How to choose the right iron?

Not everyone likes to iron things, but it is impossible to choose all the clothes for the wardrobe exclusively from non-wrinkled materials, and bed linen and other household items will still have to be straightened after washing. Therefore, the question of how to choose the right iron remains relevant all the time, because every year manufacturers of household appliances release more and more new, more advanced models. Which preference?

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Iron selection criteria

Before you go shopping, try to more or less clearly define your requirements. Think about how long this particular iron should last for you - do you plan to purchase a new one in the next couple of years or want it to work properly for at least a decade? What features do you often use, do you need steaming? Where is your ironing board located, how far from the outlet? The correct answers to these questions will allow you to significantly narrow down the number of models proposed by helpful sellers and quickly determine the device you need.

The main technical criteria for choosing an iron are the following parameters:

1. Power.
2. Functionality.
3. Protection level.
4. Sole material.
5. The convenience of use.
6. Durability.

Important! Before choosing an iron, it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with reviews on the products of one or another manufacturer. This will protect you from buying defective devices that do not meet the specified characteristics with low operational parameters. And, of course, do not forget about the price of the issue, because this sometimes becomes more of a determining factor.

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Power selection

The question of how to choose the right iron is first of all decided by determining the power level suitable for your purposes. The scatter of indicators in different models today ranges from 1000 to 3000 watts. To understand which one you should choose an iron, consider the following rules and recommendations of specialists:

1. The power range from 1000 to 1500 W will allow you to serve only irregular ironing at a level suitable for road use.
2. Devices with indicators from 1500 to 1900 W are considered the best choice for permanent home use. With their help, you can smooth out fabrics of any density, type.
3. Devices from 2000 W are already professional devices that are unlikely to be useful to you in everyday life. Therefore, overpaying, choosing a more powerful iron, is not worth it.

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How to choose the sole of the iron?

The sole material affects in many respects the quality and convenience of the process of smoothing clothes, linen, as well as the durability of the entire device. Therefore, the question of how to choose the right type of iron according to the type of sole must be solved correctly. To do this, familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each material and give preference to the option that is best for you.

Aluminum

Irons with an aluminum base will be quite light and quickly heating up. But such material has a number of disadvantages:

• trousers and blazers after ironing remain whitish stains and glossy, shiny spots;
• the material quickly cracks and microcracks create on the tissue tightening.

Important! The main advantage of aluminum soles is their low price, so if your budget is modest enough and you are inclined to give preference to this option, choose the iron in which stainless steel or teflon lining will be additionally attached.

Stainless steel

A stainless steel sole is a solution to the problem of how to choose the right iron for those who place such requirements on the device:

• reliability;
• strength;
• durability;
• optimum sliding quality;
• good heating rate.

Indeed, such household appliances do not lose their relevance, despite the emergence of more interesting, modern models. Although the stainless steel outsole provides a fairly impressive weight to the entire product - this must be taken into account.

Important! Please note that the stainless steel sole gets dirty quite quickly, but, in principle, it is very easy to clean even with a regular pencil. And if you take a sapphire-coated model, then most likely it will also serve your grandchildren.

Cermets and Teflon

Cermets and teflon are 2 modern solutions to the question of how to choose the right iron. Both of these sole materials guarantee a sufficiently long service life and ease of use. Distinctive additional characteristics of each can also distinguish such features:

1. Teflon - has absolute non-stick properties, but does not slip very well.
2. Cermets - perfect glide over the fabric, never leaves creases and unnecessary folds, easy and quick to wash, and the dirt on it almost does not stick. A very important drawback is the relative fragility: even with a slight spalling, the remaining material begins to exfoliate and it becomes simply impossible to use such a device.

Important! Having carefully read all the pros and cons of each material, you have probably already concluded for yourself which iron to choose in your case.

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How to choose an iron by functionality?

The functionality of irons is usually expanded due to the possibility of various methods of steaming. Those models that are equipped with various options are called steam generators, in them often the standard function of normal ironing is practically not used. How to choose the right steam generator or steam iron, read on.

General rules for choosing a steam iron:

1. A large area for applying holes for steam - ideally, they should be on the entire sole or at least on its half, and not just on the nose.
2. The number of holes is not less than 100, but small.
3. The steam supply rate is no less and no more than 30 g / min.
4. Adequate tank volume - it should be enough for ironing all things in 1-2 fillings. If you often use this function and you have to fill the tank with water every 5 minutes or after each thing, as a result, it will cause you irritation and dissatisfaction with the chosen model. So, with the task of choosing the right iron, you did not quite manage.

Steam Functions

There are several different options for supplying steam, which will provide one or another smoothing efficiency. To choose the right iron with this function, consider the following features of each mode:

1. Turbo-steam or steam boost - this is an enhanced supply of steam at one time. This function is perfect for straightening even the most rumpled and overdried things from dense fabrics - linen, jeans.
2. Vertical steaming is a very convenient option for smoothing bulk and large items. If you choose the right steam generator with vertical steam, you will no longer have questions about how to quickly smooth out curtains, outerwear or a suit. All this is easily solved in seconds. And you can refresh upholstered furniture and other home decoration with such an appliance. It is enough just to sprinkle the desired object with a jet of steam and remove the dirt that has appeared on the surface with a rag.
3. Spray or spraying - in this case, a focused thin stream of steam is supplied to their nozzle or water is sprayed evenly on the product, due to which it becomes convenient to straighten out the most inaccessible places.

Important! To choose the right iron with a steam generator, do not forget to ask about the presence of a drip system. It helps prevent water from leaking out of the tank if steam has not yet formed. So - on the fabric will not remain stains.

Iron safety

The right iron is the one that is safe. This indicator is determined by 2 factors:

• level of protection against fire;
• quality of protection against a scum.

Anti-scale

Scale protection can be implemented as:

• anti-lime rods;
• self-cleaning functions;
• built-in filter to reduce water hardness.

Fire protection

Fire protection is a function of automatic shutdown if the device is connected to the network, but remains without movement. The shutdown time is standard:

• 8 minutes - for a vertical position;
• 30 seconds - for horizontal.

Important! Both of these protective functions are very useful and necessary. Therefore, to really choose the right iron, do not try to save on them. With the presence of such protection, the device will cost only 10-15% more expensive.

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Additional selection criteria

All of the above rules are the basic requirements that you must adhere to when buying a device so much needed in everyday life. But to be completely sure that you have chosen the right iron, consider additional recommendations:

Availability of a set of replaceable soles

A model of this type is a great option. They will allow you not to worry about the health of the device and significantly reduce the risk of damage to any item in your wardrobe. To properly iron this or that thing, it will be enough only to choose the most suitable sole - and the whole process will go much easier.

Temperature stability

Many irons sin by the fact that the actual degree of heating does not correspond to the temperature indicators. This threatens with poor-quality ironing of dense materials or the formation of tan marks on delicate fabrics. To a greater extent, the accuracy and consistency of temperature depends on the reliability of the brand.

Manufacturer Popularity

Among the wide range of modern brands on the market, the largest number of positive customer reviews and trust have won such manufacturers as:

• Tefal;
• Bosch;
• Moulinex;
• Rowenta;
• Philips

To be sure of the durability of the equipment, its safety and convenient to iron your things in the future, try to take into account such results of opinion polls.

Cord length

It is unlikely that you will want to pull and connect several extension cords from the nearest outlet to the ironing board each time for ironing. Therefore, pre-calculate the optimal cord length, keep in mind that it should be convenient for you to drive the sole of the appliance over clothing, and then the question of how to choose the right iron according to this criterion will not be difficult for you. Standard recommendations of experts converge on an optimal cord length of 2 meters or more.

Important! You can consider the option of more expensive, wireless models, but keep in mind that they literally cool down in a minute after lack of access to electricity.

Handle convenience

How comfortable the handle will be depends on your comfort during the process of ironing. Therefore, note that it must be wide enough, made of non-slip material or have rubber pads.

Important! To make sure that you are choosing the right iron, hold it in your hands, hold it, try to make some smoothing movements and evaluate how convenient it is for you.

Iron weight

Despite the conventional wisdom, in order to choose the right iron, in no case take a very lightweight device. A certain feeling of heaviness in the hand should be present, otherwise - you will make more efforts when processing things, especially large ones, from dense fabrics. This means that you will get tired more, but nobody wants this. The optimal weight, according to experts, is 1.5 kg.

The sharpness of the nose

This is perhaps the last nuance that should be paid attention to when deciding how to choose the right iron.The fact of how quickly, conveniently and efficiently you can manage to straighten ruffles, fold corners on collars, sleeves, iron places near buttons, etc. depends on the sharpness of the nose.

But, if you prefer to stroke with quick, short movements, then choose a model with a blunt nose - this will prevent the permanent formation of unnecessary folds and creases.

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Stock footage

Now you know all the secrets of how to choose the right iron or steam generator. Be sure to follow this sequence of choosing the set of characteristics suitable for you, and then, it is likely that ironing will become one of your favorite homework!