Steam Irons:
How to Buy the Right One

Ironing clothes is probably one of the most tedious of all household chores. In fact, it’s one of those chores that you probably want to avoid. Fortunately, the latest appliances have all the technology to make ironing faster and more efficient. All you have to do is to find a good steam iron that will make the chore easier and stress-free.

What exactly are steam irons?

Steam irons use heated water to remove the wrinkles from clothes and fabrics that may easily burn with traditional dry irons. They use distilled water converted into steam by a special heating element. The hot mist comes through the holes on the soleplate and loosens up the fibers of the clothes to smooth them out.

The best steam iron will probably make you rethink about sending your clothes to the dry cleaners. They are actually safer and more convenient to use. However, you need to choose your unit carefully, as some simply don’t do a good job.

Durability

It’s always good to opt for durable steam irons. How do you know which ones are hard-wearing? Through tests. You can find consumer guides online that will give you a lowdown on the models that are capable of delivering full doses of steam and heat even after hours of use.

Your clothes

When shopping for a steam iron, pay attention to the materials your clothes are made of. You want to get irons that have spray and burst-of-steam features if most of your clothes are made of natural fibers like linen and heavier fabrics such as denim.

Test-drive

Before you purchase a particular model of iron, it’s best to give it a test run first. You want to get an iron that is comfortable enough to pick up and hold. Remember that you’re going to spend a few minutes to an hour every weekend getting your clothes ironed, so you might as well get an appliance that will not strain your arms. You also want an iron that you can easily maneuver, so if you have big hands, smaller ones may not work right for you.

The controls

Various steam irons come with different type of controls. Some have dials, others have slides, and there are those with digital readouts. Make sure to opt for an iron with controls that are easy to see and adjust. You might also want to go for models with clearly marked fabric settings so you can avoid damaging sensitive fabrics like silk.