Buyers Guide - Irons
Wrinkle-free fabric may be one answer to wearing wrinkle-free garments, but an iron can cater to all fabrics, whether it's wool, nylon, polyester or cotton. What's more, you have your pick of models to suit your needs.
A dry iron uses only heat to iron out wrinkles. Since it doesn't produce steam, ironing can take a little longer to complete. However, a dry iron is considerably cheaper than a steam iron and is very easy to use. Just adjust the heat and iron.
Advantages
A steam iron relies on steam and heat to do the job. You pour in water into a tank while heat releases steam through holes in the soleplate. Combined with variable temperature settings, clothes ironed with a steam iron can look very wrinkle-free. However, steam irons are more expensive than dry irons and are more complicated to use.
Advantages
Some irons combine both features of a dry and steam iron. This means you can use the dry function or the steam function as and when required. Most models add a third function called spray for those times when you want to smooth more stubborn wrinkles.
Advantages
Not everyone may need a standard size iron, which can also be troublesome to carry when travelling. Not so with portable irons, however, which are smaller, lighter and compact. They may not work as quickly as standard size irons yet they get the job done pretty well. You can find dry, steam or dry & steam models.
Advantages
Soleplates can be made of different materials and each has its pros and cons. For instance, steel is cheap and doesn't corrode easily. However, it can stick to fabric over time. Ceramic, on the other hand, doesn't stick but there can be problems if the coating peels. What you should do is look for an iron that a warranty that also covers the soleplate.
It's easy to forget this factor when shopping for an iron, but a cord that's long allows you much more room to move about. One with a pivot base will also prevent tangles.
Most irons come with one or two years warranty. When selecting a product, read the warranty to see what components are covered.
Ironing accidents usually occur due to the fault of the user. However, there are important safety features you should look for such as an auto shut-off feature that kicks in when the iron is left unused or upright for long.
Some steam irons work only with distilled water. Check to see if your product of choice can work with tap water.
Weighty irons have the benefit of pressing down on clothes to iron them better, but they can be tiring to use. If it's a steam iron, consider how much heavier it'll be when filled with water.
The anti-drip feature in a steam or combination iron prevents water from leaking out when ironing or otherwise.
Though most irons today have a range of temperature and fabric settings, it's still wise to check for the same.