The majority of people will consider ironing to be a dull and boring household chore. Listening to music or watching television whilst you iron can help to reduce the tedium (a little) – but it’s still a task that most people would prefer to avoid. Any way of reducing the amount of time spent ironing would be gratefully received in the large majority of households.
Of course, you could send your clothes to the dry cleaners – or even employ a maid. There are even professional ironers who will pick up your freshly washed clothes and return them crisply pressed should you wish. However, these are all rather expensive options.
A more viable alternative (for most people at least) would be to take advantage of advances in iron design and use a steam generator iron. Whilst these may look very similar to conventional irons, they have a completely different construction – and this provides a number of positive benefits.
Steam generator irons, unlike traditional steam irons, contain no water in the iron itself. They have a large base unit which doubles as both heater and water reservoir and they produce a lot more steam – at a higher pressure – than a standard iron.
A hollow connecting hose feeds the steam from the base unit to the iron and, since it is at a high pressure, it penetrates deeply into the material of the item being pressed. The end result is that it is easier and faster to iron using a steam generator iron. The fact that no water is contained in the body of the iron also makes it lighter and somewhat easier to work with. This produces a higher quality of finish for the finished garment and reduces the amount of time required for ironing. The majority of users report reductions in ironing time in the region of 50%.
When deciding upon which steam generator iron to choose, be certain to pick one with a high steam pressure. Between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is ideal. Sometimes you will see the iron capacity stated in “grams of steam per minute” (gpm), in which case you would be well advised to pick one with a value between 70 and 120 gpm.
You should also ensure that the size of the water reservoir is sufficient – so that you don’t need to keep stopping ironing to top up the water. A removable water tank will make filling easier – and some irons have the facility to top up the reservoir whilst using the iron – which will avoid having to wait whilst the iron heats up again.
Other factors that should be taken into consideration include the material of the soleplate, the ease of use, the inclusion of some type of anti-scale system and the length of the connecting hose between the iron and the base unit.
Steam generator irons do cost a little more than standard irons. However, considering that they can cut the time you spend ironing in half – whilst simultaneously giving a better quality end result – they really do represent great value for money.
Cut your ironing time with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be surprised at how much quicker it is. Check out our steam generator iron buyer’s guide and you’ll know just what to look for.