Ironing 101: Make the Most of Garment Steamers and Irons
While using clothing irons, keep a few things in mind. Turn the iron upside down to empty out the water tank. An iron with a transparent water tank easily indicates whether there is any water left from the previous day's ironing. If there is any water residue, clean the water tank and fill it with distilled water to avoid impurities from clogging the iron.
Unplug clothing irons after you are done and allow it to cool. As the iron can get very hot, placing it on a raised platform or keeping it on the ironing board is a good idea. After the iron cools off, drain the excess water from the tank and clean the soleplate with an iron cleaning kit to remove any residue. If there is condensation in the hose, lift it and let the water trickle back into the water tank.
Garment steamers are also very helpful in getting perfectly wrinkle-free clothes. These steamers are available in different types such as floor models or compact steam brushes. The floor model is great for steaming suits and dresses. Large items such as upholstery, curtains and tablecloths can be easily managed with steamers with adjustable stands. Compact steam brushes are very helpful while travelling.
Garment steamers are a good option when it comes to steaming delicate fabrics. If you want to steam cashmere, silk or satin, keep the steamer an inch away from the fabric to avoid spotting it. Take care while steaming boucle and velvet. Begin by reversing the fabric and then steaming it. For heavy garments like coats, jackets, tablecloths, bed covers or curtains, steam both the sides for better results. While steaming, keep checking the water level to ensure a continuous flow of steam.
If you are steaming basic clothing, hang the clothes from the hanger of the steamer and secure them with clips. Gravity will pull out the wrinkles from the hanging clothes and will simplify the steaming process. Hanging trousers by the cuffs is an effective way of reducing wrinkles. While steaming, keep the steamer head upright so that the moisture percolates from the hose into the machine. Run the steamer lightly over the fabric to avoid saturating and damaging it.