Juice Report

Whilst it may be a mundane piece of equipment, and one to which most people would give very little thought, a good ironing board is an essential item for any household. Choose the wrong one and you could wind up with poorly ironed clothes, spend more time than you need to ironing and even give yourself a bad back.

Nowadays, the majority of people use steam irons – or even steam generator irons which are growing in popularity due to the fact that they can reduce the amount of time required for ironing. For both of these types of irons an ironing board which has a surface of open mesh construction is desirable. The mesh structure allows the steam to pass through the board, which helps to avoid condensation and soggy garments and ironing board covers when ironing large amounts of items.

The ironing board cover should be as smooth as possible to make ironing easier. It should be well secured and have no tendency to slip. An elasticated cover which incorporates one or two cross ties will usually suffice and will not slide around on you when you’re doing your ironing. A nice shiny metalised cover will also reflect heat from the iron back into the garment and will help to remove creases from the underside of the material whilst the top surface is being pressed.

The type of items that you intend to iron will play an important role in determining the size and shape of the board for you. A small board will be easier to store – but will typically require you to position the garment that you’re pressing more often. Picking a large board is usually the best choice – but make sure it has a good taper on the pointed end. This will make it easier to get into corners – the corners of blouses and shirts, collars etc.

Scissor action legs which allow you to adjust the height of the board are pretty much standard these days. Make sure that you set the board height at a level that’s comfortable for you and doesn’t strain your back. If you’re the only one who irons (I bet you are) then a position marker is always useful. If you like to sit down whilst ironing then choose a board which has curved legs so that your knees don’t bang against the legs when you’re sitting down. Whatever type of legs you go for, they should provide good support and give you a stable platform to iron upon. A broad T-piece foot or splayed feet joined by a connecting bar usually works well.

The support for the iron itself should be sturdy enough to take the weight of the iron. Wire type extension platforms are usually okay for standard steam irons. The extra weight presented by a steam generator iron may mean that a longer board which just features a heat resistant plate on a slightly extended surface is better. Alternatively, the base unit of steam generator irons may be positioned on the floor – as long as the connecting hose between base unit and iron is long enough to permit this.

A Tefal steam generator iron – will cut your ironing time in half. You’ll wonder how you ever got by without one.

The domestic water supply to the majority of homes is “hard water”. Hard water is simply a definition used to describe water which has a fairly high concentration of minerals dissolved in it. Calcium and magnesium are the two most important minerals. There is, according to the World Health Organisation, absolutely no health risk associated with hard water. However, it can have an effect on the operating efficiency and useful lifetime of a number of different household appliances.

Hard water supply can lead to a build up of mineral deposits, sometimes known as “scale”, in heating systems, water pipes and a variety of small household appliances. Household equipment which uses hot or boiling water, steam irons, kettles, washing machines, coffee makers, dishwashers, etc. – are especially prone to this. This is a result of the fact that heating hard water releases many of the minerals which then reform as scale. Central heating systems and hot water boilers may also be affected.

There are a number of different variables which influence how much scale is generated. The temperature of the water is one of the strongest influencing factors on this process. More scale is produced at higher temperatures. Running dishwashers and washing machines at a lower temperature setting will reduce the amount of scale produced and help to ensure that these appliances continue to operate efficiently and have an extended working life. Using soaps and detergents which have an anti-scaling agent included will also help.

With appliances such as kettles, coffee makers and steam irons, it’s not really practical to operate at lower temperatures. However, some kettles include filters – which can help to prevent various minerals getting into the sensitive heater elements. Many modern irons now come complete with removable anti-scale traps which gather the scale deposits for easy cleaning just by flushing it under running water. It’s also possible to get a variety of anti-scale chemicals and cleaners which can be used to clean your appliances periodically.

Although there are no health problems associated with a hard water supply, many people will dislike the resulting taste of hot drinks or boiled and steamed food. On the other hand, some people actually prefer the taste of tea that is made using hard water to that made using soft water – it is, in the truest sense of the word, a matter of taste. If you don’t like the taste of your hot drinks and food, then you can make use of a water filter. A simple, but effective, jug filter will work – or you could install an under sink or whole house filter if you prefer.

It may seem like an inconvenience, but it’s well worth the effort to counter the effects of a hard water supply. In addition to the improved operational efficiency of your domestic appliances, use of the correct detergents and the selection of a lower operating temperature, combined with scale removal from time to time, will save you money by extending the life of your appliances.

Cut out the boredom of long ironing sessions with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be amazed at how much time you can save.

Ironing is, quite frankly, a thankless and seemingly never ending task. You can lessen the boredom somewhat by watching TV or listening to music while you do it – but it’s still a tedious chore which very few people enjoy. Anything which could reduce the amount of time required for ironing would be very welcome in most households.

Of course, you could send your clothes to the dry cleaners – or even employ a maid. There are even professional ironers who will pick up your freshly washed clothes and return them crisply pressed should you wish. However, these are all rather expensive options.

A more viable alternative (for most people at least) would be to take advantage of advances in iron design and use a steam generator iron. Whilst these may look very similar to conventional irons, they have a completely different construction – and this provides a number of positive benefits.

Unlike a conventional steam iron, a steam generator iron has no water in the iron itself. Instead it uses a base unit which acts as both a water reservoir and heater. This produces a good deal more steam than a standard iron – and the steam is at a higher pressure.

The steam is fed to the iron using a hollow connecting hose and, because it is at high pressure, it penetrates deep into the fabric of the garment being pressed. This makes it easier – and faster – to iron. The fact that there is no water in the iron also means that it is lighter and easier to use. The net result is an improvement in the quality of the finished garment and a reduction in the amount of time spent ironing. Most users report a reduction in ironing time of around about 50%.

When deciding upon which steam generator iron to choose, be certain to pick one with a high steam pressure. Between 4.5 and 5.0 bar is ideal. Sometimes you will see the iron capacity stated in “grams of steam per minute” (gpm), in which case you would be well advised to pick one with a value between 70 and 120 gpm.

You should also ensure that the size of the water reservoir is sufficient – so that you don’t need to keep stopping ironing to top up the water. A removable water tank will make filling easier – and some irons have the facility to top up the reservoir whilst using the iron – which will avoid having to wait whilst the iron heats up again.

Other factors that should be taken into consideration include the material of the soleplate, the ease of use, the inclusion of some type of anti-scale system and the length of the connecting hose between the iron and the base unit.

It’s true that steam generator irons tend to cost a little bit more than conventional steam irons. However, bearing in mind the fact that they can halve the amount of time that you need to spend ironing – as well as giving you better finished garments – you may well think that they are excellent value for money.

Ironing is a thankless task at best. Cut it down to size with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much time you are able to save.

Steam generator irons and conventional steam irons look quite similar at first glance – especially the iron part itself. However, steam generator irons are constructed quite differently and have a different mode of operation. They employ a separate base unit which acts as both boiler and water tank. The body of the iron contains no water. Steam is passed from the base unit into the iron using a flexible connecting tube.

Steam generator irons do tend to cost a little more than traditional steam irons – but they offer several advantages to the user. It’s worthwhile taking a little time to consider the important points before you decide which one to buy. The key things to look at when comparing steam generator irons are steam pressure, the capacity of the water reservoir, the soleplate, how easy it is to clean and the overall ease of use.

PRESSURE OF STEAM: The steam drives moisture and heat into the fabric of the garment being ironed. This makes it easier to remove wrinkles and creases as it causes the fabric to become more flexible. The higher the steam pressure is, the deeper it is driven into the fabric and the better the finished results are.

As a rule, steam generator irons will have their output capacity noted in terms of grams of steam per minute (g/min). The higher this number is, the more steam is produced and the easier (and faster) it will be to use the iron. Typical values will range from 70 to 140 grams per minute.

Sometimes you may see the steam pressure expressed in bar. Once again, the higher the number is, the more steam that will be produced, the deeper it will penetrate the fabric and the better the results will be.

WATER RESERVOIR SIZE: Steam generator irons normally have a generously sized water tank. This means that you will be able to do a fair bit of ironing before you need to top up the water. The exact duration will vary based upon the type of fabric being ironed – but you should get a couple of hours of ironing out of a 1.4 litre tank.

If you plan on doing a lot of ironing, then you might be well advised to select an iron which has a larger tank. If you have a small ironing board then make sure that the length of the connecting hose between the water reservoir and the iron is long enough so that you can position the base unit on the floor rather than having to put it up on the board.

It’s also worth considering how easy it is to fill the reservoir. Many of the better steam generator irons have removable reservoirs to make filling easier. It’s a lot better than messing around with jugs of water. Some also have the facility to top up the reservoir even when the iron is in use – which avoids you having to disconnect it and then wait for it to heat up again after filling.

THE SOLEPLATE: The design and material of the soleplate should be such that it glides smoothly across the surface of a variety of different fabrics. It should be durable, scratch resistant and easy to clean. Soleplates with ceramic coatings are very popular these days and are always a good choice.

EASE OF CLEANING: Most modern irons, whether standard steam irons or steam generator irons, use plain old tap water. Depending upon the water supply in your area, this will usually contain a number of different mineral – including both magnesium and calcium. This can cause scale deposits which will reduce the efficiency of your iron if left untreated.

If you have a hard water supply in your area, then an iron with some type of anti-scale system is essential. Some irons flush the scale out with water. Others have a detachable anti-scale cartridge for ease of cleaning.

USER FRIENDLINESS: As discussed, you might prefer a long connecting hose to let you position your iron on the floor as opposed to the end of the ironing board.

A removable water reservoir is also something that most people will find convenient.

Other features, which you may or may not find appealing, include automatically rewinding power cords, fast heat up systems, easy clean soleplates etc.

SUMMARY: Be sure to choose a high enough steam pressure for your requirements. Select a water reservoir which is large enough so that you don’t need to keep stopping in order to top it up. Ensure that the soleplate is of a suitable material and design. If you live in a hard water area, make sure that some anti-scaling system is incorporated.

Cut out the drudgery of long ironing sessions with a Tefal steam generator iron – you’ll be amazed at how much time you can save.