Garment steamers: description, selection and use

Despite the fact that the garment steamer is a relatively new thing, it is already enough time on the market to compete heavily with a conventional iron for ironing clothes. The first options presented, which were sold in television stores, did not inspire much confidence at all, and those who bought it after several uses sent the purchase to gather dust in the pantry. In use, these units were not more convenient than their predecessors - irons: they were bulky and clumsy. Buyers were attracted by the idea of ​​better-quality ironed clothes.

But progress does not stand still, and now devices for vertical ironing have shown all their advantages: they have become more compact, cheaper and more convenient to use. The market offers a large assortment and can offer products suitable for everyone that can be used at home. Prior to this, steamers and steam cleaners were purely professional equipment that was used in enterprises or in dry cleaners.

First of all, you need to decide what you need a garment steamer for. The direct purpose of the device in everyday life is ironing. But his possibilities do not end there.

• To begin with, it is worth highlighting that the steamer is a great option for clothes that are difficult to iron with a conventional iron. As a rule, these are clothes with lace, rhinestones, rivets and the like details that impede the iron on the fabric.
• Since steam is supplied under high pressure, the steamer can easily cope with jackets and coats, which a regular iron can not handle for anything.
• It will be indispensable if necessary to stroke a wedding or any other dress with a large number of decorative elements.
• The expensive patterned curtains will rip off and will bring any, even the most delicate, blouse into perfect condition without damaging it.

The next plus is the ability to iron the curtains right on the spot. This will significantly speed up and simplify the procedure, unlike working with an iron, where you need to remove them to iron the curtains, and ironing such an area on an ironing board is not easy. Steamers are suitable for ironing any type of fabric, they will never burn it, because they do not have direct contact with it, which also distinguishes it from the iron.

In addition to ironing, the steamer is notable for removing unpleasant odors from any type of fabric. This feature will find its application in different everyday situations, for example, when ironing the same curtains and bedding. Given the fact that some steamers have a high steam supply pressure, they can cope with the removal of unpleasant odors from dense blankets, pillows and even mattresses. For this purpose, it is also often used on upholstered furniture, which is not possible to wash.

Judging by the description, ironing things with such an apparatus in practice comes out very conveniently, quickly and efficiently, in many ways even faster than using an iron. A nice bonus is the removal of odors. Although the above is completely true, not all steamers can correspond to the description.

The functionality of budget models can vary significantly from expensive ones. For example, in cheap models, the steam jet is not so strong that it does not allow them to properly cope with the rough fabric. Also, many budget models do not have the ability to work horizontally or do it poorly. Therefore, if you take a budget model, you can forget about removing odors from upholstered furniture or mattresses. Also, you can’t iron bedding. Not all models have a horizontal mode - this is usually indicated on the package.

Another marketing move is to remove stains with a steamer. Many manufacturers talk about the availability of this feature in their products. But in reality this is not completely true, since most devices work on the principle of gravity. Even expensive models with a confident and powerful steam supply can not cope with complex stains on clothes. As a rule, only dry cleaning or more specialized equipment will cope with them.

The steamer is quite simple in its design. It consists of a vessel with water, a heating element, a heat-resistant hose and a handle with nozzles. Roughly speaking, it is designed according to the principle of a teapot, which is constantly boiling. It also has a retractable clothes holder on which a hanger or hooks are fixed. The hose length is not very long, and therefore it is not very comfortable to steam the curtains, so most devices are equipped with a carrying handle. As a rule, steamers are lightweight, so they can be easily transferred from one place to another or even held in your hand for a long time.

The heater brings the water to a boil, converting it into steam, which is supplied through a hose to the holder and forms a stream of steam. The jet is regulated by interchangeable nozzles, which allows you to steam fabrics of different densities. Under the influence of steam, the fibers of the fabric are straightened and the fabric is smoothed. Unpleasant odors are also removed through steam treatment, which often finds its application in everyday life, as mentioned earlier.

The device of steamers is divided into two types. The first includes devices with a gravity-fed steam supply system. When boiling water, steam escapes through a hose under its own pressure. Such devices, as a rule, are cheaper, but their use is limited: they cope poorly with dense tissue, and horizontal use is out of the question.

The second type of steamers has a special valve that regulates the supply of steam. It opens only when the pressure reaches a certain value. Such devices, as a rule, are more expensive, but also cope with their task much better. They easily smooth dense fabric and cope with bedding. Unfortunately, not all gravity steamers can boast of a horizontal operating mode.

There are models with different characteristics. They differ in tank size, power and pressure. Pressure usually varies between 3.5-5 bar. Flow is also important, it is usually indicated by milliliters per minute. The higher this indicator, the more efficient the operation of the steamer. On average, this figure reaches 40-50 ml / hour. Also, not all devices are equipped with water filters, so some of them require the use of distilled liquid. Models with filters do not differ much in price, therefore it is better not to save, but to take an option with such a cleaner. So the use will be much more convenient: water can be dialed directly from the tap.

Answering this question, we can say that it is incorrect to compare these two devices with each other. One is not able to completely replace the other and vice versa. An iron is needed in every home. The steamer should be used as an addition.

If you do not see the need for a steam generator, it is certainly worth making a choice in favor of the iron. It is a compact, easy-to-use device that has been used for ironing clothes for several generations. Currently, the market offers a large selection of irons. Home appliance manufacturers are introducing new technologies into them, improving quality every year. The combination of various alloys, new heating and coating systems does not cease to amaze with diversity.

An ordinary mid-range iron has a wide range of settings, where there is everything you need in everyday life. Using an iron with a steam generator, you can easily steam the fabric when ironing, make arrows on trousers, align collars, iron curtains, bedding and much more. In addition to the iron, you need to purchase an ironing board, the assortment of which is also quite large. On the other hand, it can be attributed to unnecessary costs. In the case of the steamer, such costs do not need to be - it is fully equipped.

First of all, the devices are distinguished by the cost. If a good iron can be bought without spending $ 100, a high-quality steamer will cost a tidy amount, because a cheap device is usually money down the drain: it will cope with the same tasks for which the iron is perfect, and the point of buying it minimized. Despite the speed of operation, such devices require more frequent and longer service. As a rule, cheap models can be covered with scale and other precipitation.In addition, more space is needed to store such a steamer.

If you had to confront yourself with a choice, for example, for financial reasons, it is first of all worth choosing an iron. During the operation of the device, it will be clear how necessary the steamer is, since it should be purchased for a specific purpose for a specific use. Steamers are mainly used for ironing complex fabrics, and the purchase will be more specialized than the purchase of an iron.

Despite the similar operating principle, the steamer is very different from the steam cleaner. The steamer was invented in order to straighten the fibers of the fabric when ironing clothes. As a rule, they do not cope with the task of cleaning the fabric from stains and dirt. The steamer has a gravity feed system. Even with a pressure regulating valve, it still continues to work by gravity. The steam cleaner has an integrated compressor. Steam is supplied under high pressure, providing deep cleaning and disinfection of any knitted surfaces. He is much better at cleaning upholstered furniture, as well as working in horizontal mode.

The steam cleaner is a specialized technique for deep cleaning of surfaces., it has a large selection of nozzles and accessories, unlike a steamer, which, as a rule, is content with a meager set of boxes. More often such devices are attributed to professional equipment. In turn, the steamer can be attributed to household. The difference between them is great, starting from the design and ending with the appointment. You should not consider these devices as an alternative to each other: the device of a steam cleaner is much more complicated, and its cost is strikingly higher than that of a steamer.

Perhaps the most convenient type of steamers can be considered manual or portable. It has several advantages. First of all, it is its compactness. His work does not require an electrical network, and unlike an iron, you can take it with you on a trip, so it is also called a road. It is lightweight even with a full tank of water. Of the minuses, it is possible to note a small working capacity. Since it has a small tank, it lasts for 2–4 things - it will be inconvenient in home use. In addition, the manual steamer will not cope with a dense fabric, since its power is small.

Devices for vertical steaming are good in everyday life and in everyday use. On one tank, you can overfill the entire cabinet. Their power is slightly higher than that of manual ones, so it will be easier for them to cope with a dense fabric. Such steamers, as a rule, work from the power supply network. Cheap devices of this type have basically one mode, they cope with ironing clothes and curtains with a bang, their possibilities end there. More expensive models of vertical steamers have higher power, which allows you to cope with the same tasks faster and more efficiently. Many of them have settings and adjusting the steam supply, as well as the ability to add water directly during operation.

A steam cleaner will be an excellent choice for ironing and cleaning not only clothes, but the whole house. It is universal and is able to clean a carpet or sofa, having carried out a complete disinfection, iron bedding or a shirt for him, too, is not difficult. As a rule, such models work both vertically and horizontally, which at times increases work efficiency.

All these steamers can be attributed to household types of appliances for home use.In addition to them, there are professional steamers. They are large, therefore, they contain more liquid. The power of such devices is much higher. As a rule, they are used in industrial locations, in dry cleaners or in production. Not intended for home use, as it requires complex maintenance and takes up a lot of space. In addition, their cost is too high for domestic needs.

If you are thinking about buying a steamer, first of all it is worth evaluating your budget. A wide range is available on the market, and prices vary widely. It is also important to decide what the device will be used specifically for. Based on this, we can distinguish several of their main purposes. The first is, of course, the choice of a road steamer. When there is a need to iron things on the road, but there is no way to take an iron with you, a manual steamer will be a great solution. It is worth looking at the autonomy of the work, the dimensions of the device and its power. For a home, you should not choose such a model - it will be extremely inefficient.

Floor steamers are designed primarily for the home. But, as mentioned above, not all types of devices are suitable for your needs. Vertical steamers are not suitable for linen. Like ordinary floor standing appliances, they will not be able to remove odors and stains, and it will also be difficult for them to cope with a dense fabric. They are perfect as an alternative to iron or additions to it. For home use, the best option is to choose a floor steamer with a horizontal mode.

Great selection of devices and for professional activities. Such devices should be taken with the expectation of self-sufficiency. There may be a large number of purchase options, for example, if you are tailoring clothes to order professionally. Specialized steamers are also suitable for dry cleaning clothes, carpets, furniture and more. In this case, a powerful professional device will be very useful. To make the right choice, you should carefully study the issue. It will be very useful to read customer reviews. In addition, the advice of professionals in this matter will help many. There are many comparisons and reviews of various models on the Internet. They will be very helpful when choosing between specific options.

Each device has its own instruction manual, but the rules for use are approximately the same for everyone. The device requires filling with water to the specified values. After starting, the steamer will notify you of its readiness for use. Also, a special indicator will tell you when to add water. Most models are designed for vertical use only - they are not recommended for use in a horizontal position. Not observing safety precautions when using the device, you can easily get a burn. As a rule, steam flows leave impressive skin lesions.

Floor steamers have a retractable rack holder. It acts as an analogue of an ironing board. This is a standard feature that most devices have. Ironing in such conditions is quick and very convenient. Since the standard hose is quite short and is designed only for the length of the holder for clothes, iron the curtains with a steamer, holding the boiler in hand. As a rule, they are light in weight. It is undesirable to put it on chairs or tables during work, as it is easy to turn it over, as a result of which it can break and cause unpleasant injuries.

You can iron the bed with a steamer by hanging it first. With a horizontal appliance, you can iron the laundry directly on the bed.This way will refresh your bed by ironing pillows, a mattress and a blanket. It is also worth noting the following point: since the steamer processes the fabric with steam, things will not be ready for use immediately after ironing - you will have to wait a while for your shirt to dry out, and only then put it on. There is also a drawback to this. The iron, in turn, although it takes a little more time to iron, brings things to readiness immediately.

Ironing curtains also has its own nuances. They must be ironed strictly from top to bottom with horizontal stripes. Under the influence of their own weight, the curtains will stretch, smoothing the surface. You can also pull the curtains yourself while ironing. It is important to stretch the fabric. Steamers are not always suitable for processing fur. You must make sure that the device is designed for such a material, otherwise the fur may be damaged. Ironing large canvases will be more convenient on a dryer or on a rope.

When used regularly, steamers can become very dirty due to many factors, for example, during the use of water of inadequate quality. Tap water is usually very hard and has many impurities. Also, low-quality materials of the equipment itself can serve as the cause of pollution. Problems such as scale, unpleasant odors or splashes of dirty water from the apparatus can be avoided by preventive maintenance. It is recommended to clean the device 1-2 times a month with regular use.

You can clean the steamer from scale at home. For this, there are special solutions. According to the manufacturers, it is enough to dilute them with water and pour into the device, but such measures are suitable only for prevention. In fact, when faced with a serious problem of scale, mechanical cleaning is necessary. For such procedures, you need to completely disassemble the device. For cleaning, it is advisable to use a brush.

You can also use folk remedies for descaling and preventive cleaning of the device. The most popular way is to use a mixture of vinegar and citric acid. This method is quite effective in the fight against scale. But sometimes you may encounter the difficulty of removing the smell of vinegar from the apparatus. You need to know exactly which water is not suitable for your model. Pouring ordinary tap water can ruin the device. It is recommended that you carefully read the instructions and use them in strict accordance with it.

The steamer is an excellent device that will certainly find its place in the life of every family. The choice of the device should be approached very carefully so as not to encounter difficulties in operation. This article is intended to help you figure this matter out at least a little. It is worth observing the rules and safety precautions when using the steamer: it can be very traumatic.

For how to descale the steamer, see the next video.