Hardly among our readers there are many fans of ironing clothes. Manufacturers of household appliances have long thought about how to facilitate and accelerate this process. One of the solutions was the steamer. He treats things with a jet of heated steam without direct contact with the hot surface. As a result, folds not only straighten out, but smells are eliminated, the appearance of clothes improves. It’s in theory. But how really?
What can steamer
1. It strips thin and delicate fabrics. A steamer can not damage even the most delicate and whimsical fabric – neither synthetic nor natural. The product is in contact only with a vapor whose temperature does not exceed 100 ° C.
2. It is irreplaceable for clothes with numerous ornaments: ryushechkami, lace, frills. Everyone who has ever tried to iron a smart dress with a lot of decorative elements knows how hard it is. The steamer can easily cope with this task. In addition, there is no risk of damaging jewelry: buttons, bows, rhinestones.
3. Powerful models are able to steam things with a lining and outer clothing. If the steamer is powerful enough, then they can steam off jackets, jackets, coats. The usual iron is simply beyond the power.
4. You can iron the curtains directly on the eaves. Curtains – another kind of home textiles, which directly suggests ironing with a steamer. But it should be borne in mind that the length of the hose of the steamer will not be sufficient. To reach the cornice, you have to put the device on a chair or a higher stand.
5. Saves time. After a little training, you will iron the steamer much faster than an iron. A few times faster!
That the steamer can not
1. Does not replace the iron. No matter how you would like, completely replace the iron steamer is not able to. For example, it is almost impossible for them to make arrows on trousers.
2. Will not get rid of stains and do not disinfect. Manufacturers and sellers often assure that the steamer is able to fight stains on clothes and even furniture. In practice for this purpose there is a special device – a steam cleaner. It differs from the steamer in that it supplies superheated steam (with a temperature of more than 100 ° C) under pressure. There are hybrid devices that combine the functions of the steam cleaner and steamer, and only they will be effective for cleaning. The same can be said about disinfection.
3. Poorly copes with dense rough fabrics. The denser and heavier the fabric, the worse it can be steamed. Budget models are not able to steam even jeans, not to mention such fabrics as tweed, drape, cashmere and so on.
4. It is inconvenient for bed linen. Many models can not work in a horizontal position, which excludes their use for ironing bed linen (except that you will hang linen like curtains). Some units have a horizontal mode, but continuous operation with a horizontal hose position is still impossible.
What are the steamers
Steamers are divided into two groups: manual and outdoor.
Manual outwardly they often resemble an electric kettle, and they are not very different from the design. The low weight and compactness of such steamers means low power and a small volume of the water tank. For the most part, this device for travel and business trips, when you need to quickly put in order one shirt and trousers. Resourceful Russian people have adapted to boil water in them and even use them as an inhaler.
For home use, it is better to consider floor apparatuses. Floor evaporators, in turn, are divided into self and with steam pressure. In self-powered steam comes from the boiler directly to ironing. In units with vapor pressure there is a valve that creates a slight pressure. Steam-vaporized steamers are suitable for thicker fabrics, due to the pressure, the intensity of the steam jet rises, it penetrates deeper into the fabric, steaming occurs faster. But keep in mind that most such devices are able to supply steam under pressure only for a short period of time. Then the steamer works as a normal self, and to get another portion of steam under pressure, you’ll have to wait.
A separate line goes combined aggregates. If it is a steam cleaner with the steam function, then a special nozzle comes in the kit. If it is a steamer with a steam cleaner function, then it looks like a regular steamer. Such devices deliver steam at a constant pressure (not less than 3 bar) with a high intensity (at least 70 g / min.). Their only drawback is the high price.
Important Features
Power and intensity of steam supply. Interconnected characteristics, the main of which is intensity. Measured in grams per minute (g / min.). The greater the value of the intensity of the steam supply, the more dense fabrics will be subject to the steamer and the faster it will smooth the folds. Apparatus with an intensity of less than 30 g / min., Most likely, you will not be pleased.
Vapor pressure. There are no hot strippers, in other cases 3 bar is already considered a good indicator.
Time of continuous work. Depends on the volume of the water tank. All modern steamers with a tank capacity of more than 1 liter will work long enough.
Material ironing. There are steamers with plastic and metal irons. The second is better, especially if there is a heating function for ironing. Heating reduces the formation of water droplets and increases the intensity of the supplied steam.
Requirements for water. Some models of steamers are very demanding on the quality of water poured into them. Up to the point that only distilled water can be used. This is a must know in advance.
Additional modes. Judging by the reviews on sites and forums, in 90% of cases only the mode of the greatest intensity is used. The rest, rather, for beauty. Only steam cleaners use different modes makes sense.
Equipment. Uniquely useful is the nozzle with a brush: with its help you can clean clothes when steaming. Useful and clamp for pointing arrows on trousers. From scratch, you still can not make arrows, but it will help to update existing ones. Judging by the comments of the owners of steamers, the remaining bells and whistles are rarely used.
Other pleasant little things. Functions and features that turned out to be convenient: adjustment on the handle, auto shut-off, the ability to add water, without turning off the machine, telescopic stand, wheels to move.
The steamer is a specific device, the handling of which requires a certain skill. Some mistresses are disappointed at the first attempts to use (especially if they expected too much). However, it is worth adjusting, and the advantages of the steamer are felt. If, of course, you bought a high-quality and suitable apparatus for you.
Do you have a steamer? Share your impression in the comments.
