Is a Steam Generator Iron Right For You?

!±8± Is a Steam Generator Iron Right For You?

Ironing can sometimes seem like a never ending chore. For most people it's a necessary evil at best. Listening to music or watching TV whilst you do it can reduce the boredom a little - but it's still a dull and monotonous chore which few enjoy. Any method of cutting the amount of time required for ironing would be gratefully received in most households.

You could send your clothes to the dry cleaners for cleaning and pressing - or even employ a maid. Professional ironing services exist who will collect your freshly washed clothes from your house and return them after ironing them if you wish. However, these are all rather expensive options.

A more realistic option for most people would be to use modern technology to their advantage by using a steam generator iron. Whilst they may, at first glance at least, be fairly similar in appearance to traditional steam irons, they have an entirely different construction - and this provides a number of positive benefits.

Unlike conventional steam irons, steam generator irons have no water in the iron itself. They have a large base unit which serves as both water tank and boiler and the generate much 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, as it is at high pressure, it penetrates the fabric of the garment being pressed deeply. This makes it easier - and faster - to iron. As there is no water in the iron, it is lighter and easier to handle. The end result is a better quality finished garment and a big reduction in the time spent ironing. Most users report a reduction in ironing time of around about 50%.

When selecting a steam generator iron, be certain to choose one with a suitably high steam pressure. Somewhere between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is good. You will also see the steam output stated as grams of steam per minute (gpm). An output of somewhere between 70 and 120 gpm is advisable.

The capacity of the water tank is a further important consideration. Make sure that you pick one with a suitably sized tank so that you don't need to stop too often to top up the water level. A tank of at least 1.4 litres is desirable.

Other factors that should be considered include the soleplate material, the usability, 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 tend to have a slightly higher ticket price than conventional 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 excellent value for money.