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Is Steam Iron Good For Clothes?
Dry ironing is hard, steam ironing is easier and you can get the work done faster but is steam iron good for clothes?
Many of us hate to iron but we all want to look our best on a day to day basis and this means you want to have wrinkle free clothing when you go out in public. With a steam iron you can get your clothes wrinkle free a lot faster than if you used a dry iron.
But is using a steam iron safe on your clothing? There are some instances when a steam iron is not safe but for the most part the most commonly used types of materials will not be damaged from steam ironing at all.
When to Steam Iron vs. When to Dry Iron
There are a number of fabrics that won’t fare well with a steam iron. Knowing what these are will ensure that you don’t damage any of your clothes with your steam iron.
For example, you should never use your iron in steam mode on silk clothing items. Since most steam irons give you the ability to use them with or without water you should have no problem using your iron on your steam garments without water and thereby won’t damage your items.
This however means that you must know what silk items you have in your wardrobe so you know to never use the steam iron on them. You also want to read the care labels of your clothing before you iron them.
There may be some types of materials with some type of treatments that can be damaged if you use a steam iron on them. So you also want to read the care tag of your garment prior to ironing it with any iron whether dry or steam.
When you use a steam iron on the right types of material it will help to get the wrinkles out a lot faster and easier. This saves you time and effort and makes the task of ironing a little less tedious.
This is especially true when you have to iron multiple pieces of clothing for multiple family members. Steam irons do have the disadvantage that they may mess up your clothes.
If you don’t choose a self-cleaning iron them you will have calcium build up over time. You can avoid this by choosing a self-cleaning iron or by never using tap water in your iron.
If you take these precautions you will never have to worry about calcium deposits and flakes making a mess on your clothing after you iron them.
Types of Steam Irons
You will find regular irons and steam generator irons.
Regular Steam Iron
A regular steam iron is the typical iron you use in your home which gives you the option for dry ironing and steam ironing as well. These irons are a more affordable choice and are great for households where minimal ironing is done.
A Steam Generator Iron
This type of iron is better for larger amounts of ironing. It holds more water than your regular iron and offers a larger amount of features than your standard iron.
These irons will be more expensive than your regular steam iron. These irons will take longer to heat up but they offer pressurized steam for a more professional quality ironing experience providing better looking clothes at the end.
Pros and Cons for Home Use Irons
We all know what an iron is – a device that is handheld and has a triangular shaped soleplate which is heated and pressed against your clothes to get rid of wrinkles and creases. Irons are usually used along with an ironing board but we know sometimes when you just have a quick passover to do you simply run it over on your bed.
If you practice this, be careful you don’t damage your sheets, it is better to use an ironing board. It is easier to use with a board especially when you are ironing sleeves and pleats or ruffles as you will get a better result.
Your iron does not have to be heavy to provide you with a good quality finish. Older irons tend to be heavier but newer irons are designed to be lightweight so that they put less stress on your hands while still getting the work done effectively.
How to Get the Best out of your Iron
Here are a couple tips to help you get the most use out of your iron and to get the best quality when you are done ironing your clothes.
- Know your fabrics and what temperature is suitable for them.
- Start with a lower heat than indicated when it is your first time ironing a garment. You can move up the temperature slowly if you are not getting the desired effect. This ensures that you don’t damage the garment on your first go with ironing it.
- Choose an iron with more holes so you can get more steam coming out at the same time. You also want an iron with a steam shot button which allows you to add additional steam if the regular steaming is not getting rid of all the wrinkles or if you have a stubborn crease.
- Always check your garments care label to ensure you are using the right amount of temperature for each garment you iron.
- Wen ironing delicate fabrics or wool ensure you use an iron guard. If you don’t have an iron guard you can use a cotton sheet. All you do is place this over the garment so that the iron doesn’t come into direct contact with the material but instead will be in direct contact with the iron guard or sheet. The heat will pass through to the clothing without the iron directly touching it.
- For tough wrinkles that you cannot get rid of with regular steaming or the steam shot button, a spray of water can help. If your iron doesn’t have the spray feature you can keep a spray bottle with water close by.
- Use distilled water so that you don’t get any lime deposits that can later break off and ruin your clothes.
