Ironing Technology

• Ironing is accomplished by heat, weight and pressure. Steam irons work by adding the element of water to the iron and the ability to release steam with a push button. A similar effect occurs when a garment is sprayed with a thin mist of water and then a hot iron is applied and moved over the surface of the garment. Steam irons do not require the garment to be sprayed with water. Instead, the water is heated through the iron and steam exits the iron on to the garment via the openings of the flat area of the iron. The result removes wrinkles quickly and shortens ironing time. Additional techniques such as lifting the iron up from the garment and tipping it slighting back toward the person ironing will send steam across the fabric and aid the ironing process. Steam relaxes the fabric and aids in the removal of the wrinkles.
  
  

Steam Iron Parts

• An iron is simply a heating element encased in the shape we all recognize as an iron. When plugged into an electrical outlet, the heating element begins to heat up and consequently heats the outer plate called the soleplate. Steam irons work the same way except they contain a reservoir filled by the user with water. The water is heated when it spills against the hot soleplate and produces steam which then exits the iron through the openings on the soleplate and on to the garment. The steam iron contains a thermostat that keeps the iron at the selected temperature. Fabric contents dictate the temperature needed to accomplish basic ironing. In a steam iron, both steam and traditional ironing methods are being used at the same time. Fabric steamers, however, use only steam to smooth clothing.
  
  

Important Features

• Steam irons can be purchased with several important features. One is an automatic shut off mechanism that turns the iron off if it is unmoved and in its flat position for too long or if the iron is on but not being used after a certain period of time. The auto shut off feature can save electricity and prevent fires and accidents from occurring. A nice addition to a steam iron is a built in spray nozzle that utilizes the water reservoir. The combination of misting a garment, releasing steam over the same area and then pushing the heated surface of the iron across it is sure to make stubborn wrinkles disappear.