steam. While most of our favorite irons performed well on both linen and cotton, the Allure made things even easier. Even just a single swipe of this iron creates an impressively flat surface. Stubborn creases and heavy wrinkles proved no match for this model.

The Allure knocked it out of the park with more difficult fabrics like silk and synthetics. Unlike many competitors, this iron doesn't need more than three passes to smooth out every last wrinkle. Most of the other options we tested struggled with deep wrinkles, like creases from folding, specifically on silk fabric. The Allure, on the other hand, has no issue here. Both silk and synthetic fabrics, like polyester and nylon, require a large amount of steam, which has the potential to leave the garment wet, but since this iron runs hot, it leaves your garment dry and ready to wear within seconds.

Steam Output

We measured how much steam was being emitted from each iron over five minutes, and the Allure does pretty well compared to the others in our test suite. The steam burst is extremely liberal, and the general steam output is above average.

The advantage of a steam iron over a dry iron is that moisture helps remove stubborn wrinkles more efficiently — and the Allure is a perfect example of this. During testing, we also considered the number of steam holes each soleplate is equipped with. While you might think that more holes are always better, the measly 23 holes on the Allure still manage to do a solid job. They are large and strategically placed around the entire perimeter, which helps with distribution.

Accompanying every hole on the soleplate is a small concave strip that allows the steam to spread further before it's released out the sides. While there is still room for improvement here, the lower number of steam holes does not seem to affect the steam efficiency or ironing performance of this model.

Heating

A steam iron wouldn't be much of an iron without heat, and the ability to achieve high temperatures is key for smoothing certain fabrics. We measured the temperature across different areas of the soleplate over a five-minute time frame. The Allure is solidly average here, reaching effective temperatures in all the right places without standing out from the crowd in any way.

The average heat of the soleplate on the Allure was roughly 328°F over five minutes. Like most of the irons we tested, different areas of the soleplate were at different temperatures. From left to right, the Allure varied by just a few degrees, with a notable hot spot in the middle. The nose, important in detailing work, is also much warmer than the rest of the iron, at around 346°F.

Detailing

We tested each iron with various fabrics, but we also made sure to get a good sense of their technical ability. We spent time navigating around buttons and working with collars, and the Allure performed stunningly here.

The hot, tapered nose makes precision work an absolute pleasure. The steam burst is extremely powerful, emitting a large amount at an efficient temperature. Though the Allure is far from the lightest or smallest iron we tested, it is very well balanced, making it feel more maneuverable and nimble than many irons that weigh less. It slides around with ease and changes directions without catching on the fabric, making detailing work that much simpler.

Ease of Use

Testing for this metric is centered around the following elements: cord design, general handling, and simplicity of filling. The Allure performs above average in each of these departments.

The 8-foot cord is long enough for most situations (and on par with other irons we tested), but another foot would be helpful. The Allure has a nice curve to the base, below the soleplate, where you can securely wrap the cord. The handle is more rectangular than cylindrical, which we found less comfortable. It is made of a matte-finished material that grips nicely, and you can hold it anywhere you like without the controls getting in the way.

The ergonomic soleplate is also great for precise detail work. The large hole makes filling somewhat easy, but the lid does not open all the way, which makes aiming difficult. The water spray also comes out in a fine mist that helps release deep-set wrinkles by dampening the fabric without soaking it.

Should You Buy the Black+Decker D3030 Allure?

The Allure offers stellar ironing performance, an exceptional steam burst, and a misty water spray. It will leave your garments dry and wrinkle-free. While it may not be the hottest or steamiest model we tested, it's highly maneuverable and an excellent value. It is not the least expensive in our test suite but offers solid all-around performance.

What Other Irons Should You Consider?

If you have stubborn wrinkles and you want a steamier option, the CHI Steam Titanium is an excellent choice. If you're all about getting those crisp lines and making quick work of large items, the PurSteam Pro 1800W is a satisfying and reasonably priced choice. But for everything from an occasional touch-up of your dress shirts to pressing every garment, sheet, and pillowcase post-wash, the Black+Decker Allure is a highly maneuverable iron at a more affordable price.