The function of steaming laundry appeared in electric irons in the second half of the last century. Until that time, wet gauze or a sprayer was used to moisten things, which was not very convenient and did not allow high-quality ironing of clothes in hard-to-reach places.
Today, irons equipped with a water tank are available in a wide range and require the use of high-quality liquids.
Steaming Features
Irons with steamers are firmly established in modern everyday life, and today it is difficult to imagine how they used to do without them. The principle of operation of such a device is quite simple: the liquid from the tank enters a flat container located immediately behind the sole of the iron, instantly heats up, and the steam exits through the numerous openings located in the sole. Further, during ironing, steam penetrates the tissue fibers and moisturizes them.
As a result of thermal exposure, wet matter begins to actively evaporate water, because of which the friction between the fibers is noticeably reduced and the fabric begins to straighten. In addition, many modern models are equipped with a vertical steaming function that allows you to tidy up exclusive tailoring, such as multi-tiered wedding dresses, coats and suits.
The influence of fluid quality on the state of the device
According to the instructions that came with the appliance, it is recommended to use tap water for steaming clothes.However, modern realities are such that water intakes are often not able to provide consumers with quality drinking water.
In some regions of our country, water from a tap is more suitable for technical needs than for drinking, which is why people are forced to buy bottled water or use filters.
In this regard, recommendations on the use of tap water for irons cannot be taken literally: they are often written by manufacturers from other countries who do not have the slightest idea about the quality of drinking water in many regions of the country.
The most common reason for banning the use of liquid from the tap is its increased rigidity. Hard water contains a large amount of mineral salts and lime, which quickly precipitates and leaves a lot of scale. The scale, in turn, clogs the steam holes, and over time can lead to clogging of the entire steaming system, up to its failure. In addition, the high chalk content in water can lead to whitish stains on clothing, which will be especially noticeable on dark fabrics.
Numerous customer reviews and comments forced many foreign manufacturers to equip irons with a filtration system and cartridges to reduce stiffness, and some especially eminent companies even provided a self-cleaning function in their devices. However, not everyone can buy such an advanced model, so the issue of water quality for the iron remains quite relevant.
What water to use?
Before determining which water can be used for the iron and which is not, it is necessary to consider the properties of each type, and only then draw the appropriate conclusions.
Boiled
Such water is not an ideal liquid for the steamer, this is due to the preservation of most salts unchanged even after boiling. However, it is still possible to reduce the negative effect of boiled water on iron parts. This requires diluting it with demineralized liquid in a ratio of 1: 1.
The mixing procedure will save money on the purchase of special water and will save structural elements from excessive scale formation.
Special
This liquid appeared on the shelves of household appliances relatively recently and immediately gained popularity. The use of such water completely eliminates the formation of scale and the appearance of white spots on clothing. Special water is often flavored and is available in a wide range of flavors. Steaming clothes with an aromatic agent gives things a light pleasant smell that lasts on the fabric for a long time. Nevertheless, you should use perfumed water very carefully.
The fact is that it contains a large number of mineral components and synthetic fragrances, and when the liquid is heated to a vapor state, essential oils can cause stains and stains on clothes. However, the acquisition of this kind of liquid imposes additional costs, and does not allow to regard it as the only suitable tool for use.
Not every consumer is willing to pay for the purchase of specialized formulations, so in this case it is necessary to consider only commonly available types of water and purification methods.
Melt and well
These types of water are not a good ironing option. This is due to the presence of a large number of mineral and organic compounds in them, which is fraught with the appearance of spots on clothing and scale.
Distilled
Such water becomes the subject of frequent debate about the appropriateness of its use for iron. Some argue that the liquid is completely cleaned of salts and harmful impurities, and is not able to harm clothes and electrical appliances.Another point of view is that water, devoid of most of these most harmful salts, cannot boil on time and has a too high boiling point.
As a result, the device spends additional energy on its boiling, which from the point of view of rational use of resources does not seem advisable. In addition, the slow evaporation of water often leads to the melting of the silicone shell inside the evaporator. The truth most likely lies somewhere in between.
Many experts recommend mixing distilled water with ordinary tap water in a ratio of 1: 2, and safely use it for a steamer.
Water cooler
It, like table bottled water, is not suitable for refueling the iron. This is due to the high mineralization of the liquid and the risk of plaque on the sole of the device.
Tap water
It can be used for steam generators with only one condition: it, just like boiled, must be mixed with demineralized liquid in equal quantities. In addition, only warm liquid will correctly fill.
Using hot water often results in stubborn stains on clothing.
Filtered
Filtered tap water is ideal for ironing. It contains the optimal amount of salts, which allows it to boil on time and not form scale and stains on clothes.
Useful Tips
In order for the iron to last as long as possible, it is necessary to periodically rinse the capacity of the device at home. To do this, you need to dilute one and a half tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water, pour the solution into the iron, turn off the steam supply function and turn it on. After the iron is heated, you must leave it for several minutes, and then drain the solution. It is not possible to turn on the steam supply with this cleaning method.
See the next video for more tips.
