Iron in the household has been available for a long time It is enough to go to some local history museum to understand this. At first, these were cast iron products that required heating on the coals of the furnace. Then came the gas options. But now, without exception, they use electric irons. Their main feature is the ability to inward water inlet. Do I have to say that using a pair of folds smoothes out much faster?
It seems that every major producer of household appliances strives to release their irons. In this regard, the question arises: how to choose an iron, how not to run into that model that will not iron properly? This article will try to answer this question. And along the way, you will find out why the use of iron is not recommended in wooden houses with old wiring, which steam supply systems exist and how the sole of modern devices manages to remain free of scale. In a word, read and enlighten!
Main selection criteria
The first electric irons did not allow water to be poured inside them. Therefore, they could not produce steam. You must have seen such appliances with your parents or even your grandparents. Some of you have used them yourself - these irons in large quantities were produced in the territory of the USSR, in almost every major city. Now they are not made at all. Any iron on the shelves of stores is able to provide a steaming mode. But! Budget models are endowed with only the function of horizontal steam. If you are going to use the iron infrequently, then it will suit you. The rest is recommended to look for a device that provides the possibility of vertical steaming. It is a little more expensive than an iron, but it is also easier for them to work. Noticed the folds in the curtains or pants? They took an iron in their hands, connected it to the power grid, waited a bit and walked through the fabric, without reaching the ironing board ... Convenient!
And there are also irons with a built-in steam generator. If, in conventional models, water is stored in a liquid state, turning into steam when passing through heating elements, then the above-mentioned type of devices works according to a different principle. In fact, this is a full-fledged ironing system - in many stores these irons are separated into a separate category. They occupy a lot of space and are significantly more expensive, and all because of the special capacity in which steam is constantly produced, then transferred to the iron through a hose. Perhaps the purchase of such a model makes sense only if you are going to wield an iron almost every day and for a very long time. In fact, devices with a steam generator are created for professional work. For example, such ironing systems can be found in laundries. And an ordinary person with more than enough opportunities for an ordinary iron.
Power
Now many electrical appliances are capable of heating water. For example, you can recall a washing machine, a coffee machine and an electric kettle. But the fastest heating required iron. Moreover, it heats the sole to maximum temperatures so that the water instantly transforms into steam. In this regard, such devices have increased power consumption. Even the simplest models have a capacity of over 1000 watts. Please note, in older homes wiring may not cope with such a load. Therefore, in the villages to use such a device is not recommended.
The power of modern irons varies from 1400 to 3000 watts. Depending on this parameter, the heating rate can be medium and fast.A family of two or three people is enough for a medium-heavy iron. If you do not want higher electricity bills, you can search in stores with a device with low power consumption. Usually such models work due to ergonomic steam supply.
Sole
Another important parameter, which is worth paying attention to when choosing an iron. Previously, all irons were completed with soles made from ordinary aluminum or stainless steel. Do I have to say that soon scratches and abundant traces of scale appeared on such a sole? In all newspapers and magazines even published methods of removing scale, so that the iron stopped looking pathetic. Fortunately, the situation has now changed. Nowadays, in stores, devices with the following types of soles are sold:
- Aluminum type - is still actively used in budget irons. The main advantage of such a sole is the minimum weight. Yes, and it heats up noticeably faster than some steel. But there is an aluminum sole and a serious drawback - when using such an iron, it is necessary to monitor the temperature regime. If you suddenly heated the device too much and then began to iron the delicate fabric (silk or synthetic), then trouble might happen. The fabric will simply stick to the sole, after which it will be hopelessly damaged. Iron will then have to be cleaned with detergent. Also, aluminum is the fastest to damage, you will not protect it from scratches.
- Stainless steel also still used in making the sole of the iron. Again, only in the most budget models. The advantage of this material is practicality and durability, leaving traces on it is much more difficult. You can not be afraid of buttons and metal zippers - they should not leave scratches. But the weight of the iron with a similar sole is much more than the device with an aluminum base.
- Ceramic sole irons began to be equipped relatively recently. This is a rather fragile material, so the buttons on the shirts should be avoided. Not to mention the fact that such a sole can be damaged if the iron is accidentally dropped. But ceramics provides almost the best slip on the fabric, and can withstand any temperature. The linen to ceramics almost does not stick, it is cleaned with a usual sponge and soapy water. Metal ceramics soles are slightly more durable, but such irons should be treated carefully.
- Teflon coating equip the soles of those irons, the cost of which can not be called budget. Its disadvantage is that the contact of the metal with Teflon spoils the latter. This suggests that lightning and metal buttons with a similar iron should not be ironed. But the teflon sole glides perfectly, and the adherence of the linen to it is simply impossible to imagine.
Temperature conditions
Any iron is equipped with one or another number of temperature regimes, which are selected individually for each type of fabric. If you have linen made of synthetic materials, pure silk or silk with the addition of polyester, then look for an iron that warms up to 110 ° C. As for the maximum setting, it can reach 230 ° C - this temperature is required for processing pure cotton and flax.
Steam supply
Many irons have a different type of steam supply. One cannot do without the function of steaming now - it is this which helps to remove absolutely all folds on modern types of fabric. At the very least, its inclusion will speed up the ironing process, saving energy. The steam generation parameter is measured in grams. For example, under normal conditions, ordinary irons produce 30 grams of steam per minute. The higher this parameter, the easier and faster to iron overdried linen.
In some models, you can adjust the degree of evaporation. This is done to ensure that the water poured into the device does not evaporate too quickly, if this is not required. Steam escapes through special openings in the sole, which can be of different shapes.Practice shows that it does not affect the work in a special way. But the quality and convenience of ironing can vary on the number of these holes. If you want to accelerate the process, then look for an iron, on the sole of which there are at least 50 such holes. Note that more of them affect the increase in steam production. If 100 holes are placed on the sole, then the ironing comfort will be maximum, but after a couple of shirts you will have to pour water into the iron again.
Many more models are endowed with the function of maximum steam release (as it penetrates into the structure of the fabric, and does not remain on its surface). Almost everyone has the function of spraying water - usually a pair of holes in the spout area are used for this.
Equally important characteristics
- Cord length - Be sure to pay attention to this option, unless you have an ironing board with a built-in extension.
- Weight - the iron should not be very heavy. This parameter has no effect on the ironing process today (the removal of folds is performed by the steam generation function), but hands can get tired very quickly when using a heavy instrument.
- Iron handle - usually it is still. But in the so-called “road” models a rotating handle can be used - this is very convenient.
- Security - lies in the fact that the device automatically turns off if it is in a fixed position for a long time. Budget models are disabled only if they are in a vertical orientation for 10 minutes. But, you know, for such a time, a decent amount of electricity will go to nowhere. And on the shelves of stores began to appear models with Wi-Fi module, able to send notifications to a smartphone or tablet.
- Anti-scaling - it is the most advanced irons. Usually it consists in installing a special cartridge that makes water softer. Of course, from time to time the cartridge needs to be changed. If there is no protection against scale in the iron, pour boiled or filtered water into it.
Popular iron manufacturers
Try to buy an iron from some well-known manufacturer. Chinese products will not delight you, you will forget about saving after the first spoiled blouse. Perhaps the greatest authority now has Tefal - a company famous for its non-stick coating. In its range there are even wireless models! Although it is not recommended to purchase them - a huge overpayment in them is adjacent to the need to put the device on a special platform every 20-30 seconds.
Other manufacturers that have earned the respect of customers are Philips, Bosch, Braun, Polaris, Panasonic, Electrolux and Redmond. If you have an acute shortage of funds, you can look in the direction of brands. Maxwell, Rolsen, Scarlett, Supra and VITEK. But there is a possibility that such an iron will not last very long.
