Steam ironing is becoming an increasingly popular procedure. It is true that traditional irons usually have the function of producing steam, but with the advancement of technology, there are many steam stations that use this solution. Steam iron for vertical ironing is a modern and technologically advanced device that until recently was available only to professionals. Which steam station to choose?
Content
What is a steam station and how does it work?
Speaking of ironing clothes with steam, it is worth mentioning several devices that have such an opportunity. Among them are steam stations, often also called steam generators. There are also steam irons, which are divided into manual models and are equipped with special stands with hangers. They differ in design, but the principle of operation is very similar.
As you might guess, water vapor is at the heart of their functioning. It is created in built-in boilers into which water must be poured. Heating elements bring the liquid to a boil in a short time (usually about a minute), forming a vapor. Then, through special nozzles, steam is emitted directly onto the clothes at high speed.
In conventional irons, the smoothing of the material is achieved by pressure and high temperature. In steam stations and evaporators, hot water vapor is responsible for the entire process. It weakens the fibers of the fabric and straightens it. The duration of steam ironing depends largely on the thickness, as well as on the type of fibers and material. A big plus is the ability to work both vertically and horizontally. In addition, the steam has a disinfectant and refreshing effect. It is used not only for clothing, but also for cleaning and disinfecting apartments.
Differences between devices
A steam station is equipment that looks similar to a regular iron, but unlike it, it does not have a built-in water tank. However, there is a separate tank with a boiler that heats the water. Both elements are connected to each other by a pipeline through which steam is supplied to the nozzle. At stations, the emission of steam is much stronger and gives much better results than in ironing.
Manual steam generators are relatively small devices with removable water tanks. Their shape resembles a shower head. Nozzles have a much smaller surface area than steam stations. On the other hand, many manufacturers add attachments to devices that are suitable for different materials or allow you to remove dirt.
Autonomous steam generators have nozzles that are very similar to their manual counterparts. However, the difference lies in the much larger water tank that forms the basis of the device. It is connected by a tube to a steam nozzle. Very often, in the design of a steam iron, there are hangers on which you can hang clothes and iron vertically.
What to look for when buying a steam station?
Which steam station to buy? Answering this question, you need to take into account a number of parameters that should guarantee high performance, as well as durability. So, what do you need to consider when choosing a steam station?
- Steam power – the higher the steam pressure, the more efficient the ironing. This means that the device can cope even with difficult creases. When choosing a steam station, you should make sure that this value is at least 20 g / min.
- Device power — the parameter determines the performance of the equipment. The high power reduces the time it takes to heat the water and affects the duration of the evaporator without shutting down. The higher the power, the greater the electricity consumption.
- Heating time – it has already been mentioned that the speed of reaching the desired temperature depends mainly on the power of the heating element. However, you can find devices on the market with a fast heating function. In standard models, this time should not exceed 60 seconds.
- Water tank capacity – A larger capacity means a longer run time with a single refill. The size of the tank also affects the size of the entire steam station or evaporator.
- Adjustable ironing position – most steam ironers are adapted to work in an upright position. However, there are stations that allow you to iron on the board in the traditional way. The choice depends on individual preferences.
The above list presents the most important aspects with which you can choose a steam iron more easily. Of course, you should still check if the device has an automatic shutdown feature after a few seconds of inactivity or another user protection system.