How to use a clothes steamer: how the vertical device works

Caring for clothes sometimes requires a lot of effort and takes a lot of time. A clothes steamer can be a great help with this.

A clothes steamer is an electrical device that produces steam heated to 98-99 degrees. Using a directed flow, steam penetrates the fabric fibers and aligns them without deforming the material. Thanks to the high temperature, disinfection occurs simultaneously with ironing.

How to use a steamer at home

Despite the fact that this newfangled device has been on the market for a long time, many do not quite understand how to use it, so they prefer to use an iron that is familiar to everyone.

Instructions for using the steamer:

First you need to assemble the device and pour clean cold water into a special tank. How to assemble the unit and how to pour water into the steamer can be found in the instructions for use of a specific model.
After a few minutes, a special indicator will let you know that the device is ready for use.
It is necessary to direct the iron in the direction of the item opposite from you. Before starting work, you need to find out and adjust the intensity of the steam supply.
Use a jet of steam from top to bottom several times until the area of fabric is completely smoothed.

Important! If you have no experience working with a steamer, it is advisable to test it on unwanted clothes to avoid damage to the material.

Press

Pressure on the fabric can remove creases from a skirt or jeans, but this will take time. Place the crumpled item on the bed frame and carefully cover it with the mattress, moisten it if necessary. Overnight, small and deep folds will disappear on your clothes. The mattress can be replaced with any suitable heavy object, for example, a stack of books. Before pressing, stretch the affected area.

The principle of operation of the steam device

It’s easy to guess how a steamer works by its name. After turning on the device, the water in a special vessel is brought to a boil by a heating element, which maintains a constant temperature of the water. When you press the steam button, steam is released through a heat-resistant hose under controlled pressure. A variety of brush attachments will help you process different types of fabric. A huge advantage that distinguishes a steamer from an iron is that with it the fabric will not melt or get dirty.

Preparing for ironing

Each textile product, and especially a shirt, requires special attention and an individual approach

When starting ironing, it is important not to forget some important points:

Using a label sewn into the side seam of the product, you should determine the composition of the fabric. Typically, men's shirts are made from cotton or linen mixed with viscose or polyester, but other compositions are also found. Depending on the material, the heating mode of the iron is set. It is necessary to check how clean the soleplate of the iron is, whether there is any carbon deposits or dirt left on it after previous use.

This is especially important for ironing white clothes. The ironing board fabric should also be carefully inspected for damage and dirt, as any stains from the hot iron will immediately transfer to the shirt fabric. For ease of ironing, it would be nice to use an additional small board for the sleeves. If you don’t have one, you can use a rolled towel. You need to take care of the water that will have to be added to the iron reservoir or to the sprayer, because ironing a cotton shirt without additional wetting is not easy. Woolen or silk shirts sometimes need to be ironed through gauze, which should also always be kept at hand.

When everything necessary for ironing is ready, all that remains is to set the temperature correctly - and you can get to work.

Additional functions of the steamer

Of course, the set of additional functions will depend on the specific type of steamer, but we can highlight those that are provided in almost all models:

High-quality smoothing of items of any size. Every housewife has encountered the difficulty of ironing massive curtains or outerwear. It takes a lot of effort to place the curtains on a miniature ironing board, especially to hang them in place and not wrinkle them again. In this case, a steamer is indispensable, since it can be used to process things in any convenient place: on hangers or on curtains.
Contactless ironing method. A steamer, unlike an iron, will not burn the fabric when heated. Synthetics are especially susceptible to heat treatment. How to iron with a steamer of a specific model can be found in the instructions.
Smoothing any type of fabric. A steamer will make the fluffy material fresher, while an iron would simply crush it. Clothes with any decorative elements (rhinestones, sequins, etc.) will not lose their appearance during processing, and the fabric underneath, which is inaccessible to the iron, can be easily straightened using a steamer.
Cleaning fur products. With the help of directed steam, particles of dirt and dust on the fur fibers can be easily removed.
Steam supply under pressure. This function will help not only smooth things out, but also carry out wet cleaning in the house, even in the most difficult to reach places.

Important points

In order not to torment yourself with ironing, you need to take care of this in advance. Buy clothes made from the “right” fabric that doesn’t wrinkle. This property depends on the composition. Synthetic additives promote spontaneous smoothing of fabric after washing. But cotton products wrinkle a lot.

When traveling and for storage, fold things correctly. It is recommended to place clothes rolled into rolls in your suitcase. This way it will look good after removal.

When machine washing, pay attention to the spin settings or use the “wrinkle-free” option. At maximum rotation speed of the drum, there will be a minimum of creases on the fabric. However, clothing should not be subjected to such extreme exposure constantly. This causes things to wear out faster and lose their attractiveness.

Types of household steamers

Handheld or portable

This type of steamer is ideal for those who travel a lot or are on the go, as it is compact, quite lightweight and easy to store. The price for this model is lower than for a vertical steamer. But with all its advantages, it has several disadvantages:

Suitable for one-time processing of only a small number of items, as it has a small water container.
often has low power, so steaming will take longer than when working with other models.

Stationary or vertical

A vertical steamer is more powerful than a manual steamer.
It consists of a steam generator, a water tank, a hose and various attachments. Thanks to its power, it can quickly deal with any type of fabric, including outerwear and denim. It is vertical floor steamers that are used in cleaning companies and clothing stores. How to properly steam things with a vertical steamer:

You should read the instructions for using the steamer.
The height of the steamer is adjustable so that you can iron clothes without bending over.
The fabric must be kept taut for best results.
For smoothing shirt collars and cuffs, an elongated board, which often comes with a vertical steamer, is perfect.
It is necessary to ensure that the steam supply hose does not bend, this will make the pressure less powerful.

You should choose a steamer based on the purpose of its use. For a family with children, it is better to choose a powerful floor steamer. For those who travel a lot or go on business trips, a hand-held, portable model will be the best assistant. A stationary steamer with good power is suitable for a clothing store, studio or cleaning company.

We recommend:

Iron marks on clothes - how to remove them yourself

Hair straightener

Using hair curlers is a simple and affordable way to restore a locally wrinkled shirt, collar or cuffs, straighten creases on trousers, straighten a tie and eliminate wrinkles on a skirt. Heat the device to a temperature appropriate for the type of fabric or set it to medium mode. Press the problem area between the plates and hold for 2-3 seconds. Repeat if necessary.

Advice! Before use, thoroughly wipe the contact surface of the curling iron to remove any remaining styling products to avoid stains.

What can be ironed with a steamer?

The steamer can be used to process any items, including those that an iron cannot handle:

lined items, outerwear;
clothes with arrows. To do this, use special clamps, which often come with a steamer;
things with decorative decorations (beads, embroidery, rhinestones, etc.);
products with fur and pile;
curtains - they can be ironed while hanging, without lowering them from the curtains;
It can be used to disinfect toys, furniture, blankets and pillows.

Note! To process thin fabrics (silk, muslin, brocade), you need to reduce the steam power and test the operation of the device on a separate piece of fabric.

Sleeves

The true skill of the housewife is considered when the sleeves are ironed without arrows. While ironing the sleeve, make sure that the fabric is evenly positioned on the board, slightly pulling at one edge, adjusting the material so that folds do not appear. Iron from the front and back, and finally the top of the sleeve in the place where the arrow most often forms. It is easier to iron a shirt with a short sleeve; it uses the same technology as for a long sleeve, but without a cuff. Many ironing boards come with a sleeve ironing board; if that element is missing, you can use a roller made from a regular folded towel. The roller is inserted into the sleeve and ironed.

The sleeve ironing board is a miniature copy of an ironing board

Safety precautions when working

Since the steamer produces hot steam, before turning it on, be sure to study the safety rules:

The steamer must only be used for its intended purpose; it must not be directed at people, animals or plants.
You should not treat clothing on yourself or another person.
Always keep the appliance switched on under supervision and away from children.
It is forbidden to work with a damaged steamer. Doing repairs yourself is also not recommended. In the event of a breakdown, contact a specialist.
Before starting work, you need to study the instructions on how to steam things with a steamer of a specific model.
Before adding water to the container, the device is disconnected from the power supply. Use only clean and cold water, preferably distilled. It is prohibited to add soap, washing gels and powders to water.
Lined items are handled in a special glove.
In order to protect yourself from burns, the steamer is held in the opposite direction from you.

Additional Information! Often the vertical steamer makes bubbling sounds. Don't be scared! This happens due to the heating of the water in it.

Undoubtedly, a steamer is an indispensable device in everyday life, and once you try it, it is no longer possible to part with it. And in order not to make a mistake when choosing a model, you should definitely study the characteristics and reviews.

Saving moisture

Water can give complex shapes a look. There are several known uses:

Just moisten the item from a spray bottle and put it on yourself. Complete the procedure 20-30 minutes before leaving.
Sprinkle a thin T-shirt or blouse with water and shake vigorously for 2-3 minutes.
Wet hands will help you quickly get rid of small wrinkles. You need to simultaneously move your palms along the fabric on both sides with slight pressure.
Knitted sweaters can be revived by a damp towel. Terry textiles are immersed in a container of water and wrung out. It is spread out on a horizontal surface, and then clothes are laid out. The moisture will be absorbed into the fibers and the unevenness will disappear within a few hours. All that remains is to hang the item on wide hangers to dry.

How will we smooth the cotton?

You can work areas with an iron in the following ways:

In case of overdrying, spray the area with water from a spray bottle or sprayer, after which a hot iron is passed over this surface, the operating mode of which is set to the maximum temperature;
Finally dried cotton shirts are covered with a damp cloth, which is then ironed. Re-wet the cloth for each area;
Some modifications of irons include a steaming function, during which sequential moistening and ironing occurs to the desired condition;
You can create the steaming effect yourself by placing white paper or newspaper on a damp cloth, which is subsequently ironed;
The ideal option is to iron the shirt while wet. To do this, you don’t need any paper, a damp cloth, or a spray bottle, just run a hot iron over all areas.

Prepare for the main procedure:

preheat the iron to the specified temperature
first inspect the item to identify contaminated areas so as not to weld the stains;
Place the shirt on the surface of the ironing board.

Now follow the following sequence:

Straighten your collar as this is the most visible area. First, go from the inside out, from the edges to the middle, then on the front side. Do not iron the fold; Cuffs similar to a collar. With double cuffs, we additionally fold the cuffs in half and go over them in a bent state, carefully near the buttons; Sleeves are worked on a special place on the ironing board

If it is absent, the sleeve is folded in half, without creating a strong bend, this area is ironed, then we move to the seam and to the back side of the sleeve; Pay special attention to the shelves, yoke, areas near the collar and trims where buttons are located; The back is the final stage, which begins from the right side seam along its entire length to the opposite one.

To fix the manipulations done, use starch spray at the rate of 1 tablespoon of starch per 2 glasses of water. This mixture is used for wetting.

RESULT

Men in shirts look more impressive and representative. If you have a cotton shirt, be prepared for it to wrinkle. It just needs to be ironed and to do it correctly, take note of our suggestions.

For products containing other materials

The composition of the fabric from which the shirt is made determines not only the behavior of the item when worn, but also what temperature it is permissible to expose the material to.

Very often, for blouses and shirts, a mixed fabric is chosen , which contains not only cotton.

You can check the composition of the fabric on the label, which is usually located on the inside of the product in the side seam.

If there is no label, and there are doubts about the composition of the fabric, it is necessary to start ironing with a minimum temperature , increasing it gradually if necessary.

Material composition	Ironing temperature, ºС	Peculiarities
Cotton	150-200	It is possible to apply pressure with an iron and use the steam function.
Cotton "reaper"	110	No steam.
Cotton and linen (cotton more than 50%)	Up to 200	You can apply pressure to the iron and apply steam.
Cotton and polyester (cotton more than 50%)	110	The use of steam is limited.

How to iron trousers so that the creases stay in place for a long time?

Persistent arrows are one of the signs of proper ironing. Such smooth and beautiful lines will characterize the hostess from the most pleasant side, which testifies to her skills. In order for the arrows to last long, it is important to follow the ironing rules.

Note! If corduroy products are processed, it is important to maintain a straight line. To do this, you need to gradually move the iron, moving in one direction, so as not to cause slipping.

In order for the arrows to be preserved for a long time, the procedure must be started from the level of the knees. With this approach, the central part will be outlined immediately, which will give an understanding of where to move next.

Let's look at a few tips to ensure long-lasting arrows:

Recommendation	Description
Using aids	Some men and women use small pins to keep the wings straight. Such devices may cause damage to textiles. Before piercing the fabric in a visible place, test it where the punctures will not be visible
Application of acetic acid	Wet the gauze not in ordinary water, but in an acidified solution using a tablespoon of vinegar per 1 liter of water. This move will help make the arrows stable and sharp.
Laundry soap	Do you want to achieve long lasting wings without gauze? Try using a bar of laundry soap without fragrances or additives. Draw a clear stripe from the wrong side, then iron the trouser leg from the front side
Timing	Many people want to iron the product quickly, just before leaving the house. If you do this, the arrows will instantly spread out. To keep the tight lines for a long time, after ironing, you need to let the trousers cool slightly
Storage	Ironed trousers should be stored in the closet on a special hanger. It has a special design: it grabs the bottom of the trouser leg, leaving the waist part hanging down. In this case, the arrows of both trouser legs must be connected

Temperature

First, inspect the shirt at what temperature it can be ironed. Cotton items are difficult to iron and are subject to high temperatures.

linen items, including shirts, should be ironed with plenty of steam at a temperature of 200 degrees;
shirts made of pure 100% cotton are ironed at 150 degrees and always with steam;
if cotton is mixed with polyester, then iron it at 100 degrees, with little steam.

A steam generator will be an indispensable assistant when ironing such things; by setting the correct mode, you will iron the product without damaging the fabric.

Before using the iron, make sure it is in good working order; you may need to replace the water in the steam compartment. It is recommended to use distilled water to prevent salt deposits.

There are several recommendations on how to properly iron a shirt: it is better to start with small details, this will reduce double work: if you start from the front of the shirt and end with the collar, the appearance of the shirt will no longer be as neat as it should be. You need to iron along the grain line of the fabric to prevent stretching of the product.

The back of the shirt should be ironed last.