subject: Would A Steam Generator Iron Save You Time? [print this page] Would A Steam Generator Iron Save You Time?
Ironing is, quite frankly, a thankless and seemingly never ending task. You can lessen the boredom somewhat by watching TV or listening to music while you do it - but it's still a tedious chore which very few people enjoy. Anything which could reduce the amount of time required for ironing would be very welcome in most households.Of course, you could send your clothes to the dry cleaners - or even employ a maid. There are even professional ironers who will pick up your freshly washed clothes and return them crisply pressed should you wish. However, these options are all a little pricey.A more viable alternative (for most people at least) would be to take advantage of advances in iron design and use a steam generator iron. Whilst these may look very similar to conventional irons, they have a completely different construction - and this provides a number of positive benefits.Steam generator irons, unlike traditional steam irons, contain no water in the iron itself. They have a large base unit which serves as both water tank and boiler and the generate much more steam - at a higher pressure - than a standard iron.The steam is fed to the iron using a hollow connecting hose and, because it is at high pressure, it penetrates deep into the fabric of the garment being pressed. This makes it easier - and faster - to iron. The fact that there is no water in the iron also means that it is lighter and easier to use. The net result is an improvement in the quality of the finished garment and a reduction in the amount of time spent ironing. Most users report a reduction in ironing time of around about 50%.When choosing a steam generator iron, be sure to go for one which has a high enough steam pressure. Somewhere between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is good. You will often see the steam output quoted in grams of steam per minute (gpm). A value between 70 and 120 gpm is desirable.The capacity of the water tank is a further important consideration. Be certain to choose one with a large enough tank so that you don't need to stop to refill the water tank too often. A tank of at least 1.4 litres is desirable.Other factors that should be considered include the soleplate material, the usability, the inclusion of some type of anti-scale system and the length of the connecting hose between the iron and the base unit.Steam generator irons do tend to have a slightly higher ticket price than conventional irons. However, bearing in mind that they can slash the amount of time you spend ironing by 50% - whilst also giving a better quality of finished garment - they really do represent great value for money.
