Rowenta DW5080 Focus Iron Review

Rowenta irons are one of the best-selling irons in the market. But not every one of its model is worth a buy. Some have tons of negative reviews from buyers that you have to wonder if the premium paid for the brand name justifies the cost. So, what about the Rowenta DW5080? Is it worth it to invest in this steam iron? Let’s take a closer look in this review.

Rowenta DW5080 Review

First, let’s check out the features of the Rowenta DW5080 Focus Iron. They include:

• 1700-watt
• Stainless steel soleplate
• Graduation lines for the water level
• Vertical steaming
• Steam jet
• Self-cleaning feature
• Anti-calc
• 3-way automatic shut-off
• Precision tip
• Anti-drip
• Size: 11 by 5 by 6 inches

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The Rowenta DW5080 has a sleek modern look with an enhanced precision tip whereby the sharper point is designed to reach nooks and crevices such as areas around the buttons and shirt collars. The tip is also covered with micro steam holes to easily smooth out wrinkles in these tight areas. Altogether there are 400 of these steam holes which are nicely spread out on the soleplate, including the center and bottom, for a more efficient steam distribution.

The soleplate is made of stainless steel and is scratch-resistant. It also has an aluminum core which helps to distribute heat evenly across the plate and combine with a highly polished finish, the iron glides well to make ironing easier. The rounded bottom also helps to prevent creases when the iron is moved back and forth on a garment.

The thermostat knob is located above the water tank and has 5 fabric settings, namely nylon, silk, wool, cotton, and linen. There is a steam control lever at the top together with a steam jet and spray mist button. The water tank can accommodate up to 10 ounces of water and you can use tap water with the Rowenta DW5080. Apart from the self-cleaning feature which flushes out deposits, the anti-calc feature with an integrated anti-scale system also helps to maintain optimal performance of the unit by removing impurities.

The cord length for this Rowenta Focus iron is 7 feet and pivots 360 degrees. As for the auto shut-off, it is pretty standard with an 8-minute cut off if left idle vertically and 30 seconds if it toppled over or left on its soleplate. If you need a longer time window, you can look at the Panasonic NI-W810CS Multi-Directional Iron instead which has a 10-minute and 60-seconds cut off respectively.

Note: The Rowenta DW8080 Pro Master has very similar features to this model under review here. In terms of the Rowenta DW5080 vs DW8080, the main differences are a larger tank and higher steam output for the latter.

Should You Buy The Rowenta DW5080 Focus Steam Iron?

Pros

1. Made in Germany – Many irons these days are made in China which makes people question its quality and durability. The Rowenta DW5080 is made in Germany for a change and this factor alone would justify a buying decision for some.
2. Plenty of steam – Ample steam output through the 400 micro steam holes make ironing less of a chore for many reviewers. It has a 100gram/minute burst of steam capacity as well which you wouldn’t get with the cheaper irons. The other model that claims to have the same burst of steam output is the T Fal FV4495.
3. Easy to glide – A stainless steel soleplate may not be as slick as a ceramic one but the Rowenta DW5080 is still smooth enough to glide through your clothes with ease.
4. Precision tip – You can reach the tight spaces easily with the precision tip. Also, with the steam holes running all the way to the tip, ironing those tight areas are made much easier.

Cons

1. Water runs out fast – More steam means more water is required. While a generous amount of steam output makes ironing much easier, it also means you will need to refill the reservoir more often. Even with a large 10-ounce water tank, quite a few buyers have complained about the water running out too quickly (a reviewer on Amazon has mentioned she needed 3 full tanks to iron 5 shirts and 2 pants). The Black & Decker D2030 also has a large reservoir but such complaints are much fewer.  So, there will be a trade-off if you want a higher steam output for your iron.
2. Still drips – A common complaint about all steam irons is that the unit drips or leaks. The Rowenta DW5080 also has the same problem for some users although the number of complaints is on the low end. A few drips onto the clothing is the typical complaint on the dripping issue.
3. Heavy – The weight of the unit is very much an individual preference. Some prefer a heavier iron for more pressure while others would find it a chore to push a heavy iron around. The Rowenta DW5080 weighs about 3.4 lbs when empty and with water inside, some will indeed find it a little too heavy.

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After going through all the customer reviews of the Rowenta DW5080, we find it hard to come up with a major flaw for the unit except for the occasional complaint of leakages which is to be expected for any steam iron. Since the frequency of such complaints is on the low side, it makes us comfortable in recommending a buy for the DW5080 and we consider it as one of the best steam irons under $100. The manufacturing location is another plus factor which we feel justifies the higher price compared to other brands with similar features.