You may be thinking of buying an iron machine but can’t decide which type of iron machine to buy, steam or dry iron? Which type of iron machine you buy depends on your own needs. For example, what type of clothes you will be ironing, what is your budget, how much time you can spend on ironing and how many clothes you may need to iron each day.
Today we will discuss this in detail in this article so that you can easily decide which type of iron is best for you.
What is a steam iron and how does it work?
Steam irons basically generate steam to help remove creases from clothes. Steam irons look like normal irons but their working mechanism is completely different. For example, it has a water tank, a heating element to generate steam, a soleplate with many holes to extract steam from the iron.
After turning on the steam iron, the heating element generates steam through the water in the water tank. After pressing the button designated for steaming, water vapor starts coming out through the small holes in the sole plate. The water vapor relaxes the fabric very quickly and helps to eliminate wrinkles. Steam irons also have a separate water dispenser.
What is dry iron and how does it work?
Dry irons basically generate heat and remove creases from the fabric through the pressure of the sole plate. It consists of heating element for generating heat, a sole plate and a regulator for temperature control.
To use a dry iron, first set the regulator to a certain temperature. Then when the sole plate is become hot, place it on the cloth and apply pressure until the creases are removed.
Factors to Consider in Selecting an Iron Machine.
There are some important factors to consider when selecting an iron machine. By following this factors we can easily find our desired iron machine.
Fabric Type:
Dry and steam irons offer different performance depending on the type of fabric. For example, if you want to iron a cotton garment with a dry iron, it will take a lot of time and sometimes the folds of the fabric will not blend completely, in which case the steam iron will perform much better.
On the other hand, if you want to iron polyester or wool fabric with steam iron, you will not be able to iron it properly. Dry iron performs very well in this case. This means that these two types of iron machines can iron some specific fabrics well. So before buying an iron machine you have to decide which type of clothes you use more.
We have made a chart through which you can easily understand which type of fabric can be ironed very well with which type of iron machine.
| Type of iron | Suitable fabric |
|---|---|
| Steam Iron | Cotton, Linen, Wool, Denim, Muslin |
| Dry Iron | Silk, Nylon, Polyester |
Time and quantity of cloth:
Before buying an iron machine, you should have a clear idea of how many clothes you need to iron regularly and how much time you can spend on it. If you have a large amount of clothes and less time, then a steam iron is perfect for you. Because the steam iron can mix the folds of the fabric very quickly.
On the other hand, if you only need to iron a small amount of clothes now, then a dry iron will be perfect for you. Since you will be ironing a small amount of clothes. Comparatively dry irons are less expensive than comparable steam irons.
Amount of Budget:
You can also purchase the iron machine of your choice based on the budget. Steam irons are more expensive than dry irons in the market. Steam irons tend to cost more due to some advanced features like water tank, steam vent, separate mechanism to generate and control steam.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Steam and Dry Iron:
Steam and dry irons have different advantages and disadvantages. Considering below information you can buy your iron.
Advantages of Steam Iron:
Can be ironed very quickly.
Quickly relaxes the fabric and helps to eliminate wrinkles.
Many steam irons can iron hanging clothes.
Along with steam, water spray is available.
There is less chance of burning clothes.
Water can be sprayed separately.
Disadvantages of Steam Iron:
Regular cleaning is required due to water usage.
When the water runs out, it has to be refilled, which hampers the ironing process.
Due to the excess water used, dry irons tend to be heavier than irons.
Not all clothes can be ironed.
Power consumption and cost is higher than dry iron.
Advantages of Dry Iron:
- Easy to use due to light weight.
- No need to use water like steam iron, can be used whenever you need.
- It can be cleaned easily.
- Comparatively low price.
Disadvantages of Dry Iron:
- Additional pressure is required for ironing.
- Wrinkle is not easily removed.
- It takes comparatively more time.
- Through this there is a high possibility of burning the clothes.
- There is no option to spray water, so you have to use a separate spray bottle.
- Hanging clothes cannot be ironed.
Conclusion:
So for those who want to spend less time on ironing, need to iron a lot of clothes on a regular basis, want to remove creases easily and budget are high, steam iron will be perfect.
On the other hand, those who have to iron clothes occasionally, have fewer clothes. Such clothes do not need to be steam and the budget is relatively low. Dry iron will be perfect for them.
