Any modern housewife cannot imagine life without a high-quality iron. Indeed, an iron is necessary in every home in order to iron and steam things, giving them an attractive appearance. It is not surprising that the first iron appeared in the 17th century, because even then people were thinking about how to iron things after washing. Of course, the sole material of the first iron differed from the variety that is presented on the modern household appliances market.
Today, manufacturers offer us a wide range of iron models with various options. But first of all, every buyer needs to pay attention to the soleplate of the iron. Let's look at the main characteristics of all types of iron soles.
Does the most popular mean the best?
The most popular metal for iron soles is stainless steel. It gained such popularity due to its technical characteristics: high strength and low price. There are never any scratches on soles with this coating.
In pursuit of popularity, manufacturers are trying to make their contribution by creating newer technologies and improving irons. One of these innovations was a laser-treated stainless steel sole with an additional coating. This super durable surface can accommodate up to 400 steam vents. Irons with such a sole have an automatic steam release function that adapts to the type of fabric.
Easy and smooth!
Aluminum coating competes with stainless steel for the palm.This metal has been used to make the soles of irons for a very long time. In those early years, this material was considered ideal for its light weight and ability to heat up quickly. Also, the aluminum surface was easy to grind, which facilitated the production of such irons.
But such soles also have their drawbacks: the aluminum surface is easy to scratch, and such irons can leave a shiny mark when ironing delicate fabrics. Recently, special heat-treated aluminum has been used in the production of such irons. This sole is more scratch resistant.
The most durable and most expensive
Of all those currently existing, the sole of the iron made of high-quality stainless steel coated with sapphire is considered the most durable. Sapphire is one of the strongest natural minerals. It was this that was used as the basis for a new invention - sapphire coating for an iron. A device with such a sole is not afraid of any corrosion, and these irons glide perfectly over the fabric. The only, but significant, disadvantage of this type of sole is the high price (compared to other coatings).
As a rule, soles for ironing systems are made with sapphire coating, as well as for super units with many additional functions.
Very smooth but very fragile
Another type of iron sole is metal-ceramic. Such irons are in great demand in the market. Buyers love them for their beautiful appearance and fairly low cost. Also, the advantages of this coating include easy sliding on the fabric.The ceramics are also very easy to clean: just run a damp cloth over the surface.
The disadvantage of ceramic soles is their fragility. A small scratch on the ceramic coating can lead to serious damage, such as the soleplate of the iron peeling off!
There are models with metal-ceramic soles that independently adjust the desired temperature depending on the type of fabric, and also have an automatic shutdown function after 30 seconds in a vertical position.
Modern hybrids and newcomers
Modern manufacturers have gone even further. They began to combine different types of coatings, creating a new soleplate for the iron. One of these discoveries was the development of aluminum soles with a metal-ceramic coating. These miracle irons are light weight and highly durable!
But technological progress does not stand still, and, perhaps, a new type of iron sole will soon appear with its advantages and disadvantages. Already, some manufacturers are patenting titanium coatings, which are famous for their excellent strength. The disadvantages of this coating are the long heating time of the surface and high cost.
Which iron is better to choose?
Much has already been said about the pros and cons of each coating. The choice is up to the hostess. Here it is important to consider what is most important to the buyer: low cost, or fast heating, light weight, or fast sliding. You need to choose what seems to be the most important in terms of characteristics.
You should also not forget that the characteristics of the iron sole, such as surface area and shape, are not in last place.Let's consider the basic rules for choosing the ideal shape and area of the iron:
- The area at the sole of the iron should be quite large; it is easier to work with a large iron than with a small one;
- You should pay attention to the back of the soles: it is ideal if it is rounded. With such an iron, the fabric will not wrinkle when moving it backwards;
- The sharper the nose of the iron, the easier it will be to smooth out small wrinkles and get to the most inaccessible places;
- Pay attention to the width of the edge of the sole: it should be thin. This iron will be easy to get under the buttons;
- An important point is the holes on the sole. The more holes the better! A large number of holes will allow more steam to be released, which will give the hostess perfectly smooth underwear. The minimum number of holes in the soleplate of the iron is 50.
Of course, every housewife has her own idea of the ideal iron. Some people find it more comfortable to iron with aluminum, others with steel. Some are ready to forgive the iron for a long time of heating, but will not allow the surface to be fragile. The most important rule in choosing the best iron - be guided by your own desires. It is worth choosing exactly what is more convenient for the buyer, and not what is more advertised or costs more. The best among the best is the iron that suits its owner in all respects and serves him for many, many years.
