The ironing board is a convenient invention and greatly facilitates the long and laborious process of ironing. The use of this device is especially important when working with large amounts of bed linen and home textiles, as well as for families with a large number of people.
What it is?
Apparatus for ironing linen was invented in the first half of the last century. It was a machine consisting of two rollers rotating in different directions, which were set in motion by a wheel with a handle. To work on such an assembly, the presence of two people was required, one of whom directed the fabric between the rollers, and the second one turned the wheel. The device was quite large and not very convenient, moreover, there was no thermal effect on the material, therefore a high level of smoothing was out of the question.
With the passage of time, ironing machines have been improved, and they have come down to today in the form of compact and convenient electrical devices., which manage under the power of one person. Modern ironing machines are high-tech automatic devices that can not only smooth out the laundry, but also treat it with steam, as well as dry it. Devices can quickly and efficiently smooth a large amount of linen, without restrictions on the type of fabric and its thickness.
Advantages and disadvantages
High popularity of ironing machines due to a number of indisputable advantages of these units.
- Compared with the use of an iron, the process of ironing using an ironing unit is very fast. So, for ironing sheets need only 30 seconds. This allows in a short time to cope with a large amount of clothing, without spending much physical effort.
- Work behind the ironing unit can be done while sitting, which is very convenient for people who have a hard time ironing while standing.
- Using the device is completely safe, due to the presence of protective parts covering the heating elements. Thanks to protection, burn or injury is completely excluded.
- The ironing machine can not only smooth out clothes, but also dry things. This is very convenient and important for people living in regions with high humidity, in which it is often a problem to dry clothes in a natural way.
- Most of the devices on the market are quite compact and can be folded.
- The ability to smooth several small things at the same time makes life easier for young parents and simplifies the care of a young child. In addition, thanks to the steam treatment function, it is possible to carry out disinfecting hygienic treatment of clothes and diapers for the newborn.
- Machine ironing of things makes it possible to smooth and steam out old creases and folds, which is not always possible with the help of an ordinary iron.
Along with the obvious advantages, the disadvantages of ironing machines are still there. These include, first of all, an excessively high price, several times higher than the cost of an ordinary iron. In addition, many types of clothing to iron on the car uncomfortable.
This applies to products decorated with bows, ruffles and lace. In this regard, the device can not be considered universal, which significantly narrows the scope of its application in the home.
Kinds
The modern market of household appliances is represented by two types of ironing machines: roll and dummy design.
Roller models are arranged quite simply and consist of a roll, a shoe and a tray of steam heating. The roller is presented in the form of a rotating assembly, and is equipped with an elastic coating that does not allow the material to slide off during the ironing process.
The element constantly rotates and rolls clothes on a hot surface. The second component, the shoe, is the very heating element through which the roll passes the fabric.
The shoe is located directly in front of the swath and is protected by special shields to prevent the fingers from burning. The steam tray is designed to form steam and wet dry laundry. It is filled with filtered water and turned on forcibly. Most machines are suitable for both professional use and for the home, and differ only in the degree of automation and size of the working surfaces.
Models "dummy" are presented by automatic devices that repeat the shape of the human body, and are quite smart. "Mannequin" is able to change its size to the size of the clothes being ironed, and it does it by self-adherence method. The working surface of the device is made of high-quality silk, through which hot air comes out and smoothes the things worn on it. The device can also be used as a dryer, which allows you to iron the laundry immediately after pressing in a washing machine.
Most modern models are equipped with sensors of time and intensity of steam supply, as well as the ability to select the mode of operation required for a particular type of fabric.
How to choose?
Before you go to the store for an ironing machine, you must decide on the desired type of device. So, if you intend to iron more top and everyday clothes, then it is better to purchase a “dummy”. If the main volume of the linen to be smoothed is made up of bed sets, curtains and bedspreads, then undoubtedly, the choice should be stopped on a roller version.
No less important criterion is power. It is quite high in representatives of both types and is about 3 kW / h. However, such a high power consumption should not confuse the buyer, since the device works at full power only in the first few minutes of heating, then the power is significantly reduced, and kept within 1.5 kW.
Another indicator that you need to look at is the speed of ironing. For a household model, 2 m / min will be quite enough, while for professional equipment this figure should correspond to 4.5 m / min. You also need to pay attention to the dimensions of the unit, and if the model is purchased for the home, then it is better to opt for a small, better folding device with adjustable height. The following dimensions are considered optimal: the size of the shaft cross section is 16 cm, its length is 80 cm, the height of the device is no more than one meter. This rink weighs about 40 kg.
The next selection criterion is the availability of additional options, among which one can note the function of steaming of overdried things, the ability to auto shut off when overheated, and the ability to regulate the temperature and intensity of steam generation. The shaft unlock option is also convenient, and allows you to pull the laundry out of the unit even in the event of a power outage.
Browse popular models
The modern market of household appliances offers a huge amount of high-quality and multifunctional equipment, among which ironing devices occupy the last place.
German ranks first in popularity Miele HM 1683, being the leader of sales in the European market. The roller model is of medium size and is equipped with silicone wheels. The roller of the device is reliably protected by special shields, completely eliminating the risk of burns on a hot surface.
The device has a built-in steamer, and can be adjusted in height.
No less popular is the German dummy type device. Siemens TJ 10500. The unit has 12 modes of operation and has a fairly high power component of 3.4 kW. The car weighs a little, only 28 kg, and its dimensions are 36.5x45x119 cm.
In third place is the popular domestic Kalinka-M modelwhich has a roller type of construction, and is able to work with almost all fabrics, including silk, wool, cotton and linen.
Italian model of dummy type Battistella zeus a has the highest performance, but because of the high cost is not so purchased goods. The price of some modifications reaches 5 thousand dollars, which relates the device to the category of the elite class. The model is equipped with a steam generator, manual and electronic control, 16 programs and a set of auxiliary clips and stretch marks. The device is able to work in the modes of hot and cold blowing and has a powerful pump. The weight of the "dummy" is about 135 kg, its height reaches 160 cm, and its width is 58 cm.
And completes the top five Czech Ironnette 85. The roller device has 5 thermal modes and can change the ironing speed. The performance of the model reaches 10 kg of linen per hour, the diameter of the shaft is 18 cm, and its length reaches 85 cm.
The unit is so easy to use that it can easily be used to iron trousers, t-shirts and skirts. Machine power is 3.3 kW, weight - 46 kg, and the cost is 1100-1400 dollars.
How to use?
In order for ironing on the ironing unit to be successful, you need to familiarize yourself with a number of general recommendations. Before you start smoothing, you must carefully read the information on the label. So, if among other symbols there is a crossed iron, then it is impossible to iron such a product either with an iron or on an ironing device. If such a designation is absent, the clothing should be well prepared before beginning smoothing. To do this, straighten all the deep folds, flatten the inner pockets and straighten the curved corners.
Things with embroidery are ironed only from the seamy side, and it is recommended to put a special roller under the things with undercuts. Products with plastic buttons can be ironed, however, each button will need to be closed with a special cloth. In addition, outerwear should be smoothed only on dummy-type devices using additional devices for the collar and cuff.
It is not recommended to use roller models for ironing jackets and coats.
Reviews
Judging by consumer feedback, an ironing machine is not a necessity, and buying it can be advisable only in large families, when there is a need to constantly smooth over a huge amount of bedding and clothing.
However, those buyers who still purchased the roll unit and actively use it, tell about a significant reduction in ironing time and a rather good quality of smoothing bedding and home textiles.
Of the minuses note the imperfection of the device and the impossibility of high-quality smoothing clothes. In addition, if the linen before serving on the roll was poorly straightened, then the pressed folds can be very difficult to smooth out afterwards. In such cases, you have to completely wet the thing, dry it and re-iron. As for dummy devices, they are mainly used by workers of the atelier, sewing factories and wardrobe. These units are rated as very convenient, and there are no special complaints about them.
You will learn more about using ironing machines in the video below.
