Steam Irons How They Work |
Posted: July 30, 2018 |
The steam iron has become a necessary appliance in most homes, proving to be more effective than its predecessor, the dry iron. A steam iron removes wrinkles from all types of fabrics using a combination of weight, steam, and heat that stretch out the molecules in the material. The result is a smart, crisp garment that looks like it was never creased! How, then, does a steam iron work? A. Settings A steam iron has temperature settings for the user to choose from, depending on the type of fabric. If you look at the dial, you will notice settings ranging from those for delicate materials (silk, nylon, polyester, etc) to the tougher materials (cotton, linen). You will also notice that apart from the dial, there is a steam burst button. Use this button when you need an extra burst of steam for a stubborn wrinkle. B. Steam Production If you look at the soleplate underneath the iron, you will notice that it is made of water-resistant aluminum, and has little pores all over. Also, if you look at the water tank, you should be able to see the different water levels indicated. Before you start ironing, always check the water level in the tank, and fill it up if needed. Once you fill the water tank, turn the iron and select the steam setting, the water goes into the steam chamber, where the soleplate heats it up. The super-hot water then runs through the pores of the soleplate, turning into steam as it comes out. This vapor is what loosens the fibers of the garment, making the wrinkles disappear. The pores in the soleplate are placed strategically so that the steam is distributed evenly over the fabric. More pores on the soleplate mean more steam! As you iron, you may hear a hissing sound coming from the bottom of the iron. Not to worry – that is steam coming out of the soleplate! Check out our review of Rowenta steam irons here: https://ironingzone.com/rowenta-steam-irons-review/ C. Temperature Control The steam iron has a thermostat embedded inside it to ensure that the temperature produced remains constant during ironing. Before starting to iron an item of clothing, always check the garment care tag. The tag will show the kind of material, and the appropriate temperature settings. For example, if you set the dial to nylon, the thermostat will adjust the iron to the correct temperature for ironing nylon. You may hear a clicking sound within the iron as the thermostat adjusts itself. D. Power Supply Just like dry irons, steam irons operate using electricity. Most of them have an electrical power cord attached to the side, or on the back end. Some irons even have a hook-like shape at the bottom for winding the cord up during storage. Because of the amount of heat the iron uses, it is necessary for the power cord to be made of heat-resistant material. E. Safety Features Some steam irons have a built-in automatic lift-off feature, where the iron lifts itself up from a facedown position when not in use. Other safety features include the anti-burn control that shuts off power when the steam iron is left flat and the auto shut-off feature that turns the iron off when left unattended. A steam iron is easy to operate if you read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter. Happy ironing!
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