On the face of it, steam generator irons and traditional steam irons appear to be pretty similar. However, steam generator irons have a different construction and a different mode of operation. They use a larger base unit as both water tank and boiler – unlike a traditional steam iron there is no water in the body of the iron itself. Steam generated in the base unit is supplied to the body of the iron via a hollow tube.
Steam generator irons generally cost a little more than standard steam irons – but they have a number of advantages which more than justify this. It’s probably worthwhile taking a moment or two to review the key points to consider when choosing a steam generator iron. The main areas that you should look at when deciding which iron is best for you are water reservoir capacity, steam pressure, soleplate material and design, ease of cleaning, and overall ease of use.
PRESSURE OF STEAM: The steam drives moisture and heat into the fabric of the garment being ironed. This makes it easier to remove wrinkles and creases as it causes the fabric to become more flexible. The higher the steam pressure is, the deeper it is driven into the fabric and the better the finished results are.
Steam generator irons typically have their output stated in terms of grams of steam per minute. The greater the number, the greater the amount of steam that is produced and the easier it will be to glide the iron over the fabric. Typical values will vary from 70 to 140 grams per minutes (g/min).
Sometimes you may see the steam pressure expressed in bar. Once again, the higher the number is, the more steam that will be produced, the deeper it will penetrate the fabric and the better the results will be.
CAPACITY OF THE WATER RESERVOIR: As a rule, steam generator irons tend to have a well sized water tank. This means that you will be able to iron for quite some time before you need to refill it. The exact time will vary according to the type of fabric that you are ironing – but a 1.4 litre tank should be fine for at least two hours of ironing.
If you do a lot of ironing then you might like to consider getting one of the bigger tanks available. If your ironing board is one of the smaller ones, then you may wish to ensure that the connecting tube between the iron and the reservoir is of a length which allows the base unit to be located on the floor instead of at the end of the ironing board.
It’s worthwhile considering the ease of filling the reservoir. Some of the better steam generator irons are supplied with detachable reservoirs which make filling easier. Others include the option of filling the iron whilst it is being used – which avoids the need to switch it off and the requirement to wait whilst it heats up again after being topped up.
THE SOLEPLATE: The iron’s soleplate should be of a design and material which allows it to pass smoothly and easily over the fabric being pressed. It should be scratch resistant, durable, and easy to clean.
EASE OF CLEANING: The majority of modern irons, whether steam generator irons or conventional steam irons, use ordinary tap water. Depending upon where you live, this will typically contain a variety of different minerals – including both calcium and magnesium. This can result in scale deposits as the water is heated and evaporates.
If your house is in a hard water area, then you will definitely want to go for an iron which has some type of anti-scale system. Some iron use a special detachable anti-scale cartridge – others use water to loosen the scale and then flush it out.
USER FRIENDLINESS: As discussed, you might prefer a long connecting hose to let you position your iron on the floor as opposed to the end of the ironing board.
The majority of people will appreciate the added convenience of a removable water reservoir.
Other features, which may appeal to a greater or lesser extent to different people, might include automatically retracting power cords, easy clean soleplates, fast heat up etc.
SUMMARY: Be sure to choose a high enough steam pressure for your requirements. Select a water reservoir which is large enough so that you don’t need to keep stopping in order to top it up. Ensure that the soleplate is of a suitable material and design. If you live in a hard water area, make sure that some anti-scaling system is incorporated.
Don’t waste hours on a dull task like ironing. Cut your time in half with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll wonder how you ever got by without one.