What to look for when choosing an iron?
Today, the purchase of an iron is not a big problem. This piece of household appliances is presented in a wide range of stores. Each manufacturer tries to stand out from the competition in order to impress the buyer. How not to get lost among the variety of goods and make the right choice? Let's take a look at the main characteristics of modern irons.
Most importantly outsole
soleThe first thing to look for when choosing an iron is the sole. It can be made of aluminum, Teflon or stainless steel. An iron with an aluminum sole heats up and cools down quickly, this is a definite plus. In addition, it has a relatively low cost.
However, you need to iron with such an iron very carefully. Any careless movement can damage the soleplate, and each time you iron it will leave cuts or puffs on the fabric. You should also pay close attention to the temperature regime of the iron. For example, synthetic fabric can stick to too hot soles. And this will ruin both the clothes and the device itself. The Teflon coating is also very delicate. Any metal button or zipper on your clothing can scratch it.
The most popular in Russia are irons with stainless steel soles. This material has a lot of advantages. Stainless steel is a very durable metal. No scratches remain on it. An iron with such a surface heats up and cools down quickly, and to clean it, you just need to rinse the device in warm water with detergent powder.
Iron power
The iron, the power of which is 1400-1500 W, will cope well with almost any fabric. A device with a power of more than 1900 W heats up very quickly, smoothes out difficult fabrics and severely wrinkled folds. Well, if this parameter is 2000 W or higher, then you have a professional device.
Working with water and steam humidification
steam humidificationModern irons have a water spray function. It can be supplied using a special button or in the form of steam through special holes in the sole. The ironing process is unthinkable without steaming. The steam supply in the iron can be operated in a continuous mode or in a pulse mode. In pulse mode, the steam boost function (so-called “turbo steam”) is activated. In this case, the strength of the steam flow doubles. This feature helps to quickly deal with heavily wrinkled areas of fabric. Steam production is measured in grams. And, of course, the higher this indicator, the better the iron will do its job.
When steaming, steam comes out of the holes or special grooves located on the bottom of the appliance. You can steam things both horizontally and vertically. The first option involves using an ironing board. The second one allows you to iron suits and coats without removing them from the hanger, or iron the curtains hanging on the window.
However, steaming is not the only way to moisturize fabrics. The spray function does a good job of doing this too. But for quality hydration, pay attention to the stream of water. It should only slightly dampen the fabric. Otherwise, wet traces will definitely remain on things. At the same time, the jet should not be too weak so that you do not have to press the humidifying button every now and then.
Water tank
The larger the volume of the water tank, the more convenient the ironing process (less frequent refilling). As a rule, the volume of such a container in irons is 200-250 ml. But there are devices with a large indicator. Manufacturers often make the reservoir transparent for ease of use. This makes it possible to always control the water level. When choosing an iron, pay attention to the design of the reservoir lid (if any). Check if the water is conveniently filled.
Anti-drip system
Sometimes, when ironing at low temperatures, water may flow out of the holes in the soleplate without having time to convert to steam. Therefore, another nuance worth paying attention to is the presence of an anti-drip system. This function is especially useful for ironing synthetic fabrics. This system prevents steam from turning into water. And this is a guarantee that no dried stains from ironed drops will remain on the clothes.
Cord length
Most often, there are irons powered by an electrical network. If you want to purchase just such a device, pay attention to some of the nuances. The cord should be long enough not to hinder your movements. It is optimal if its fastening is spherical. This will prevent the winding from kinking and chafing during the ironing process.
In stores today you can find more modern irons - wireless, heated from a special platform connected to the mains. At first glance, such a device may seem like the best option. However, a cordless iron also has a number of disadvantages. Convenient for ironing small items of lightweight fabric, it is completely unsuitable for working with heavier materials. In addition, the platform tends to cool down in just one minute.
Automatic shutdown
Another extremely useful feature is often provided in modern irons - automatic shutdown. It works if the device is left in a horizontal position for more than 30 seconds, or in a vertical position for 8 minutes. This function completely eliminates the possibility of a fire. But its presence increases the cost of the iron by an average of 10%.
Good luck with your choice!