How to choose a steam iron?

It’s time to deal with modern irons, for there are many more buyers in the market. Different colors, different pads, different functions and different wattages. And it is noteworthy that they are sold at different prices. What you have to pay for, and what you shouldn’t overpay for?? Which iron is better to choose??

From the design of my grandmother’s iron

First, let’s talk about the design of modern irons. It’s sleek lines, an almost completely transparent body with water splashing around in it. The iron is lightweight and the handle is made of a material that feels good and comfortable in your hands.

But the latest in ironing fashion are retro-style irons, just like the ones our grandmothers used to heat up on the fire and then gently grip the hot handle with a folded rag. When an iron in this shape reappeared in a New York store for the first time in decades, it provoked laughter and excitement from customers. But they were sold out in no time. Nostalgia…

Nevertheless an iron with a retro design has the most modern soleplate coating, steam humidification and vertical steam and all other imaginable modern frills. The handle of such an iron is covered with natural cork, it is never hot to hold, and it will not slip out of your hand. No rags to hold the handle.

Also noteworthy is this little detail. Good irons always have a button slot along the edge of the soleplate. This makes it always easy to get the iron under the button and iron the fabric underneath.

And one more pleasant trivia. The flexible circular joint that secures the power cord to the handle of the iron prevents the cord from twisting into loops and frees you from the worry of keeping track of its position.

On the subject of power

High wattage does not mean the iron will get hotter than usual. No, it heats up exactly to the temperature you set on the rotary knob. But a powerful iron reaches the set temperature much faster, steam forms more effectively, and the working temperature is restored faster after an intense steam discharge. You get the job done faster as a result.

With cord or free?

Once upon a time, cordless irons were very popular, getting their power from a plugged-in stand. With this iron, you’re free of the oppressive electrical cord, which now and then tugs on the already ironed fabric behind the iron. While you are laying out your next garment on the ironing board, the cordless iron will heat up quickly in its massive stand, which has a lead wire with power from the nearest outlet.

Just like a cordless electric kettle. You can still find cordless irons today. For example, Tefal calls its model Liberty – freedom. Philips also makes similar irons, and there are good American irons with cordless mode “Fairy”.

But when you are ironing drapes, a duvet cover or other bulk items, the heat reserve of a cordless iron is constantly insufficient. Then by pressing a lever in the stand where the iron is heated, it immediately turns into a cord iron, which is powered directly from the mains and constantly maintains the set temperature.

Corded iron is often more practical and always cheaper. When choosing a new iron, make sure the cord has a hinged connection to the iron body. Otherwise the constant movements of the iron will be the first to fail. Especially if the cord has a cloth braid. This, however, is becoming rarer and rarer.

Heat resistant silicone cords are especially practical. They won’t melt from accidental contact with hot metal. A must-have for the absent-minded housewife. Heat resistant cords are very durable, they are not afraid of bends and kinks.

The cord is longer now: it’s about 2.5 meters long.

It’s impossible to iron without a steam shock!

It is hard to imagine that our mothers, let alone our grandmothers, once put a glass of water in their mouths and splashed it on the laundry they were going to iron. After this spraying, the laundry, especially the linen and cotton, would iron easier and faster.

Nowadays developers tried to equip electric irons with steam function. At first it was a design without any tricks: you could either iron with steam a lot or a little steam was out of the question: as much as the iron gives, so much steam or without.

The water tank inside the iron was very small, and one had to refill it all the time to finish ironing. It was always advisable to fill the steam iron with distilled water.

Nowadays it is very rare to find an iron on sale without a built in steam humidifier. So you are doomed to a steam iron. And now ironing is not only easy, it’s fast too, thanks to built-in steam generators with enlarged water tank.

Steam makes ironing easier and better, and the larger container allows you to iron without the annoying interruption of adding water and bringing it to steam. At one time, Braun produced a model with an extra external water tank, this allows you to iron with steam for a long time.

And the scale on the water tank helps to make a more accurate ratio of tap water to distilled water. The reservoir is connected to the iron with a flexible tube. This idea is now widely used in semi-professional and professional irons with steam generators, they allow you to iron for many hours without adding water.

Most irons have an adjustable steam pressure range of 15-30 g/min, and the most expensive models even have a steam pressure range of up to 50 g/min. If you’re not ironing canvas or denim pants, but just your average clothes and lingerie, it’s all you need.

But there is a “steam stroke” mode in the best modern irons, when up to 85 g of steam is ejected per minute or 0,7 g per press. In this “extra steam explosion,” high-pressure steam penetrates deep into the thickest, most unyielding tissue.

Steam mode is perfect for pressing creases in the toughest, most pliable fabrics, or for steaming hard-to-iron areas like patch pockets or zippered areas on skirts and pants.

It is very handy if the steam flow can be adjusted to suit the type of laundry 15 or 25 g/min . or 0.7 g per click . This helps the iron confidently work its way through troublesome fabrics and naughty creases. But remember, it takes the iron a while to regain its operating temperature after releasing a lot of steam.

Many of the holes in the soleplate of the iron are carefully arranged to provide a strong and even steam output. In most cases the holes are in a single row along the edge of the sole, converging at the tip.

But there are some irons where the holes are evenly spaced along the soleplate, up to 70 or even 100. These irons are typically designed for professionals. Often the holes on the soleplate are shaped, with grooves. This spreads the steam more evenly over the whole surface of the garment and creates a ‘steam cushion’. This makes the iron glide over the fabric even easier.

Steam can be horizontal or vertical

Nowadays modern irons have both horizontal and vertical functions. Horizontal steam is when the iron soleplate slides horizontally over the fabrics on the ironing board in steam mode, and steam is released from the iron onto this horizontal surface.

But vertical steam is a much more interesting and versatile feature. It appeared in modern irons not so long ago. When they talk about the vertical steam function, this does not mean that steam is released vertically downwards we have already gone over this , much less upwards. Simply, the iron can now dump powerful jets of steam sideways and vertically at the weight of the iron at the push of a button in an upright position.

This turns out to be insanely convenient. You can iron heavy curtains without removing them from the window. You can freshen up upholstered furniture with textile upholstery, cushions, mattresses, bedspreads. They are steamed from the sole of the iron at a distance of 20-30cm and then rubbed with a clean cloth.

The steam is great for freshening up clothes and removing dust and odors. Steam, free of mineral additives, loses all electrical conductivity and neutralizes static charges from dusty soiling. The heat melts the grease, freeing and removing trapped dirt particles.

With vertical steam you can iron clothes without an ironing board, just on the clothes hanger. Crumpled coats you pulled out after summer storage, jackets, suits, knitted sweaters, blouses with frills and jabots which are so hard to iron, scarves and ties – everything is ironed quickly and perfectly, because steam easily penetrates into places which are hard to reach for the iron’s soleplate. You just need to let things cool down after steaming so they don’t wrinkle again.

If in the office where you work a lot of smokers or maybe you yourself smoke your nicotine-soaked jacket will be fresh and new in the morning when you run a vertical steam iron over it while it’s still on the rack. At the same time, the steam would remove dust and creases.

The fireman himself

You know, at least once in your life you broke out in a cold sweat when you thought: I guess you left the iron on!? You can choose an iron with automatic shutoff for peace of mind.

The automatic shutdown system works differently, depending on the position of the iron body. If the iron is on its soleplate, in a horizontal position, but hasn’t moved for 30 seconds you forgot about it , the system turns the iron’s power off after 30 seconds.

This not only protects against fire, but also spares the clothes the iron is left on. However, if you don’t forget about your iron, but just think about it and start ironing again, the power is immediately restored.

If the iron is lying on its side tipped over and forgotten about , the system turns it off after 30 seconds.

If the iron stands motionless in an upright position you may have stepped back and become distracted by something , the automatic feature will switch the iron off after 8 minutes.

These models are a little more expensive, but the difference is nothing compared to the damage a fire could cause, or at least damage to your clothes and ironing board.

Plus, irons with automatic shutoff save energy when you’re distracted by the kitchen stove or a phone call.

Continuing the theme of iron safety, it is interesting to mention the new residual heat indicators, protecting against accidental burns.

On some models, such as Siemens, Bosch, you can now find a residual heat indicator, such as are common on hobs. It makes your iron safer and eliminates the chance of scalding. How it works? When the iron’s soleplate temperature is high, the indicator light changes from black to red.