J-2 Jiffy Garment Steamer with Plastic Steam Head, 120 Volt

I bought the Jiffy J-4000 in 2008. So, it lasted 9 years. The heating element broke because I left it on all day, the water dried out, and the heating element snapped. I frequently made the mistake of letting the steamer run dry by the way. So, nine years through rough wear and tear is pretty good. Otherwise I'm sure it would have lasted two or three times as long. I never reviewed the J-4000 because there are plenty of reviews that will convince you that if you want the very best steamer on the consumer market, there is really no other option than Jiffy. And as long as I was going to buy the best, I was going to go with the flagship J-4000. I opened the J-4000 up and was surprised at how well it is crafted--heavy guage stainless steal and brass I believe. So, I ordered a replacement heating element. I ended up stripping a screen and had to cut a wire and thermostat off and realized that I needed silicone to seal the tank again. In other words, I was quickly over my head with the repairs and was not confident I would get it back together soon enough (I steam my close every morning). So, I decided to order the J-2 for my bedroom and keep the J-4000 in the laundry room (if I ever got it back together again). This is what surprised me: ***The J-2 is a much better steamer.*** Here is why: Heat Up Time J-4000: The tank holds about a gallon, maybe a gallon and a half of water. It takes at least five minutes to start producing steam. Maybe 10 minutes. It doesn't sound like long. But, in the morning, I go eat breakfast or take a shower while it heats up and forget that the machine is going. Often, I start it up and it is close to being out of water. So, when I get back, the machine has run dry. And there is nothing worse than being in a rush and the last thing that you need to do before heading out the door is run the steamer over a suit jacket that was hanging over the back of a chair and realizing you need to wait five or ten minutes for the steamer to heat up. J-2: The water bottle on the machine stays cool. The water is headed in a very small chamber in the machine. It might be heating 2 cups of water. So, it starts steaming in about 30 seconds, maybe a minute at most. Very fast. So, I never need to walk away and do something else. By the time I get the shirt out of the closet, it's already percolating with a wisp of steam coming out. By the time I get the pants, the thing is blowing steam. Water Level Check J-4000: There is a little window on the side of the machine. It's impossible (at least for me) to read while standing. So, I would have to bend over and give the machine a giggle to see where the water line was. Of course, this also contributed to repeatedly running the machine dry. And if you overfill the machine, the water boils up through the hose and sprays boiling water out of the wand, which is inconvenient, and even dangerous. So, there is an incentive to not just top off the machine all of the time. J-2: You can see the water level in the plastic bottle from across the room. Time Between Refills J-4000: Large capacity. But because I would leave it on to warm up and forget about it so often, it would run through water maybe every three days. J-2: I think the bottle is less capacity than the J-4000 tank (but not by much--the actual tank inside the aluminum housing is smaller than you might think and you can't fill it to the top without it boiling over). However, because I start steaming immediately and turn it off as soon as I'm done, the bottle is lasting me about two weeks between refills. So, significantly less refills even though it is probably has a bit little less capacity. Ease of Refill J-4000: Fill up a pitcher and pour it through a funnel while watching the water level in the window on your knees. J-2: Just fill the bottle and carry it back to the machine (the water in the small reservoir is already boiling by the time you get back and the cool water in the bottle does *not* stop the boiling when you turn it over onto the reservoir). Space Obviously the J-2 is smaller than the J-4000. It doesn't seam all that important. But it makes a difference in the bedroom and is so much easier to move. Cons: Because the reservoir is continually heating cool water, there is a gurgling sound that it makes. And the steam is probably just a tad less forceful. But I can't tell any difference in the effectiveness of the steaming. In other words, it does *not* take an extra pass to remover any wrinkles. The J-4000 does have a satisfyingly quiet hiss of steam coming out rather than the coffee percolator sound. But, let me tell you, if you use this thing daily, hands down, you do want the J-2. I've got the perfect set up now. The big one to do a dozen shirts at a time when they come out of the machine. And a small one to quickly take a few wrinkles out in the morning. By the way, if you are on the fence about whether to buy a steamer (when you have an iron), just think about whether you really need a microwave (when you have a stove) or a cell phone (when you have a land line) or e-mail (when you already have a perfectly good fax machine). It's that big of a difference.

I remember my parents having a Jiffy when I was child. It lasted them so long, decades. When you take real good care of it. I went through a fair share of cheaper models but nothing was like a Jiffy. I finally got one for myself and I am very happy I did. The quality and craftsmanship is top notch. Wooden handle, brush steel pole and the body is sturdy. Nothing beats having polished shirts and pants ready to go on a fly! You get what you pay for and is worth the investment.

Esta es la tercera vaporera que compramos de la misma marca en los últimos 10 o más años. Son muy buenas para quitarle las arrugas a la ropa. En la casa se usa diario. La ropa dura más al evitar algunas lavadas. Pues además de planchar, quita olores. La tecnología no ha cambiado desde hace décadas, lo cual la hace confiable. Mi única recomendación es comprarla con la cabeza de vaporizador metálica. Dura más y hace mejor trabajo.

Excelente producto, muy recomendable

This steamer is worth every penny. It steams clothes so well and does not leak water onto your garments in the process like cheaper steamers do. It heats up quickly and is the perfect size to kept tucked away until you need to use it. Highly recommend.