Today, imagine your life without ironing is simply impossible. We have already become so demanding and discriminating in technology that manufacturers simply get out of the skin, so that buyers pay attention to their products. Assortment of irons, presented in stores, is so wide that just eyes run and thoughts are confused. What should I do when choosing an iron? What parameters are particularly important and necessary? Let's try to answer these questions.
Trademark
Choose an iron of the trademark that you or your friends have already encountered before, and you were happy with it. Than a trademark is more famous, so the product is more reliable. Manufacturers will not stain their reputation by offering low-quality products on the market. The trademark also determines the situation with warranty and post-warranty service - it is a question of the number of service centers and the quality of service delivery. On the other hand, you should understand that a well-known brand produces products of a more expensive price segment than a little-known brand. Evaluate your financial capabilities and stop at the most optimal variant of the ratio of price and quality.
Power of iron
The power of the iron affects the time of heating the sole and the temperature of the steam stroke. Irons have the following classification:
low-power irons;
irons with medium power;
irons with high power.
The optimum power of the iron is 1600 watts. In general, these figures range from 1200 W to 2400 W. The choice of suitable power can be achieved by focusing on the volume of ironing. The higher the amount of work, the more powerful the iron will be required. The powerful iron perfectly smoothes the crumpled underwear, without bypassing any hard-to-reach place.
The sole of the iron
The outsole that slides easily over the material is good. Friction with the fabric should be minimal, and the temperature of the sole should be distributed over the entire working surface. The sole should be strong and gentle to work on clothing. The soles of irons have the following qualifications:
Aluminum outsole. An iron with such a sole has a high thermal conductivity and an attractive price, but it also contains a number of hidden flaws. Very soon after the start of the operation of the iron, scratches may appear on its working surface. And this is not the worst thing! From such an iron your favorite things can suffer (after ironing, gloss on the fabrics may remain). Manufacturers, however, argue that they have managed to cope with the above dangers through thermal processing of the soleplate of the iron and offer buyers an alternative - anodized aluminum.
The sole is made of stainless steel. Such coverage is more stable and qualitative, and therefore is popular among consumers. Some of the manufacturers apply a special powder coating on the sole of sapphires. This adds strength to the iron and allows it to slide easily over the fabrics.
Sole from combined materials. This option appeared on the market relatively recently. Most often we find aluminum soles with a steel shell. Sometimes nickel is added, enamel is used, etc. All this allows to improve the individual parameters of the iron, which determine the quality of its work.
Metal-ceramic outsole. An iron with such a sole is not very expensive, it looks modern and that the most important thing is that it has a high quality ironing and an amazing glide. But you understand that here you can not do without your minuses. This sole is very fragile. Any, even the slightest scratch can permanently ruin your iron due to the detachment of the ceramic coating.
Temperature Modes of Iron
In this case we are talking about the temperature to which the sole of the iron is heated. The mode is adjusted using the slider located on the body. There are special divisions and some clues as to which material can be ironed at the chosen temperature. A good indicator of an iron is when the iron is able to be within the desired temperature during the entire ironing period. Especially this remark is important for synthetic tissues.
Iron cord
The optimal length of the cord is two meters. It will avoid additional use of extension cords. Now models are produced with ball mounts, necessary to ensure that the cord does not rub off at the base. Pay attention to braided cords from the material. In case the hot sole touches the cord, it will not disable the iron.
Weight of iron
In the store, take the iron in your hand. Feel whether it is convenient for you, whether it is suitable by weight. Remember, too light an iron will make it difficult to iron large things, heavy - will cause fatigue of the hands. The optimal weight of iron is considered to be 1.3-1.5 kg.
Safety of iron
Each of us in a hurry can forget to turn off the iron. The safest iron is one that has the function of automatic shutdown. It will work if the iron is not moving for a long time.
Protection against scale
Modern irons are equipped with special rods and cassettes to protect against settling of plaque in a water reservoir. According to the rules of operation, they need to be periodically changed, and in some models in general, just to be subjected to mechanical cleaning. If these elements are not provided in your chosen iron, then you will need to use filtered or boiled water.
Anti-drip system
This function is also very useful. When ironing clothes at low temperatures, you risk leaving stains and stains on the fabrics. This can happen if steam is not emitted and water seeps through the holes of the soleplate of the iron. Avoid such troubles simply - choose an iron with anti-drip system.
Heat Shock and Spray Functions
Such functions will help you to smooth out excessively rumpled things. Pay special attention to steam feed. It can be either vertical or horizontal. Still very comfortable models with a pointed spout. With the help of it, you can easily reach the most inaccessible places, without neglecting any millimeter of clothing.
Do not hurry with the choice, take it seriously, weigh all the pros and cons, then the iron will be able to please you with its excellent work for a long time, and the ironing process will turn into a pleasant lesson.