Steam Press Buying Tips
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Did you know that a steam press can cut ironing time by 70%? That is because its pressing area affords greater surface contact and hotter, stronger pressure than a conventional iron.
A garment steamer, on the other hand, is essentially a hanging iron on wheels. It enables you to apply concentrated blasts of steam on a suspended article of clothing, linen, or drapery.
With an automated pant press, you're in for an easy load. Just position your trousers, select your setting, walk away and it will do the job for you while you're busy with something else.
Features are the distinguishing factors among various models. Self-cleaning cycles, water tanks which are transparent or removable, steam bursts that are extra-long or extra-strong, and the list goes on. Before you know it, you may find yourself thrown into the thick of a high-ended, feature-filled shopping spree.
But how do you determine which model genuinely matches your needs? First ask yourself how often you intend to use it, bearing in mind that the more frequent the usage, the more durable it must be. You will most likely pay for that greater durability, but it's well worth the investment. An occasional ironing job, on the other hand, hardly demands an expensive unit.
Which fabrics will you be pressing? Natural materials such as linen, cotton, and denim are tougher to make wrinkle-free. They call for special attention to steam-related features in the way of extra steam burst, water reservoir size, and spray control. Synthetics, by contrast, do fine with a less powerful unit.
Are small children wandering curiously about? A child safety lock will do much to alleviate parental concerns.
For a review of various types of steam presses, read on.
How a Steam Press Works
A steam press is a quicker, relatively effortlessway to obtain crease-less clothing. Featuring an ironing board with a large band-like device wrapped perpendicularly around the board, its surface area measures up to ten times that of a hand-held iron, and as such drastically cuts down on the length of ironing sessions. Strong pressure at high temperatures makes for a dressmaker's delight when setting fusing on cuffs, collars, and lapels.
Be sure to lay clothes as flat as possible to avoid introducing unwanted creases. Note that pants are easiest, women's blouses more difficult. If you need to iron pleats, look for a model which expressly caters to them.
A word of caution: avoid touching the hot press as you move the clothes around on the surface. If you have children, consider a version with childproof safety lock and safety alarm with auto shut-off. Did you know that you can even purchase an accessory stand for pressing clothes as you sit?
The higher price of this sort of pressing appliance may well be worth the buy.
A fabric steamer, a.k.a. garment steamer, looks something like an I.V. machine. You cart it around on wheels to doctor up your clothes. It often comes with a foot-operated switch and is used for vertical steaming of hanging materials such as curtains, coats, and anything else you have dangling in space. Simply wheel over to your hanging wardrobe and apply steam. If you're lucky, it will come with additional accessories such as lint brush, tool set, and upholstery brush.
If you need to iron countless pants, you might consider a pant press. Within 20 to 45 minutes after loading, you will have beautifully pressed trousers of any type of fabric including wool, khaki, and linen. And this, without one stitch of ironing on your part. (Imagine that!)
Steam Press Features - Full Steam Ahead
The temperature control setting may take the form of a dial, slide or electronic buttons with digital display; by consulting the fabric guide/chart, you will know how to set it. Hopefully the settings will be easy to read (which is not always the case). A thermostat provides dependable heat regulation.
The water reservoir/tank ranges in capacity. The larger the capacity, the heavier it will be when filled, but this is a real time-saver when ironing several things at once since it obviates the need for frequent refilling. Latest models feature 33-oz. capacities for up to 90 minutes of use. Is it easy to fill? Some slide forward or detach for added convenience. Many are transparent, so that you can see how much water is left.
Auto shut-off will do just that, based on position or motion cues. Motion-sensitive shut-off will shut down operation when it detects that motion has ceased.
Accessories such as a spray bottle and pressing cushion may be included.
Apparently the attention given to wrinkle-free clothing is nothing new. In India of long ago, they resourcefully took burning coconut shells to do the job. We've come a long way, too, since the first-century Chinese inventively filled metal pans with charcoal to smooth their textiles. By the 17th century, these implements had evolved into sadirons, deriving from the Middle English word for "solid". Solid triangular cast-iron slabs with handles were heated by fire and used as flat irons.
Now don't you feel down-right lucky to press your clothing with any of the convenient, sophisticated appliances described above? So go strike while the iron is hot! Use your new-found information and treat yourself.
