Casual Fridays at work have meant fewer trips to the dry cleaner and more ironing at home--of chinos, cotton shirts, and such. Manufacturers are trying to make ironing seem like less of a chore, with features galore on pricey new models. You'll find many models to choose from, including budget models that should do just fine on those chinos.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Familiar names such as Black & Decker, Sunbeam, and Proctor-Silex account for most of the irons sold, but newer players such as GE, Kenmore, and Maytag have entered the market, giving you more choice.

Features once found only on fairly pricey irons are now available on less expensive models. For example, auto shutoff is offered on some models that sell for $20. Other features trickling down include self-cleaning (now available on more than half of new irons), separate steam controls, variable steam output, and vertical steaming. The proliferation of features isn't surprising. About 90 percent of U.S. households have an iron, so manufacturers are offering more features for less money to encourage you to buy a new one.

Price range: $10 for plain vanilla to $150 for top of the line models.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Steam makes a fabric more pliable, allowing the heat and pressure of the iron to press it flat. Many new irons release more steam than did earlier models. Most produce the best steaming during the first 10 minutes of use and then gradually taper off as the water is used up. A separate steam control lets you adjust the amount of steam or turn it off, but models with automatic steam produce more steam at higher temperature settings. A few models won't allow you to use steam at low settings, since the water doesn't get hot enough and simply drips out. An antidrip feature, usually on higher-priced irons, is designed to prevent leaks when using steam at lower settings.

Burst of steam, available on most new irons, lets you push a button for an extra blast to tame stubborn wrinkles. If steam isn't enough for something such as a wrinkled linen napkin, dampen it using the spray function, available on virtually all irons today. On some models, burst of steam can be used for vertical steaming to remove wrinkles from hanging items.

An iron should have an easy-to-see fabric guide with a list of settings for common fabrics. A temperature control that's clearly marked and easily accessible, preferably on the front of the handle, is a plus. Most irons have an indicator light to show that the power is on; a few also indicate when the iron reaches or exceeds the set temperature.

Automatic shutoff is a must-have safety feature. About half the irons on the market will shut off automatically if they're left motionless in a horizontal or vertical position. Those with three-way shutoff also turn off when tipped on their side. Shutoff times vary from 30 seconds to 60 minutes. Auto shut-off can help prevent a fire, but stored heat can still scorch fabric.

Water reservoirs in general are getting larger. Some are a small, vertical tube; others are a large chamber that spans the saddle area under the handle. Transparent chambers, some brightly colored, make it easy to see the water level.

A growing number of irons have a hinged or sliding cover on the water-fill hole. The idea is to prevent leaking, but it doesn't always work. Also, the cover may get in the way during filling, or can be awkward to open and close. Most convenient is a removable tank. Some irons come with a handy plastic fill cup. Nearly all new irons can use tap water, unless the water is very hard. More expensive irons may offer an anticalcium system, which is designed to reduce calcium deposits. Some models now offer a self-cleaning feature to flush deposits from vents, but it's not always effective with prolonged use of very hard water. The burst-of-steam feature also cleans vents to some extent.

Many irons have a soleplate described as "nonstick." Some Other models have a stainless-steel soleplate, while some budget models have an aluminum one. We didn't find any difference in glide among the various types of soleplates when ironing with steam. Nonstick soleplates are generally easier to keep clean, but they may be scratched by something such as a zipper, and a scratch could create drag over time. You should clean the soleplate occasionally to remove residue, especially if you use starch; follow the manufacturer's directions for cleaning. The power cord on many irons pivots down or to the side during use, which keeps it out of the way. A retractable cord can be convenient, but make sure it doesn't whip when retracted. Cordless irons eliminate fumbling with the cord but must be reheated on the base for a minute or more every couple of minutes, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming.

Weight is more critical to comfort than performance. Managing a heavy iron can be an arm workout you might prefer to have at the gym. Some handles might be too thick for smaller hands; others provide too little clearance for larger hands.

HOW TO CHOOSE

The rumpled look doesn't stand a chance with most new irons. We recently tested models ranging in price from $20 to $150, and almost all were judged very good or excellent at wrinkle removal and very good overall. As in the past, we found that you don't have to spend a lot to get good results.

While all the irons we tested vanquished creases eventually, the amount of effort required varied. We tested each model with linen, cotton, a cotton-polyester blend, and silk. The fewer passes needed without resorting to bursts of steam or spray, the better an iron scored. Irons differ in a number of ways, including soleplate material, size, weight, and features. Here are some points to consider.

Pick a model that can make ironing less of a drag. The easier it is to move a hot iron across fabric, the less tiring it will be to spruce up garments. All the irons in the Ratings, whether they had a metal soleplate or one described as "nonstick," glided smoothly when we ironed damp garments or used steam. With dry fabric and no steam, glide varied much more, but the nonstick soleplates weren't necessarily better than the stainless-steel ones. The nonsticks are easier to clean, though. The bottom line: If you often iron dry fabric without spray or steam, look for a model that we judged very good or better for glide in our Ratings.

Match the iron to your hand. The feel of an iron is a personal preference, so be sure to get a hands-on experience before buying an iron. Some handles don't have enough clearance for bigger hands. Weight is another factor. The tested irons weighed 21/4 to 33/4 pounds without water. Some people might prefer a bit of heft, but others might find heavier irons more than they can manage.

Get enough steam to do the job. If you iron mostly natural fibers such as linen or heavyweight items such as jeans, you'll want lots of steam. Burst-of-steam and spray features will also help smooth out wrinkles. But if you iron mostly synthetic fabrics and blends, a less powerful steamer should be fine.

Find controls you like. Many new irons have dial controls, but there are a few sliders and the occasional digital control. Take your pick. Check whether the controls are easy to see and access, and whether fabric settings are clearly marked.

Decide whether you want to cut the cord. The cordless models we tested were excellent for ironing and very good overall, but they were only fair at steaming. Note that the convenience of cord-free ironing is offset by the need to reheat the iron in the base every few minutes for a minute or more, which can be tedious, especially when you're ironing large items like tablecloths.