Choosing a steam generator for home and cleaning – how to do it correctly?

Progress does not stand still, and such a “miracle of technology” as the iron is being replaced by more advanced devices – steam generators. Modern housewives are increasingly thinking about switching to using these devices, and they are faced with a logical question - how to choose a steam generator. First of all, you need to decide for what purpose the device will be used.

If it is intended for home use, then some characteristics are taken into account, but if it is intended for regular and thorough professional use, then others are taken into account. In any case, the choice made in favor of a steam generator will significantly save the effort and time spent on ironing things and caring for some household items.

Household steam generator: purpose, functions, types

Despite the fact that a household steam generator is similar to an ordinary iron, it differs in design, operating mechanism and set of functions. Before choosing an iron with a steam generator or a clothes steamer, you should decide for what purpose you need it, Which is better, an iron or a steamer? for you personally.

Its undeniable advantage is the fact that it can perform many useful functions for the home:

1. Perfectly irons fabrics of any type and at the same time removes stains from their surface.
2. Allows you to remove most types of stains from furniture upholstery and carpeting (including wine, coffee, juice, blood stains).
3. It even cleans tiles and bathroom fixtures.

Advice: When thinking about purchasing a household steam generator for your home, you should give preference to models with a separate boiler. Although they require some time for preparation, the quality of work is high due to the highest possible steam temperature.

With all this, the process of processing products is very simple and takes a minimum of time. During the manipulation process, dry steam is produced, which cleans, disinfects and smoothes without causing damage to the surface.

Modern iron with steam generator

These can be entire steam stations and ironing systems, which consist of an iron and a boiler. They can be used at home, but they are most suitable for professional seamstresses and ironers who are constantly forced to deal with large amounts of fabric. The device is capable of performing the following functions:

• Smoothes any fabric (from underwear to outerwear) twice as fast as traditional machines.
• Removes dirt from the surface of furniture upholstery and other textiles. Eliminates not only stains, but also lint, threads, and fights unpleasant odors.
• The models are equipped with a steam supply function in a vertical position, which allows you to not even use an ironing board.
• Often, the design comes with numerous attachments and brushes that can be used when cleaning the house.

To choose an iron with a steam generator, you need to be guided not only by the set of functions it has and additional options, but also take into account the technical characteristics.It is worth considering that due to the specifics of the mechanism, after filling the container with water and connecting the device, you must wait about 5-10 minutes. This is necessary to create pressure in the boiler, ensuring an uninterrupted supply of steam.

Features of clothing steamers

Another type of steam generator that can significantly ease household chores. The device delivers a powerful jet of steam, which smoothes out any unevenness or creases on the fabric. Unlike a regular iron, a steamer does not stretch the fabric fibers, but makes them more elastic and voluminous. The steam temperature does not exceed 99ºC, so no harm is done to the material (regardless of whether it is natural or synthetic). The work is carried out in a vertical position, so you don’t have to look for a place at home for a board.

In addition to all of the above, this steam generator has several more obvious positive qualities:

1. You can start working almost immediately after turning on the steamer.
2. The device can work for a long time without interruption.
3. The functional part of the device is very light and easy to use.
4. Simultaneously with smoothing, the unpleasant odor that often comes from products that have been stored for a long time is eliminated.
5. The exposure temperature is sufficient to disinfect things, eliminate dust mites and other pathogenic microflora, and clean furniture upholstery.

When purchasing a model for your home that is not equipped with a self-cleaning system, you may encounter the problem of rapid scale formation. This can be avoided by filling the boiler with distilled water.

Features to look out for

In order to always obtain the desired degree of cleaning and smoothing of things, when choosing the optimal steam generator, special attention should be paid to the following parameters:

• Power. Many housewives try to save on this component, giving preference to low-power units. Experts and experienced home users recommend considering models with a rating of at least 2500 W.
• Features of steam supply. The higher the pressure under which the steam is supplied, the more efficient the device will operate. It is these devices that need to be considered if the steam generator is planned to be used not only for the care of clothing, but also other textiles. A huge plus is the presence of a vertical steam function.
• Water container. An option with a small tank is ideal for home use. It takes up less space and can always be refilled if necessary. It’s good if the tank body is transparent, this will allow you to easily monitor the liquid level and note the appearance of traces of scale.
• Presence of an anti-scale protection system. It is not so important what this option is presented with - a rod that collects scale, or a device informing that the boiler needs to be cleaned.
• Operation regulators. For your home, it is best to purchase a device that independently regulates the quality of steam supply, depending on the type of fabric. In extreme cases, you can get by with a device that you need to adjust yourself. Universal devices without regulators, although cheaper, cause a lot of trouble during operation.
• Safety. Quite an important requirement for an electrical device. It is good if the steam generator is equipped with an automatic shutdown function when overheating.The iron stand should be secure and not slippery.
• Weight. Do not think that the weight of the structure will not play an important role if ironing goes much faster than usual. The device must be selected so that its operation does not cause discomfort, otherwise the textile processing process will turn into torture.

Separately, you will have to consider the material from which the sole of the iron is made. Modern models are most often represented by the following options:

• Steel. Glides perfectly on any materials, is easy to care for, does not get dirty, can be cleaned without problems, and is resistant to mechanical stress. At the same time, the material is heavy and requires more time to heat up.
• Aluminum. Heats up and cools down quickly and is lightweight. Under mechanical stress, it can become covered with scratches, which will then leave damage on the fabric.
• Metal ceramics. Although such soles are distinguished by excellent gliding, rapid heating and cooling, and resistance to scratches, they are quite fragile.
• Titanium. A material that is used in expensive, high-class devices. It is durable and reliable, but takes a long time to heat up and cool down.
• Combined options. They imply a combination of two (or even more) metals, which reduces the severity of their shortcomings and activates their advantages.

In addition to all the listed points, when choosing a steam generator for your home, you should pay attention to the brand’s popularity, the availability of a warranty on the product, and external data are also often an indicator of the high quality of the system. The presence of additional nozzles in such installations and sufficient length of hoses and wires are welcome.Before purchasing a product, you should definitely try it out to make sure it is easy to use.