Iron is one of the most needed household appliances in every home. Understanding the needs of consumers, manufacturers of this technology are trying to improve their products for ease of use, constantly increasing its functionality and practicality. That is how an iron with a vertical garment steamer appeared on store shelves, which combines two main functions at once - mechanical action of a hot surface and steam treatment.
What is a vertical steam iron?
An iron with a steamer has been familiar to consumers for a very long time. At the same time, the model range included devices that allowed ironing things with the simultaneous constant or periodic release of steam, which was carried out after pressing the corresponding button on the case. The iron at this time should have been in a horizontal position. Thus, the smoothing of the fabric was carried out by means of the mechanical action of the sole, which was facilitated by the increased temperature and moisture, which was promoted by the evolution of steam.
A modern iron with a steamer allows, in addition to the usual effect on the fabric, to perform its steaming without direct interaction with the sole, that is, only due to the action of hot humid air on it. Moreover, the iron in this case can also be located vertically, which provides the opportunity to iron things in a suspended state. This is the most convenient if necessary to iron curtains, curtains, as well as elements of the wardrobe, such as classic suits for skirts, blouses and trousers.
How to choose the right steam iron
The principle of operation of all irons with the function of vertical steaming the same. The differences in the models are their technical characteristics. The usability of the device, its functionality and practicality depend on them. Therefore wondering how choose a good iron, you need to know about all the characteristics of the proposed models. The main such characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing a device include:
- power;
- steam pressure and intensity;
- water container volume;
- number of operating modes.
how choose a good travel iron - you can find out from our article.
Power
The optimal value for the power of the iron with a steamer is from 1800 to 2200 watts. This value will enable vertical ironing with a steam iron. The heating time of the device, the amount of steam released and the amount of electricity required for its operation depend on power. It should be understood that the more powerful the iron, the more energy it spends.
Steam Pressure and Intensity
The pressure and intensity of the steam supply allow the vertical exit of moist hot air. In order to smooth out thin tissues by means of vertical steam, the steam supply intensity should be at least 60 grams per minute. If during use it will be necessary to smooth out dense matter, then this figure will have to be at least 90 grams per minute. To achieve a better result with a shorter exposure time, this characteristic is increased to 150 grams per minute and higher.
Water container volume
The time of its continuous use without the need to top up water depends on the volume of the water container installed in the iron. It should be borne in mind that if an iron with a steamer most often has to be used in an upright position, then a large volume of the container along with water will add additional mass to the device. Holding such a device in one hand for a very long time will be extremely difficult. Most often, 1 liter of water is enough for domestic use, so the container capacity may not exceed this value;
Number of operating modes
Operating modes are understood as the possibility of changing the steam supply intensity necessary for the safe processing of various types of tissue. For home use, a steam iron with a steamer working in the same mode is suitable. At the same time, in order to smooth out strong breaks in this device, a steam boost function must be provided. Its essence lies in the fact that for a short time, steam can escape under pressure significantly exceeding its value in normal operation. For example, an iron producing steam in the amount of 90 grams per minute, with the steam boost function turned on, can recreate it in the amount of 150 grams per minute for 60 seconds. The application of the steam boost function is most often performed after pressing the corresponding button on the housing.
Other characteristics
Other characteristics of the iron with a steamer, affecting the quality and usability of the device, include the length of the cord and its fastening, as well as the material from which the sole is made. For comfortable use of the device, the optimal cord length should be at least 2 meters. The fastening to the device body must ensure the possibility of its rotation by 360 degrees. In this case, steaming and ironing things will be possible from a more convenient position for a person, and the cord will not twist and break.
Despite the fact that the iron with a vertical steamer for clothes is very convenient for non-contact use, it will need to be used in the usual way. That is why an important factor is the material of which the sole is made. Currently, most often as the main material of the work surface use:
- stainless steel, which is very strong and wear-resistant, but at the same time having significant weight, which affects the weight of the entire device as a whole. And if we were talking about an ordinary iron, which is used horizontally, then this drawback would be the opposite of dignity. In this case, the large mass of the device is a drawback, since when steaming it must be kept upright in the canopy;
- aluminum, which is light in weight but not resistant to mechanical stress. Aluminum is very easily deformed, and scratches form on its surface. When using the steamer, the presence of scratches on the sole will not cause any inconvenience, while when directly interacting with the fabric, an uneven surface can ruin the things themselves. In addition, when ironing some types of materials with an iron with an aluminum sole, luster may appear on their surface, visually spoiling the appearance of the product;
- ceramics, which provides easy gliding over the fabric and the impossibility of burning to it. The disadvantage of this material is its fragility and rather painstaking care.
In addition, when choosing an iron with a steamer, it is necessary to pay attention to the number of holes on the sole for the exit of steam. The larger their number, the better.
Additional functions
In order for the use of the iron to be more convenient and safe, additional functions must be provided in it. The main ones include:
- automatic shutdown, providing spontaneous shutdown of the iron, if it is in the on state and is not used for more than 25-35 seconds in the horizontal position and 4-20 minutes in the vertical;
- anti-drip system, which makes it impossible for water to flow out through the sole when using the device at low temperature conditions;
- self-cleaning, which allows you to clean the device of scale formed using the appropriate button on the case, at the highest possible temperature set. In addition, many models have in their design various elements that soften the water poured into the tank, making it possible to use liquids of any quality with the further avoidance of the question of how to clean the iron.
It is very convenient to use the presence on the sole of the iron of the gutter for buttons. It will make it possible to iron out the details on which this hardware is located without problems.
Before buying an iron with a steamer, even in spite of how high-quality and practical it is, you need to pick it up. It is at this point that you can understand how convenient it will be in use. A person will immediately feel the comfort of holding the handle of the device and the weight of the device.
What to choose, iron or steamer?
Despite the similar purpose that the iron and the steamer have, the choice between the devices will be obvious if you understand exactly what the device is for. An iron with a steamer can be ironed or steamed absolutely any fabric, choosing the right temperature. Moreover, in the process of doing the work, a person himself will be able to understand in what way it is easier and faster for him to achieve the desired result. If it is impossible to smooth the fabric by means of steam, the item can be placed on a horizontal surface and ironed with a hot sole. The steamer only allows you to perform an effect on the fabric with steam, and in some cases this action is not enough.
An indisputable argument in favor of the steamer is the fact that it disinfects and cleans the upholstery of upholstered furniture, toys and other items made of fabric. With its help, you can easily remove the unpleasant odor from clothes, as well as get rid of mold and dust mites. With it, you can very quickly iron the curtains that are already posted on the ledge, as the steam supply is constantly high. An iron with a steamer will be able to maintain such a feed rate only for a minute with the steam boost function on. Having understood these differences, the question of what to choose will be decided by itself.
You can also read an article about features of wireless irons.
