The Latest Irons Keep Your Clothes Wrinkle-Free
Ironing is one of those necessary tasks that feels great once you’re finished. Ironing away the wrinkles in your favourite dress, pair of pants, or adding a crisp edge to your dress shirt can help you look and feel your best when you head out for the day. That’s why choosing the right iron for you and your wardrobe is so important.
The latest irons take the work out of removing wrinkles with steam options, non-stick soleplates, and ECO settings to save on energy.
What are the different types of irons?
Ironing is one of those necessary tasks that feels great once you’re finished. Ironing away the wrinkles in your favourite dress, pair of pants, or adding a crisp edge to your dress shirt can help you look and feel your best when you head out for the day. That’s why choosing the right iron for you and your wardrobe is so important.
The latest irons take the work out of removing wrinkles with steam options, non-stick soleplates, and ECO settings to save on energy.
There are three main types of irons.
Steam Iron
A steam iron is the most versatile type of iron you can get, with a steam output thanks to a water tank and steam holes on the soleplate that let the steam escape. Steam, of course, can very effectively remove wrinkles from different types of clothing and materials. Some steam irons also let you spray mist to moisten clothes, making it even easier to remove pesky wrinkles from even the heaviest of fabrics. Steam irons work very quickly, making them ideal for busy professionals who need to get out the door quickly or for those who iron a lot of items at once. The added benefit is that you can also turn off the steam function and remove the water to use a steam iron as a dry iron as well to iron more delicate fabrics like satin and silk using the customized settings. Steam irons are ideal for those who iron often and iron a wide variety of items.
Clothes iron
A traditional clothes iron is basically a dry iron. Unlike a steam iron, it has a solid soleplate without any holes and no tank for adding water. It can be used to effectively press clothes and remove creases. But keep in mind that the process might take longer compared to a steam iron, depending on the fabric and how wrinkled it is. Better for occasional ironing or to get a few wrinkles out here and there after running your clothes through an anti-wrinkle cycle in your dryer, a clothes iron is also good to use for arts and crafts that don't require the addition of steam.
Travel Iron
A travel iron is a smaller and more compact than traditional irons, and sometimes even foldable. Designed, as the name implies, for travel, some even come with convenient travel bags so you can easily pop it into your suitcase. They can be either dry or steam irons, the latter of which sometimes comes with a small measuring cup to measure out water before pouring it inside. They work just as efficiently as full-sized irons but in a much smaller and more lightweight package. Naturally, they are a great option for those who travel often for business (or pleasure) and want to ensure they have a working iron if the hotel or other place in which they're staying isn't equipped with one. They can also be handy for people who live in small apartments or dorms and don't have to place to store a larger iron.
How to Choose the Right Iron for You
Your first consideration when choosing an iron is what type of dryer you have and whether or not you routinely use the de-wrinkle setting when drying your clothes. If you pull your laundry out and hang it up after you’ve dried it, your best bet may be a standard steam iron with non-stick soleplate to smooth out any excess wrinkles.
If you don’t use the de-wrinkle setting and you find you have very wrinkled clothing to iron, you may choose a professional steam iron with ceramic soleplates and a large number of steam holes.
What Features to Look for in an Iron
The latest steam irons share features that make ironing easy.
Different Steam Levels
Steam can be used to smooth out wrinkles, and the latest irons have the option to change your steam level to suit the fabric you’re ironing.
Spray Feature
A burst of steam can be released with a push of a button, and that can give you extra ironing power when a wrinkle is stubborn and won’t come out.
Non-Stick Soleplates
The latest models of irons may have non-stick, stainless steel, or ceramic soleplates. These soleplates are designed to avoid sticking to your fabric or scorching if you’ve left the iron on for too long.
Built-In Programs and Auto-Shut Off
Certain models of iron will have built-in programs or smart features like auto-off that are designed for safety and to avoid the strain of pressing to remove wrinkles.
Anti-Scale or Self-Cleaning Irons
Some models of iron have anti-scale systems built in. These systems will ensure the steam continues to flow and your iron will always operate at peak performance.
Retractable Cords
If you’d like to save on space when storing your iron, you can choose an iron with a retractable cord that stores within the appliance.
Tips for Maintaining Your Iron
An appliance that uses water will need to be descaled, and irons should be descaled every month or two months. Some models of iron will have a light that indicates it’s time to descale and a button or valve you press to descale the iron. Depending on the brand and model of iron you choose, there are different instructions available for descaling.
Clothes Steamers
If you find that you have a lot of different clothes to iron and you want to work your way through your laundry pile even faster, you can choose a clothes steamer. A steamer is an upright, corded device that delivers a powerful, hot blast of steam from an attached wand. All you have to do is fill up the water reservoir, plug it in, and you can quickly and easily work your way through all of your wrinkled clothing.
Crisp, pressed clothes are only a few swipes away when you have a new iron. Take a look at all of the different types of irons available on BestBuy.ca and choose the right one for you.