Ironing is a household task most people do. Whether it is your clothes, your family’s clothes, or your family’s clothes again, everyone needs to iron something!
Ironing is a fundamental skill every person should know. While it may seem simple, there are many tricks and features that make ironing easier. This includes the right temperature, what kind of iron to use, and how to best press your garments.
The first thing you will want to do is set your temperature. Most experts recommend using a medium temperature for cotton garments. Setting the temperature too high can cause burnt spots in your clothing, and too low can cause wrinkles to stay.
The next tip is choosing the right iron for the job. There are many types of irons, so if one does not work then maybe you need to try another one? Check out some reviews online to see what works best!
Lastly, how to best press your garment depends on what it is made of. If it is made of velvet or fleece, do not use an iron on it at all! Let them dry flat instead.
Dual spray iron
When you are working with linens, you want to make sure that you get all the wrinkles out. If you do not, the linen will look dull and old.
A dual spray iron works by having a button that when pressed, releases water onto the cloth. This helps wet out the cloth before you start to iron it.
When the button is held down, it heats up the iron which helps to smooth out the wrinkles already in the linen. The two working together quickly and efficiently get the linen ready to be used!
Linen is a tough material to work with so having an iron that can keep up is important. A good quality iron will last several years if taken care of. Buying an affordable one will help you spend less money in the long run.
I recommend looking for an iron that has a ceramic plate instead of a metal one. This helps prevent burn marks on the cloth being ironed.
Self-cleaning
A self-cleaning function is another important feature to look for in an iron. Most manufacturers include this feature in their higher-end models, but it is not a foolproof function.
You should always test out any self-clean function on a small area to make sure it works correctly. If it does not, then you risk burning through tons of patches of fabric while trying to get rid of embedded dirt.
A self-clean function works by the iron heating up and then spraying a water solution onto the bottom of the iron. This allows dust and grime to be swept away while the iron cools down.
Some also have special features that shake out extra dirt and grime while the self-clean mode is running.
Auto shut-off
Another important feature in any professional steam iron is the auto shut-off feature. When this feature is present, the iron will shut off after a certain number of seconds of inactivity.
This is fantastic for when you are finished with your ironing task. The iron will shut off and not continually heat up, wasting energy. Once you are ready to start your next task, the iron will turn back on very quickly to heat up!
Many irons now have a special setting just for linen garments. Linen is a natural fiber that wrinkles easily which can make keeping your clothes looking fresh and clean difficult. The special setting on the iron helps to protect the texture of the linen by not over heating it while pressing.
Check if your desired iron has this setting and if so, buy it! You will be helping yourself and saving yourself time and energy in the long run.
Durable stainless steel plate
When choosing an iron, the plate material is a significant factor. Most plates are made of stainless steel, but higher-end models may add titanium or ceramics.
Stainless steel plates are very reliable and work well for many people. However, if you have hard water, you may experience some wear and tear on the plate from the dissolved minerals. This can lead to rust and a poor appearance of the plate.
TiN-coated plates help reduce this effect as well as improve durability and longevity of the iron. Ceramic plates are very hard so you get more uses out of one wash cycle before having to replace it.
The size and shape of the plate can also affect how well the item is pressed. Larger areas of contact will take more time to press through due to more resistance.
Wide 1.25” opening
When choosing an iron, consider how wide the opening is. Most models have a narrow bottom, which makes it difficult to properly press bed sheets and other heavy fabrics.
You want to be able to place the fabric completely flat on the bottom of the iron so that it can be properly pressed. The Black & Decker Digital Advantage Professional Steam Iron has a wide 1.25” opening which makes it perfect for pressing all types of fabric!
Other features include automatic shut-off, adjustable temperature settings, and continuous steam output up to 45 seconds. The last feature is helpful when pressing thicker or heavier fabrics as it keeps the iron from cooling down too quickly.
360-degree rotating cord holder
When you are working with your iron, your cord may sometimes get in the way. A great feature you can look for is a 360-degree rotating cord holder.
This helps keep your cord organized so you do not have to worry about misplacing it or having to re-position it. You can simply set it down on the side of the ironing board and it will stay put.
The cord holder usually consists of a circular plate with holes in it. The plate is attached to the end of the cord and rotates freely, allowing you to set it in any direction on the ironing board. This makes it easier to organize the cords and ensure they do not get tangled.
25-foot long power cord
When working with any kind of iron, a long power cord is a must. You do not want to be limited in movement or distance due to a short cord.
Many professional models have 25-foot long cords, so this is another indication that this is a professional grade iron. You will be able to freely move and glide the iron without worry of it falling off the edge of the plate or having to re-plug it.
The longer the cord, the better! Even though this is not necessarily important for everyday use, it is for professional users that need all the extra length.
The length of the cord contributes to better professional use because you are able to move more freely with it. Not having to re-plug it constantly due to moving around also helps prevent any damage or burns.
4-oz water tank capacity
When you look at professional-grade iron models, you will notice that most have a slightly larger water tank capacity than standard models.
This is because professional-grade models typically require a bit more steam to ensure your garments are completely smooth. The extra steam takes some time to generate, which requires a bit more water to saturate the dry cloth.
The average water tank capacity for professional-grade irons is approximately 4 ounces. This provides enough steam to complete typical tasks without having to re-fill the tank too frequently.
If you are someone that likes to iron for long periods of time, then we suggest getting an iron with a slightly higher capacity tank.
