Ironing is, quite frankly, a thankless and seemingly never ending task. You can lessen the boredom somewhat by watching TV or listening to music while you do it – but it’s still a tedious chore which very few people enjoy. Anything which could reduce the amount of time required for ironing would be very welcome in most households.
You could always send your clothes to the dry cleaners of course – or consider employing a maid. There are even companies which offer a service whereby they pick up your washed clothes and return them pressed and ironed. However, these are somewhat pricey 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.
The steam is fed to the iron using a hollow connecting hose and, because it is at high pressure, it penetrates deep into the fabric of the garment being pressed. This makes it easier – and faster – to iron. The fact that there is no water in the iron also means that it is lighter and easier to use. The net result is an improvement in the quality of the finished garment and a reduction in the amount of time spent ironing. Most users report a reduction in ironing time of around about 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 to consider include the length of the connecting hose between the base unit and the iron, the material of the soleplate, the ease of use and the inclusion of some form of anti-scale system.
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.
Reduce your ironing time with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be amazed at how much quicker it is. Check out our steam generator iron buyer’s guide and you’ll know just what to look for.