Are you tired of constant being late for work / an urgent meeting due to the time spent ironing clothes or do you often have to change your planned outfit due to unexpected bruises? Then you should find out that your problems can be solved instantly thanks to a garment steamer.
Content
Principle of operation
When choosing a steamer for home use, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the device of this device. The standard model of the floor type consists of a rack for a hanger, an iron, a hose and a boiler.
A boiler is located inside the casing, it is a kind of water tank with an integrated heating system. After connecting to the network, the temperature reaches the maximum mark, and the water boils. The resulting vapor passes through the hose and exits thanks to a special nozzle.
Now many "cars" are equipped with additional devices:
- Hanger.
- Brush with a pile for gentle cleaning of textile fabrics.
- Extension hoses or tubes.
- Special clamps for "arrows".
- Clamps for high-quality smoothing and much more.
Advantages and disadvantages
For an objective understanding of the beneficial use of the steamer, it is worth comparing its characteristics with a steam cleaner and an iron.
Iron
This device has been around in the average family for many centuries and generations.
One of the main advantages of the steamer is:
- Quality processing of delicate and delicate fabrics. First-class steam “smoothing” without risking damage to the item.
- Save space. It is not required to constantly use an ironing board.
- Performing work in an upright position (convenient, for example, for caring for curtains).
- Possibilities of using functions such as disinfection and cleaning.
- Volumetric water tank. Speeds up the process by reducing the time to top up.
Cons of this device:
- The small power of simple models does not allow to cope with heavily rumpled clothes made of cotton and linen.
- Due to the steam supply in an upright position, it is inconvenient to iron sheets and towels. A rare opportunity to work in a horizontal position.
- Without additional nozzles, there is no possibility of the formation of arrows on suits.
The choice between an iron (with a built-in steam generator) and a steamer is difficult to make. The second device is equipped with a separate boiler, where water under the influence of high temperature is converted into steam. Both devices can be used in an upright position, but the steamer is much more practical in this use: it is quite mobile and light in weight.
Steam cleaner
In order to choose the right garment steamer, it is worth comparing it with a steam cleaner.
A steam cleaner is a “machine” for cleaning surfaces of various structures by exposure to dry or hot steam. Such a device is convenient at home to remove dirt, disinfect, remove greasy stains, mold.
When comparing these devices, several differences can be distinguished.
| Steam cleaner | Steamer |
| Allows the use of steam under pressure. | Produces the production of wet steam (if necessary and dry). This action is possible under the influence of pressure (sharp and repeated steam emissions) and without its participation (smooth and uniform operation). |
| Heats up for 5-10 minutes. | Heats up for 1 minute. |
| It is possible to use in any provisions. | It is used only in an upright position. |
| It cleans materials such as steel, plastic, tile surfaces, wooden objects and more. | Used for textile processing. |
How to choose
It is possible to choose a garment steamer, first of all, by answering a few questions to oneself: “Why is this device needed, how important is the equipment and dimensions, what limits are available to you in pricing?”. Having given comprehensive answers to the main questions, the choice of model will be narrowed significantly, and with it the time spent.
Power
Choosing the best steamer for the home, you should pay attention to its power. According to this criterion, they can be divided into several types:
- Economy option. These devices range in price up to 5,000 rubles. Energy consumption during operation of the heater is not more than 1600 watts. A model in this category reproduces up to 25-30 ml per minute, which is a fairly low rate. Up to 80% of light tissues evaporate quickly, but this device will not be effective for use on coarser materials.
- Premium The price of this type starts from 5,000 rubles. The power of this type of device varies in the range from 1600 to 2000 watts. It is considered close to professional models. Water consumption per minute is 30-50 ml (depending on model). Thanks to this, the steaming process is much faster and is available for coarser fabrics in quality.
- VIP The pricing policy of such models starts at 10,000 rubles. These devices are equipped with a heating tray with a capacity of 2000 watts. The steam supply is 50-60 ml per minute, which saves time. This category is suitable for people who often use “iron services” and value their own time.
The overall picture shows that the productivity depends on the power, as well as its operating time before failure.
Steam temperature
Paying attention to the characteristics, it is worth paying attention to temperature. Standard models economy class heats water to 98 - 100 degrees Celsius, while more powerful ones are able to gain temperature up to 150 degrees. These indicators are significant due to the possibility of adjustment, namely, reducing the steam supply. At maximum performance, the temperature decreases significantly.
Pressure and steam
Pressure instruments are well equipped. Due to the presence of the valve, steam is directly delayed in the boiler until a certain mark is reached. After the valve opens, releasing a sufficiently strong stream of steam. Thanks to this mechanism, the air flow penetrates better into the tissue fibers, due to which smoothing occurs
The type of steamers with a constant steam supply system by means of pressure refers to universal steam generators that are equipped with a pump.
The design of gravity “machines” is simpler. The main task is to constantly supply steam, which is due to the lack of pressure. Such a system is less fast, but permanent.
Working hours
The continuous operation time directly depends on the volume of the boiler where the water is located. The larger the tank, the longer the device works, reproducing steam.
Water tank capacity
Choosing a handheld steamer for clothes and help in removing dirt and stains for the home, you should pay attention to the volume of the boiler. The larger it is, the longer the productivity (as noted earlier) without the need to replenish the spent amount of water. The device with a tank volume of up to 2 liters will work for about 1.5 - 2 hours. With a volume of 0.5 liters to half an hour.
Iron sole material
The sole of steamers can be made of metal, plastic and ceramic. More durable materials are metal and ceramics, they provide a longer "life" of the device.Plastic soles of steamers are also more dangerous both in environmental terms and in burns.
Modes
Economy class models have basically one mode of operation, which is inconvenient when used continuously on different surfaces. With constant demand, it is worth paying attention to the consideration of models that have the ability to adjust the steam supply. Since things made from soft fabrics such as linen, cotton, silk, viscose require especially careful care to preserve the appearance and color.
Additional features
From the increase in additional features, the price increases. It is worth noting that they are not required in the main housework. Therefore, for people with a limited budget, this should not be the main characteristic. These things include additional nozzles for fabrics, furniture, appliances; brushes for collecting lint and unnecessary spools, special storage compartments, automatic cord assembly and much more.
Total
It is important to note that the first time you use the steamer, you should not choose the dry steaming mode. It is worth using a more delicate mode for an initial study of the work. Once accustomed to a new acquisition, your clothes and home will look perfect in a short time, and the time for other activities or leisure will increase significantly.
