Shirt steamer

Over the past decades, most household processes have been so automated that they now require a minimal human presence. However, the ironing did not undergo significant changes. And in recent years, “ice has broken”: an alternative to the iron appeared on the market - steamers and ironing mannequins. They represent a fundamentally new approach to ironing things:

• no need for an ironing board;
• the range of use is much wider than that of the iron;
• more careful attitude to tissues.

But advanced technology has a rather high price, which sometimes becomes the main stumbling block when buying. And if a shirt steamer can already often be found in the homes and apartments of ordinary citizens, ironing mannequins, due to the cost, can only be acquired by large organizations or people with good incomes. Let's understand in more detail how good these modern devices are, and what exactly you should pay attention to when buying them.

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The principle of operation of the steamer

Any steamer consists of:

• water containers;
• cases with the built-in TEN;
• steam supply tubes;
• sprinkler iron.

Important! First, water from the tank is supplied to the heating element, and then, turning into steam, through the tube enters the sprayer. Getting on clothes, hot steam causes the fibers to get wet and crack.

So that things always look neat, wear out less and do not require tremendous efforts when ironing, you need to wash them correctly. Our recommendations from the articles will help you with this:

• How to wash shirts by hand?
• How to wash shirts in a washing machine?

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Advantages and disadvantages of steamers

First of all, a professional shirt steamer was adopted by clothing stores, rental salons, cleaning agencies, sports clubs, hotels, and only later did such devices begin to appear in ordinary houses.

What are the advantages of the steamer?

1. You can iron and clean those things that are completely beyond the “power” of the iron. These are fur coats, down jackets, “shaggy” sweaters, dresses with sophisticated drapery or beading, sequins. Also, using a steamer, it will be much easier for you pat jacket.
2. It can smooth very delicate fabrics without the risk of damaging them.
3. After steaming, there is no shiny gloss and creases on the clothes, like from an iron. It, on the contrary, looks like new: it becomes dull and takes on a more voluminous, airy shape.
4. Unable to burn fabric.
5. Not only strokes, but also cleans. Water vapor, penetrating the fabric under pressure, carries with it particles of dust, pollen or spots.
6. If after a single wear your clothes have lost a little freshness, but it is too early to send them to the wash, then with the help of a steamer for shirts you can easily update them.
7. Disinfects things. Hot steam will help to clean children's toys, sofas, pillows.
8. With some skill, you can iron a thing five times faster than an iron. That is why often steamers “work” in theatrical troupes or at fashion shows.

Important! A shirt steamer, like any other, is much smaller than an iron, damaging fabric fibers, which means things will last longer.

9. No special vertical ironing surface needed.

Disadvantages of the steamer:

1. Cannot smooth arrows.
2. It is inconvenient to smooth out a large amount of bed linen, since it needs to be hung somewhere vertically. But one set can be processed immediately on the bed.
3. Underwear, T-shirts are much more convenient to iron with an iron.
4. Not everyone is satisfied with the quality of processing, even with a professional steamer for shirts, small parts such as collars, pockets and trims.
5. It is more convenient to make arrows on clothes with an iron.

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Manual or stationary steamer?

If you have definitely decided to buy a steamer for shirts, it is important to set goals correctly and decide which device is better - manual or stationary.

Manual steamer - advantages:

1. Small and compact. Such a device is often taken on a business trip or trip.
2. Manual steamer is cheaper than stationary.
3. Some models can be used as electric kettle or inhaler.

Disadvantages:

1. Low power. Such a device will qualitatively straighten a shirt, blouse or trousers, but will hardly cope with denim, drape or cashmere.

Important! If you have only a few things that require careful care, you should not buy an expensive floor device - a manual steamer will be enough for you.

2. Small capacity - an average of 200 ml, designed for a maximum of 15 minutes of operation. During this time, you will manage to process 1-2 things.
3. Most models do not have a steam intensity adjustment.
4. After 30 minutes of continuous operation, the device must be allowed to rest.

Important! A full-tank shirt steamer must not be rotated horizontally. Otherwise, you may get a burn.

Stationary steamer - advantages:

1. A sufficiently spacious water tank allows you to work continuously for 1-2 hours.
2. Most models have adjustable steam intensity.
3. They can straighten fur and “heavy” fabrics.
4. A long tube makes it easy to process curtains and tulle, without removing them from the curtain rods.
5. The presence of a rod on which you can attach the shoulders.

Important! The disadvantages of such models include the cost and the need to allocate a special place for their placement in the apartment.

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Power or intensity of steam?

When choosing a steamer for professional shirts, many buyers, first of all, pay attention to power. Indeed, the more watts indicated on the device, the better.

However, the most important indicator that affects the quality of ironing is the steam supply rate. It, in turn, is directly related to power. It is indicated in grams per minute, and the higher it is, the:

• the steamer will successfully cope with a higher tissue density;
• less time you spend on processing one product.

Important! For a business image, much matters. If you just started wearing clothes in this style, take note of useful tips that will help you always look dignified and appropriate in any situation:

• How to determine shirt size?
• How to choose a tie for a shirt?
• How to choose socks for trousers and shoes?

Now on the market there are models with such indicators of steam supply intensity:

1. Up to 20 ml / min are manual steamers.
2. 20-25 ml / min - low-cost devices that can smooth out mostly only casual clothes. As a rule, they work only in one mode.
3. 30-50 ml / min - quite nimble aggregates that successfully cope with most of the tasks. In such models, as in the previous group, steam rises by gravity from the heating element to the ironing - by the principle of a kettle.
4. 55 ml / min - the latest generation pump steamers. Steam is supplied to them under pressure.During operation, the iron in such devices can be placed both vertically and horizontally, without risking to get a puddle on clothes.

Important! The maximum steam intensity of the most advanced professional steamers for shirts is 55 ml / min. Even if the technical know-how will allow the release of devices with a high rate, this will not be necessary, since the clothes will simply get wet as a result.

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Additional options when choosing a steamer

In addition to the main parameters, there are some characteristics that no longer affect the performance of the device, but on how convenient the selected steamer for shirts will be.

Water tank volume

The maximum continuous operation time with the device directly depends on the volume of the water tank. Floor steamers can be from 1 to 3.2 liters capacity.

Important! For comfortable work at home, a 1.5-liter tank is enough. A professional shirt steamer is best taken at maximum volume.

Steam Iron Material

The iron, or rather its sole, from which the steam is supplied, can be made of the following materials:

• plastic;
• ceramics;
• metal.

Important! When exposed to a cold surface, steam may spray. Therefore, it is preferable to buy a steamer with a metal iron - it heats up faster.

Also, an additional heater, mounted in the sole of the steam iron, helps to avoid splashing. As a rule, they are equipped with pump-action steamers for shirts.

Hose length

In principle, the longer the hose, the better. You should especially pay attention to this if you plan to steam the curtains without removing them.

Important! Too long a hose can play a trick on you: in gravity-fed models, steam intensity will drop and condensation will form on the iron, due to temperature loss. Therefore, it is still the best steamer for shirts - with an average cord length, based on the features of the ironing process in your home.

Operating modes

It is logical to assume that delicate fabrics should be treated with steam of lower intensity, and for “heavy” materials full power is needed. Therefore, some steamers have several operating modes - there can be from two to five.

By the way, inexpensive models do not have adjustment, since their steam intensity index is already quite low.

Important! The fact of having different operating modes is especially important when choosing professional steamers for shirts, for example, for ateliers or shops. For home use, you can purchase a device without a steam intensity regulator, as many housewives note that they do not use this function and smooth all clothes at maximum power.

Water quality

Some models of steamers are equipped with special cleaning filters. Due to this, they can safely fill the tap water. However, most low-cost models do not have a filtration system, which is why they are very sensitive to water quality.

Important! In order to prevent white deposits or stains on the fabric and on the device’s capacity after processing, distilled water or special irons should be poured into steamers without filters.

If you plan to often smooth out a lot of clothes, it is better to buy a more expensive model with a cleaning system - then you will save a lot more without using special water.

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Ironing mannequins: professional and domestic

Of course, a steamer for shirts makes ironing easier, but you still need a constant presence of a person. The most automated fabric straightening devices are ironing mannequins. They can:

• smooth clothes through a strong cold air stream;
• dry and straighten wet products - hot air is used.

Principle of operation

1. First choose the appropriate inflatable dummy. It can be for shirts or for trousers.

Important! The inflatable part of the mannequin is made of fabric that allows air to pass through and is treated with a special solution to prevent moisture from getting inside.

2. Then pull the clothes to the surface and carefully fix with clamps so that it holds the desired shape.
3. Straighten all folds and creases. Where necessary - pull the fabric.
4. It remains only to turn on the ironing mannequin and wait 5-20 minutes.

Advantages of ironing mannequins:

1. Iron and dry clothes at the same time.
2. Do not require constant human involvement.
3. They can work with different types of fabrics, from silk to jeans.
4. One mannequin can be used for clothes of different sizes: from children’s 38 to large adults 58.
5. Long time of continuous work:
   • mannequins for home can be ironed for 1-2 hours daily;
   • professional devices that have a powerful inflatable engine are able to work 8-16 hours a day.
6. Respect for tissues.

Disadvantages:

1. High price.
2. In many models, clothing must be wet.
3. Ironing quality is inferior to iron. Therefore, quite often an inflatable mannequin for outerwear and a steamer for shirts are included in the kit.

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5 best steamer models

If you have not yet decided on the choice, perhaps the rating of the most popular models will come to your aid. When compiling it, functionality, price, customer reviews and sellers opinions were taken into account.

Kromax Odyssey Q-405

An excellent model for the home, which combines the compactness of a manual steamer and the power of a stationary:

• light weight - only 2 kg;
• power 1350 W and steam intensity 30 ml / min allow you to work with a variety of tissues;
• 2 m power cord provides comfortable operation;
• 600 ml water tank provides continuous operation for 20 minutes.

Important! Among the advantages, users note an excellent price-quality ratio, and as a disadvantage - the short length of the steam hose (1.2 m).

Maxwell MW-3704 VT

Little helper on trips and at home. The main advantages of this steamer:

1. Compact.
2. Convenient and easy to use.
3. Low price.

Important! With a steam intensity of only 20 ml / min and a capacity of 200 ml, he certainly can not compete with floor models, but at the same time such a steamer for shirts will do its job well.

Super Jet 100A

If you have a limited budget, but there is a need with a steamer with a high steam intensity, take this model - you will not lose. For a fairly modest price, you get a power of 2000 W and a steam flow of 50 ml / min.

Important! Some users note that the actual figures are slightly lower. But the shirt steamer does its job well, and you may just have to spend a little more time ironing than you would expect.

Additional characteristics of the unit:

1. The capacity of the tank is 1.5 liters. This is quite enough for ordinary ironing things at home.
2. A metal iron is a definite plus.
3. The number of operating modes is 1. But for that kind of money, this is quite expected.
4. A large number of additional accessories.

Philips GC670 / 05

Multifunctional steamer for shirts professional from a European manufacturer.

Among the advantages of this model should be noted:

1. The presence of five operating modes.
2. The metal iron.
3. Pretty quick warm-up - in just 30 seconds the device is fully ready for use.
4. A capacious tank of 2.1 liters allows you to use the steamer both at home and in a clothing store or atelier.
5. The steam flow rate is 40 ml / min, which is pretty good for that price.
6. Foot switch on the case.
7. Double telescopic stand.
8. Four additional nozzles, including for folds.

Important! As a drawback, users note a poor-quality braid of the steam supply hose, as well as the fact that sometimes hot drops drip from the iron.

Rowenta IS 6300

Stylish steamer from a famous international brand.

The main characteristics of the unit:

1. The main highlight is a vertical ironing board made of a material in the form of a mesh, which makes the steaming process more comfortable and faster.
2. A capacious 2.5 ml / min tank is enough for continuous operation for 1.5 hours.
3. A hose length of 1.5 m does not constrain movements.
4. Ability to use tap water.
5. Foot control.
6. Additional nozzles, including for delicate fabrics and furniture.

Important! Among the shortcomings can be noted the plastic sole of the iron and not very large steam intensity - 30 ml / min.

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Stock footage

Now you know what characteristics and details to look for in the store when choosing a steamer for professional or household shirts. And remember that the best steamer is one that fully meets your needs and expectations for the price.