PRESSURISED STEAM IRONS are sweeping Australia, as they have through Europe and America. COMMERCIAL QUALITY IRONS are ideal for laundries and alterations businesses. DOMESTIC UNITS are ideal for families with large volumes of clothes to be ironed and little time to spend on the task. Dressmakers find that the perfect creases one can achieve with pressurised steam results in far better finishes to the garments.

The ability to iron continuously in a vertical position means that the pressurised steam iron can be used to freshen up and sanitise curtains, coats and jackets while hanging. Clothing stores are now investing in these to remove the creases in new garments quickly and safely. However, until recently they were virtually unknown in Australia.

The Australian Advantage

Because of the pressurised steam irons' widespread popularity overseas, Australian's are at an advantage when purchasing for ourselves - we can assess what has occurred elsewhere, both success and failures, and make a better decision.

Please use this guide to assist you in obtaining the best pressurised steam iron to meet your needs.

What to look for in an Ironing System

All steam irons are basically designed to do the same job, that is to remove or place creases in garments. However, the quality of steam irons and the features do vary significantly . What differences should we look for when choosing a pressurised steam ironing unit?

Pressure

The pressure generated within the boiler directly effects the performance of your steam iron. The higher the pressure the more powerful and faster the results. A higher bar pressure creates steam that will more effectively penetrate the garment, relaxing the fibres and blowing out dust and odours. For faster, better results choose a unit that works at 2.5 bar pressure or more.

Volume Control

Many models today have adjustable steam volume controls. Any unit that operates in excess of 3 bar pressure should have this feature to allow for the ironing of delicate lightweight fabrics.

Capacity

A general rule is that you should allow at least one litre of water per hour of continuous ironing. While one litre may initially last you up to two hours when you first trial a steam iron, experience generally results in the user wanting non-stop steam while pressing, as it creates a comfortable cushion for the iron to glide along. Large families or businesses should consider a 2 or 3 litre model or one with automatic refilling and a reservoir tank.

Professional Iron

So how can you tell a professional iron from a domestic iron?

Even for home use we recommend a professional style iron. This will have an insulated handle (generally it is cork). The steam holes will be concentrated in the narrow tip of the iron to give more effective steam penetration into the garment, and the wider lower part of the sole plate will dry and set the ironing as it follows the steam jets.

The iron should have an adjustable thermostat. While in most cases the iron will work efficiently on a wool to cotton setting, there are times when a cooler setting will be useful, such as for Nylon, or when a wetter steam is required. A basic rule to follow is that the higher the temperature setting of the iron, the drier the steam will be and so the drier your ironing surface will be as well.

A steam lock button on the iron means that you will not need to continually press the button to release the steam and you will be able to better grip the iron. Ideal for vertical ironing.

The sole plate is generally quite thick and has a polished aluminium or stainless steel base. Within the sole plate are drying chambers for the steam to travel through.

The most significant feature of a professional iron is that it is repairable. While most irons today are made of many plastic components and not worth repairing if fractured or melted, the professional irons manufactured in Italy are very solid and can generally be repaired if something should go wrong.

Dry Iron Option

Some units have separate power buttons for the boiler and the iron. This allows for Dry ironing without heating up the water in the boiler. If the unit only has one power control, then you can still dry iron if you simply do not press the steam release button on the iron. However you will be using unnecessary power to boil the water.

Boiler casing

Most of the units available today have a built in heat resistant mat to rest the iron on top of the boiler. However, often the outer casing of the boiler is made of plastic. A metal outer casing is far more likely to withstand being bumped by the iron and to tolerate being subjected to the heat that would radiate from the boiler, and from the iron resting above, if left on for lengthy periods of time.

Optional Non-Stick Shoe

Some units offer the option of a non-stick shoe. These are beneficial if you intend to use the iron at times as purely a dry iron, such as when working with iron on transfers. However, they should always be removed after use when the iron is cool and the sole plate of the iron wiped to remove any lint that may have become trapped between the Iron sole plate and the Non-Stick shoe, otherwise the dyes from some fabrics may cause staining and possibly corrosion.

Safety Features

We cannot stress how important it is to look for the following safety features. A pressure relief valve, a safety filler cap, a thermo dry boiler switch with water out light or signal and a thermo back-up switch. In addition, a drain located at the bottom of the steam boiler makes for easy cleaning - these features will be present on all good steam irons.

Warranties

Warranties are an indication of the confidence a manufacturer has in the quality and reliability of their product. Comparing warranties on different models will help you determine exactly what is covered and by which party.

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