Ironing machines: types, selection and application

The ironing board is a convenient invention and greatly facilitates the long and laborious process of ironing the clothes. The use of this device is especially important when working with large volumes of bed linen and home textiles, as well as for families with a large number of people.

The ironing machine was invented in the first half of the last century. It was a machine tool consisting of two rollers rotating in opposite directions, which were driven by a wheel with a handle. To work on such a unit, the presence of two people was required, one of whom guided the fabric between the rollers, and the second turned the wheel at the same time. The device was rather large and not very convenient, in addition, there was no thermal effect on the material, so a high level of smoothing was out of the question.

Ironing machines have improved over time, and have come down to this day in the form of compact and convenient electrical devices.that can be controlled by one person. Modern ironing machines are high-tech automatic devices capable of not only ironing the laundry, but also treating it with steam and drying it. The devices can quickly and efficiently iron a large amount of laundry, without restrictions on the type of fabric and its thickness.

High popularity of ironing machines due to a number of indisputable advantages of these units.

• Compared to using an iron, ironing with an ironing machine is very fast. So, it will take only 30 seconds to iron a sheet.This allows you to cope with a large amount of clothing in a short time without spending any special physical efforts.

• Working at the ironing machine can be done while sitting, which is very convenient for people who find it difficult to iron while standing.

• The use of the device is completely safe due to the presence of protective parts covering the heating elements. Thanks to the protection, getting a burn or injury is completely excluded.

• The ironing machine is capable of not only ironing clothes, but also drying things. This is very convenient and important for people living in regions with high humidity, in which drying clothes naturally is often a problem.

• Most of the devices on the market are quite compact and can be folded.

• The ability to iron several small things at the same time greatly simplifies the life of young parents and simplifies caring for a small child. In addition, thanks to the steam treatment function, it is possible to carry out a disinfecting hygienic treatment of clothes and diapers for a newborn.

• Machine ironing of things allows you to smooth and steam old creases and folds, which is not always possible with a regular iron.

Along with the obvious advantages, ironing machines still have disadvantages. First of all, they include too high a price, several times higher than the cost of an ordinary iron. In addition, many types of clothes are inconvenient to iron on the machine.

The modern household appliance market is represented by two types of ironing machines: roller and mannequin ironing machines.

The element constantly rotates and rolls the laundry on the hot surface. The second component, the shoe, is the very heating element through which the roll passes the fabric.

The shoe is located directly in front of the roll and is protected by special guards that prevent finger burns. The steam tray is designed to generate steam and humidify dry laundry. It is filled with filtered water and turned on forcibly. Most machines are suitable for both professional use and home, and differ only in the degree of automation and the size of the work surfaces.

Models "mannequin" are represented by automatic devices that follow the shape of the human body, and are quite smart. The "Mannequin" is able to change its dimensions to the size of the clothes being ironed, and it does this by the self-inflating method. The working surface of the device is made of high-quality silk, through which hot air comes out and smoothes things put on it. The device can also be used as a dryer, which allows you to iron the laundry immediately after spinning in the washing machine.

Before going to the store for an ironing machine, you need to decide on the type of appliance you need. So, if you intend to iron more items of outer and everyday clothing, then it is better to purchase a "mannequin". If the main volume of the clothes to be ironed is made up of bedding sets, curtains and bedspreads, then, undoubtedly, the choice should be stopped on the roll option.

Another metric to look at is ironing speed. For a household model, 2 m / min will be enough, while for professional equipment this figure should correspond to 4.5 m / min. You also need to pay attention to the dimensions of the unit, and if the model is purchased for the home, then it is better to opt for a small, better folding device with the ability to adjust the height. The following dimensions are considered optimal: the size of the section of the shaft is 16 cm, its length is 80 cm, the height of the device is no more than one meter. Such a roller weighs about 40 kg.

The next selection criterion is the availability of additional options, among which one can note the function of steaming overdried things, the ability to auto-shut off when overheated, and the ability to adjust the temperature and intensity of steam generation. The shaft unlock option is also convenient, and allows you to remove the laundry from the unit even in the event of a power outage.

The modern market for household appliances offers a huge amount of high-quality and multifunctional equipment, among which ironing devices are not the last.

In the first place in popularity is the German Miele HM 1683, which is the sales leader in the European market. The roller model is of medium size and equipped with silicone wheels. The roll of the device is reliably protected by special shields, completely eliminating the risk of scalding on the hot surface.

No less popular is the German dummy type device. Siemens TJ 10500... The unit has 12 operating modes and has a fairly high power of 3.4 kW. The car weighs a little, only 28 kg, and its dimensions are 36.5x45x119 cm.

In third place is the popular domestic model "Kalinka-M"with a roller design and is able to work with almost all fabrics, including silk, wool, cotton and linen.

Italian dummy model Battistella ZEUS A possesses the highest performance characteristics, but due to the high cost it is not such a purchased product. The price of some modifications reaches 5 thousand dollars, which puts the device in the category of the elite class. The model is equipped with a steam generator, manual and electronic control, 16 programs and a set of auxiliary clamps and stretch marks. The device is capable of operating in hot and cold blowing modes and has a powerful pump. The weight of the "mannequin" is about 135 kg, the height reaches 160 cm, and the width is 58 cm.

And completes the top five Czech Ironnette 85... The roller device has 5 thermal modes, and is able to change the ironing speed. The performance of the model reaches 10 kg of linen per hour, the diameter of the shaft is 18 cm, and its length reaches 85 cm.

For successful ironing on the ironing machine, you need to familiarize yourself with a number of general recommendations. Before proceeding to smoothing, you must carefully read the information on the label. So, if, among other symbols, there is a crossed-out iron, then such a product cannot be ironed either with an iron or on an ironing machine. If there is no such designation, then the clothes should be well prepared before starting ironing. To do this, straighten all deep folds, straighten the inner pockets and straighten the bent corners.

It is not recommended to use roller models for ironing jackets and coats.

Judging by consumer reviews, an ironing machine is not a basic necessity, and its purchase can only be advisable in large families, when there is a need to constantly iron a huge amount of bedding and clothes.

Of the minuses, the imperfection of the device and the impossibility of high-quality ironing of clothes are noted. In addition, if the laundry was poorly straightened before being fed onto the roller, then the ironed folds can be very difficult to smooth out later. In such cases, you have to completely wet the thing, dry it and re-iron it. As for the dummy devices, they are mainly used by workers in ateliers, sewing factories and wardrobe. These units are assessed as very convenient, and there are no particular complaints about them.

You will learn more about the use of ironing machines in the video below.