Ironing system — the right choice

Until recently, only one iron with a built-in steam generator was enough to iron clothes. When it first appeared on store shelves, customers’ delight knew no bounds: no spraying, just pour in water, press a button and get excellent steam.

The iron ironed efficiently, leaving no unevenness, smoothed out even the most difficult areas, and everyone, in general, was happy.

But times tend to change, progress is progressing by leaps and bounds, and now alternatives to the old-fashioned steam iron have begun to appear in household appliance stores: ironing systems, ironing presses and steam stations.

Let’s figure out whether it’s worth changing the familiar old for the unusual new.

So what is this ironing system? This is a set consisting of three elements: an iron, a steam generator and an ironing board. An analogue of such a system, only without an ironing board, will be called a steam station. The main difference is not only in composition, but also in price: as a rule, the second set costs less than the first. Let’s start with him.

A description of the advantages of a steam station over an iron can be heard from experts working in the studio. During the working day in any workshop, the iron works non-stop, which wears out the rubber valve for the steam supply of the iron.

This will not happen with the station, since in its case the steam supply occurs automatically, and there is no need for such a valve. The second advantage is the reservoir.

The volume of the liquid container in the iron is quite small and therefore it has to be changed frequently, which can lead to leaks. The volume of the steam system container is about three liters.

The problem of frequent replacement disappears by itself. Another advantageous feature of a steam station is the constant powerful pressure under which steam is supplied. This is especially important if you are ironing a product made of cloth or pure wool. A steam iron, alas, will not provide the proper pressure.

When purchasing an iron with a separate steam generator, rely on the sole material. The best option is stainless steel, which is resistant to zippers and locks. Also try to choose the optimal volume of the water tank (as a rule, the smaller the volume, the lower the power of the iron).

Now let’s talk about ironing systems. Let us make a reservation once again that the kit of such a system includes an iron, a generator and an ironing board. Typically, the iron in such a set is mounted on legs or under a board.

The fundamental difference between the system is the material from which the board is made. Since the steam generator in such a system is quite powerful, a wooden board can simply swell, so the board in such a set looks like a special structure with a mesh-like coating that can allow steam and moisture to pass through.

In expensive models, the boards are even equipped with an air supply function so that the fabric does not stick to the board covering, or are able to create a vacuum that presses the fabric to the board to prevent it from moving to the side.

The board also has a heating function (up to 90 degrees). This allows the moisture on the other side of the item to evaporate faster, and it becomes easier to iron the fabric, and the result becomes more effective.

The third type of ironing system is called an ironing press. In its general purpose, the press was designed to secure clothing parts with some kind of adhesive fabrics or materials. In this regard, this installation has no equal, since, with all its power, the iron from the sets described above is not able to glue any area.

At home, a press will be useful to you only if you are seriously involved in tailoring, since some operations are simply impossible to perform without this device and there are no alternatives.

Like an ironing board, a press can add steam to the surface of your clothing. In addition, it is not recommended to iron knitted items, as they can stretch, but a press is ideal for them.

Let’s summarize briefly. The main difference between a standard steam iron and professional units is the power. The latter were developed specifically for ateliers through which large flows of clothing pass, and the need for them is determined by the volume of work.

However, if you have a large family or often iron a large number of items of clothing or bedding, such systems will be useful for you. They cost more than a regular iron, but they also produce larger results and higher quality.

In addition, they will break down less often, since, due to their scale, they do not require frequent water changes or frequent switching to steam mode. These are the differences between ironing systems today. Is it worth buying some kind of powerful ironing system, or is there no need for it at home? It’s up to you to decide.