There is no family in which they would not iron their things, so read on how to make the right choice on this home appliance! Every hostess wants to know how to choose an iron! If you also come across this question, it's time to understand the characteristics in more detail. Of course, you can immediately go to the store to interrogate the sellers, but it is always better to independently study the parameters and choose the best option for yourself. After reading the article to the end, you can easily navigate both the basic properties and the pleasant little things invented for convenience.
What do you need an iron for?
First of all, you need to decide on the type of iron. There are many offers on the market from a small iron to an ironing system.
For travel, a travel iron is suitable - a miniature version of a full-fledged brother. Compact, but at the same time fulfills all the functions relying on.
If you need an inexpensive option for a while, you can purchase a simple iron without steam. Ironing like this is certainly not very pleasant, but for its price it will work well.
Steam generators and ironing systems are another matter. The name of the device speaks for itself - it generates steam. With this miracle technique, ironing becomes a pleasure. By folding the duvet cover several times, you can iron it in one minute. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford such a luxury; nevertheless, for high-quality ironing, you can look after a good iron with steam at an affordable price.
Power
Many people think that the more powerful the device, the better. This rule does not always work. On the shelves you can find not expensive irons with high power. You should not attempt such a tempting offer, considering the low price segment, it is better to opt for an iron with a power of 1.6 kW. Irons with a power of 2.2-3.1 kW will heat up faster. Keep in mind that the more power the device has, the more electricity it consumes.
Iron soleplate coating
An important criterion when choosing an iron is the composition and coating of the sole. Today there are many versions, the main ones being aluminum, steel and ceramics.
- The iron with an aluminum sole is lightweight, heats up and cools down quickly. A big disadvantage is the fact that when using high temperatures, the fabric can quickly adhere to such a sole. Also, aluminum cannot boast of strength, the product can be easily scratched with a zipper or a button.
- Stainless steel is most commonly used by iron manufacturers for making soles. Not surprising, because soles with such a surface do not scratch, provide quick heating and glide easily over the surface. The disadvantages include the considerable weight of the iron and the long cooling time.
- Ceramics and cermets are as popular as steel, they allow the iron to glide easily over fabric, but is prone to damage and scratches.
A modern iron should glide well over the surface, not stick during ironing and not scratch the fabric. In the struggle for the buyer of the company, manufacturers are inventing more and more new coatings that promise us the fulfillment of the above requirements. Each company has its own "trick", thanks to which ironing becomes easy and comfortable.
The BRAUN company uses for the production of the sole complex alloys based on aluminum with a sputtering of sapphire powder, which in turn protects the device from mechanical damage. TEFAL has introduced ceramic soles and modernizes them in every possible way. One of the latest developments is the self-cleaning Autoclean Catalys sole, which is steam cleaned during ironing thanks to the chemical reaction of palladium spraying when heated. Renowned home appliance manufacturer Rowenta offers irons with Microsteam 400 Platinium stainless steel soleplate, coated with a nano-glass coating, which in turn ensures flawless glide.
The secret of the Philips SteamGlide soleplate lies not in the coating, but in the number of steam holes that create a kind of "steam cushion" that allows you to glide easily and smooth out the most difficult creases.
Steam and everything connected with it
It is no secret that fabrics such as cotton and linen are very difficult to iron without steaming. In modern models, the steaming force ranges from 0.15 g / min to 0.30 g / min. The best option for plain fabrics is a steaming rate of 0.20 - 0.25 g / min. The capacity of the water tank also matters. If it is too small, then with large volumes of ironing, you will have to replenish it repeatedly.
- Steam control is present on almost all models with a steaming function and allows you to manually select the intensity of steam.
- Steam boost - only the most budget models are deprived of this function. With the push of a button, you deliver a powerful jet of steam. This helps iron thick and rough fabrics.
- Vertical steaming helps steam things that are difficult to iron in a horizontal position.
- Scale protection is necessary in any appliance related to water heating. On irons, this function is usually implemented in the form of a removable cassette or rod. Allows you to extend the life of the iron when constantly working with steam.
- The self-cleaning system will solve the problem of limescale accumulated in the steam chamber. When you press the corresponding button, steam will be emitted, which will turn into water as the soleplate cools. All the "costs" associated with the steaming process will flow out with it.
- The “Drop-stop” function blocks the flow of water from the cooled iron. This feature will be important for you if you are afraid of ruining expensive things.
Automatic shutdown
Forgetful people now can not think all day at work whether they turned off the iron or not. Thanks to this function, the device will turn itself off after a while. This will help not only prevent a possible fire, but also keep you calm.
What else to pay attention to
Useful little things will make your life much easier while not significantly affecting the cost of the iron. Some soles have a groove for ironing the fabric around the buttons. When buying, pay attention to the length of the cord, the quality of the braid. Ball-mounted irons are very convenient. When moving, the wire rotates freely without twisting.
Price range
The cost of irons with similar characteristics is about the same, with the exception of a few "advanced" models. At the moment, prices for steam irons range from 500 to 6000 rubles. or from 90 to 1620 UAH. In the middle price category, you can purchase an iron with a power of 3, 1 kW with the main functions: steam boost, vertical steaming, automatic shutdown. Despite the wide range of offered models, decide for yourself which functions are most important for you. Choose several optimal options, starting from the value for money, and in the store you can touch the goods and evaluate the usability.
Video on how to choose the right iron:
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