Sep
Saving Time With A Steam Generator Iron
Posted in Product Reviews | No Comments »Ironing is, for most people, a bit of a chore. It’s one of those tasks that needs to be done, but not many people enjoy it. You can watch TV or listen to music whilst you’re ironing in order to relieve the boredom a little – but it’s never going to be what anyone would consider fun.
However, over the last few years there have been some changes in iron technology which can help to reduce the amount of time spent ironing for many people. Steam generator irons have now become available to the public. In times past, they were mainly used by dry cleaners and professionals. Based upon user feedback, it’s possible to reduce your ironing time by as much as 50% using a steam generator iron.
Steam generator irons look very similar to traditional steam irons – but with the inclusion of a large base unit. It’s the base unit that is the difference. Steam generator irons don’t have any water inside the iron itself – that large base unit is actually both a water reservoir and boiler which is used to generate large volumes of high pressure steam. A hollow connecting tube feeds this to the iron.
Using the above technique, these irons generate much more steam than a conventional steam iron. It is also at an elevated pressure. This large quantity of steam at high pressure penetrates deep into the fabric of the garment being ironed and makes it easier – and faster – to smooth out any wrinkles and creases. The final result is of a better quality and, as previously discussed, you can halve your ironing time like this.
The price of steam generator irons is usually a little higher than normal steam irons. However, considering the potential time savings, and the improved finish quality of the garments, you may think it to be a worthwhile investment. You can often find decent discounts online and offline. If you know what you’re looking for then you might just be able to snap up a bargain.
There are five main criteria that you should review when choosing a steam generator iron:
1. The pressure and quantity of the steam.
2. The amount of water that can be held in the water tank.
3. The soleplate design and material.
4. The ease of cleaning.
5. How easy it is to use.
Steam output is usually specified in grams per minute. Something in the range of 70 – 140 g/min should be sufficient. A steam pressure level in the range of 4.5 and 5.0 bar is desirable and should allow you to achieve the time savings previously mentioned.
Ensure that the water tank is a decent size for you so that you don’t need to keep stopping to top it up. A 1.4 litre tank should be large enough for about two hour’s worth of ironing. Bigger water tanks can also be found.
The soleplate design and material should be durable and should also glide smoothly and easily over the surface of the garment being pressed. Materials such as stainless steel and ceramics tend to make good soleplates.
If you live in a hard water area then you need to make sure that you avoid any build up of scale in your iron. This can impair the efficiency of the device and shorten its lifespan. The Tefal steam generator iron includes a very handy scale trap which can simply be removed, washed under running water and then replaced back into the iron. Other manufacturers use different techniques, including cartridges that trap the scale and can be withdrawn and cleaned. Chemical treatment is another option, albeit a little less convenient.
When it comes to ease of use, this will be very dependent upon the requirements of different users. However, it’s a good idea to pick a model which has a long enough connection between the base unit and the iron so that you can position the base on the ground should you wish. This might be a better arrangement for you if you have a small ironing board.
A reservoir which is removable can make filling directly under the tap possible. Many people will appreciate this kind of feature. A rapid heat up time following filling is also desirable. It should take no more than a couple of minutes for a modern steam generator iron to reach its operating temperature.