Electrically powered clothes irons and fabric steamers are both appliances designed to remove wrinkles and creases from clothes and fabrics, but they work in slightly different ways. Let's take a look at how each of them works:
Electric Clothes Iron:
An electric clothes iron typically consists of a heated soleplate (the flat, smooth surface that comes into direct contact with the fabric) and a water reservoir. Here's how it works:
Heating Element: The iron contains a heating element, usually made of a material with high electrical resistance, like stainless steel or ceramic. When the iron is plugged in and turned on, an electric current flows through the heating element, causing it to heat up.
Thermostat: To maintain a specific temperature suitable for different types of fabrics, the iron is equipped with a thermostat. The thermostat monitors the temperature of the soleplate and regulates the heating element accordingly. This prevents the soleplate from getting too hot and burning the fabric.
Water Reservoir and Steam Production: Many modern irons have a water reservoir that can be filled with water. The water is released onto the fabric as steam. When the user activates the steam function, water from the reservoir is pumped to the soleplate, where it is heated by the hot soleplate and converted into steam.
Steam and Pressure: The steam helps to relax the fibers of the fabric, making it easier to remove wrinkles. The user can control the steam output based on the type of fabric being ironed.
Soleplate and Ironing: The heated soleplate comes into direct contact with the fabric. As the iron is moved over the fabric, the combination of heat and pressure smooths out wrinkles, leaving the fabric looking neat and crease-free.
Fabric Steamer:
A fabric steamer, also known as a clothes steamer, is designed to remove wrinkles using steam without the need for direct contact with the fabric. Here's how it works:
Water Reservoir and Steam Generation: Similar to an iron, a fabric steamer also has a water reservoir. When the steamer is turned on, water is heated to produce steam. The steam is then directed through a nozzle or a series of nozzles.
Steam Output: The steam is expelled from the nozzle in the form of a gentle flow. This flow of steam is applied to the fabric, relaxing the fibers and causing the wrinkles to loosen.
Hanging Fabric: Fabric steamers are particularly useful for larger items like garments, drapes, and upholstery. The user hangs the fabric on a hanger or another suitable support, and then the steam is directed at the fabric from a distance.
Gentle Pressure and Steam Penetration: The steam penetrates the fabric, and the user can use their hands to gently smooth out the fabric and pull on it slightly to aid in the removal of wrinkles.
Cooling and Drying: As the steam cools down, it condenses back into water, and the fabric dries. The fabric retains its smooth appearance due to the relaxation of fibers caused by the steam treatment.
In summary, both electric clothes irons and fabric steamers use steam to remove wrinkles, but irons use a combination of heat, pressure, and steam on direct contact with the fabric, while fabric steamers use steam to relax the fibers from a short distance without direct contact. Each has its advantages depending on the type of fabric and the desired convenience of use.