Steamers for clothing: description, selection and use

Despite the fact that the otparivatel for clothes is a relatively new thing, on the market it is already enough time to compete with a regular iron for ironing clothes. The first options presented, which were sold in TV shops, did not inspire much confidence in people, and after several uses, those who bought it sent the purchase to gather dust in the storeroom. In use, these units were not more convenient than their predecessors - irons: they were cumbersome and clumsy. Buyers were attracted by the idea of ​​better-ironed clothes.

But progress does not stand still, and now devices for vertical ironing of clothes 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 appliances that were used in factories or in dry cleaners.

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

• For a start it is worth noting that the steamer is a great option for clothes that are difficult to stroke with a regular iron. As a rule, these are clothes with laces, rhinestones, rivets and the like, which impede the course of the iron on the fabric.
• Since steam is supplied under great pressure, the steamer can easily cope with jackets and coats that a regular iron cannot handle for anything.
• It will be indispensable if necessary to stroke a wedding or any other dress with a large number of decorative elements.
• Unpair expensive patterned curtains and bring any, even the most tender, blouse to an ideal state without damaging it.

The next advantage 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 for ironing curtains, and ironing such an area on an ironing board is not an easy job. 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 distinguished by the ability to remove unpleasant odors from all types of fabrics. This opportunity will find its application in different everyday situations, for example, when ironing the same curtains and bed linen. Given the fact that some steamers have high steam supply pressure, they can cope with removing unpleasant odors from thick 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, to iron things with such a device in practice comes out very conveniently, quickly and efficiently, in many respects even faster than with an iron.A nice bonus is the removal of odors. Although the above is completely true, not all steamers can match the description.

The functionality of budget models can differ significantly from expensive ones. For example, in cheap models the steam jet is not so strong that it does not allow them to adequately cope with coarse cloth. Also, many low-end models do not have the ability to work horizontally or do it poorly. Therefore, if you take the budget model, then you can forget about removing odors from upholstered furniture or mattresses. Also, it will not work to iron bed linen. Not all models have a horizontal mode - this is usually indicated on the packaging.

Another marketing move is the removal of stains with a steamer. Many manufacturers talk about the availability of this feature in their products. But in fact, this is not completely true, since most of the devices operate on the principle of self-flow. Even expensive models with a confident and powerful steam supply do not cope with difficult stains on clothes. As a rule, only dry cleaning or more specialized equipment can handle them.

Steamer is quite simple in its structure. It consists of a vessel with water, a heating element, a heat-resistant hose and a handle with nozzles. Roughly speaking, it is built on the principle of a kettle that continuously boils. It also has a retractable clothes holder, on which a hanger or hooks are fixed. The length of the hose is not very long, and therefore it is not very comfortable to steam the curtains, so most of the devices are equipped with a carrying handle. As a rule, steamers have a small weight, so they can easily be transferred from one place to another or even held for a long time in hand.

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

The device steamers is divided into two types. The first includes apparatuses with a self-flowing steam supply system. When boiling water comes out of steam through a hose under its own pressure. Such devices are usually cheaper, but their use is limited: they do not cope well with thick fabric, and horizontal use is out of the question.

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

There are models with different characteristics. They differ in tank size, power and pressure. The pressure usually varies between values ​​of 3.5–5 bar. Consumption is also important, it is usually indicated in milliliters per minute. The higher this figure, the more efficient the operation of the steamer. On average, this figure reaches 40-50 ml / hour. Also, not all devices are equipped with filters for water, so some of them require the use of distilled liquid.Models with filters differ slightly in price, so it’s better not to save money, but to take the version with such a cleaner. So the use will be much more convenient: you can dial the water directly from the tap.

Answering this question, it can be said that it is wrong to compare these two devices with each other. One is not able to completely replace the other and vice versa. Iron is needed in every home. 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 appliance that has been used to iron clothes for several generations. Currently, the market offers a large selection of irons. Manufacturers of household appliances introduce new technologies in them, improving quality every year. The combination of different alloys, new heating systems and coatings never ceases to amaze with diversity.

The usual iron of an average price category has a wide set of settings where there is all necessary in life. With an iron with a steam generator, you can easily steam off the fabric when ironing, make arrows on the pants, align the collars, iron the curtains, bed linen and much more. In a couple to the iron you need to purchase an ironing board, the range of which is also quite large. On the other hand, it can be attributed to excess costs. In the case of an otparivatel such expenses do not need to - it is fully equipped.

First of all, the devices distinguish the cost among themselves. If you can buy a good iron without spending $ 100, then a high-quality steamer will cost you a tidy sum, because a cheap machine is usually a waste of money: it will do the same tasks for which the iron is perfect, and the point of buying it reduced to a minimum. Despite the speed of work, such devices require more frequent and prolonged maintenance. As a rule, cheap models can be covered with scum and other sediments. In addition, more storage space is needed for such a steamer.

If you had to put yourself in front of a choice, for example, for financial reasons, first of all you should choose an iron. During the operation of the device, it will be clear how necessary the steamer is, since it is worth purchasing 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 designed to straighten fabric fibers 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 steam supply 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. It will cope much better with cleaning upholstered furniture, as well as working in horizontal mode.

Steam cleaner is a specialized technique for deep cleaning of surfaces., it has a large selection of nozzles and accessories as opposed to a steamer, which, as a rule, is content with a meager set of boxes. More often, such devices are attributed to professional technology. In turn, the steamer can be attributed to household. The difference between them is great, from the design to 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 dramatically higher than that of a steamer.

Perhaps the most convenient type of steamers can be considered manual, or portable. It has several advantages. In the first place - it is its compactness. His work does not require a power network, and, unlike the iron, you can take it with you on a journey, so it is also called road. It is lightweight, even with a full tank of water. Of the minuses can be noted low performance. Since it has a small tank, it is enough for 2-4 things - it will be inconvenient in home use. In addition, the hand otparivatel can not cope with a thick cloth, because its power is small.

Devices for vertical steaming are good in everyday life and in everyday use. On one tank, you can smooth out the entire cabinet. Their power is somewhat higher than that of hand-made ones, so it will be easier for them to cope with thick fabric. Such steamers, as a rule, work from the power supply network. Cheap devices of this type have basically one mode, with “hurray” they cope with ironing clothes and curtains, this is where their capabilities end. More expensive models of vertical steamers have a higher capacity, which allows you to cope with the same tasks faster and more efficiently. Many of them have settings and adjustment of steam supply, as well as the ability to add water right during operation.

Steamer steam cleaner will be an excellent choice for ironing and cleaning not only clothes, but the whole house. It is versatile and able to clean a carpet or sofa, after a complete disinfection, it is also easy for him to stroke bed linen or a shirt. As a rule, such models work both vertically and horizontally, which greatly increases the efficiency of work.

All these steamers can be attributed to household appliances for home use. In addition to them, there are professional steamers. They are large in size, therefore they hold more fluid. The power of such devices is much higher. As a rule, they are used in industrial locations, dry cleaning or manufacturing. Not intended for home use, as they require complex maintenance and take 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 you should evaluate your budget. The market offers a wide range, and prices vary widely. It is also important to determine what exactly the device will be used for. Based on this, it is possible to identify several of their main purposes. The first is, of course, the choice of a steamer. When there is a need to stroke things on the road, but there is no possibility to take an iron with you, a hand otparivatel would be a great solution. It is worth looking at the autonomy of the work, the dimensions of the device and its power. For a house such a model is not worth choosing - it will be extremely inefficient.

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

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

Each device has its own instruction manual, but the rules of use are approximately the same for all. The device requires refilling with water to the specified values. After start-up, the steamer informs you of readiness for use. Also, a special indicator will tell you when to add water. Most models are intended only for vertical use - they are extremely not recommended to use in a horizontal position. By not following the safety instructions when using the device, you can easily get burned. As a rule, steam flows leave impressive skin lesions.

Floor steamers have pull-out holder for hangers. It acts as an analogue of the 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 rather short and is designed only for the length of the clothes holder, you should iron the curtains with a steam cleaner while holding the boiler in your hand. As a rule, they have a small weight. It is undesirable to put it on chairs or tables in the process of work, as it is easy to turn it over, as a result of which it can break and cause unpleasant injuries.

Steam can be ironed bedding, pre-hanging it. The device with a horizontal mode of operation, you can iron clothes directly on the bed. This way to refresh your bed, ironed pillows, mattress and blanket. The following point is also worth noting: since the steamer treats the fabric with steam, things will not be ready for use immediately after ironing - you have to wait a while for your shirt to dry out and then put it on. This also has a flaw. Iron, in turn, although it takes a little more time to iron, brings things to readiness immediately.

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

With regular use, steamers can become very contaminated 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, poor-quality materials of the housing of the equipment itself can be the cause of pollution. Problems such as scum, unpleasant odors or splashes of dirty water from the apparatus can be avoided by carrying out prophylaxis. It is recommended to clean the device 1–2 times a month with regular use.

You can clean the descaler at home. For this there are special solutions. As manufacturers say, it is enough to dilute them with water and pour into the apparatus, but such measures are only suitable for prevention. In fact, when faced with a serious scale problem, mechanical cleaning is necessary. For such procedures, it is required to completely disassemble the apparatus. It is advisable to use a brush for cleaning.

You can also use folk remedies for descaling and prophylactic cleaning. The most popular method is to use a mixture of vinegar and citric acid. This method is quite effective in the fight against scale. But sometimes you can face the difficulty of removing the smell of vinegar from the capacity of the apparatus. You need to know exactly what water is not suitable for your model. Pouring ordinary water from the tap, you can spoil the device. It is recommended to 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 everyday life of each family. It is necessary to approach the choice of the device very carefully not to face difficulties in operation. This article is designed to help you at least somehow sort out this issue. It is necessary to comply with the rules and safety when using a steamer: it can be very traumatic.

For how to clean the descaler, see the following video.