Hand steamer - device, operating principle, advantages and disadvantages

A household hand-held steamer is a useful tool that helps tidy up delicate fabrics without the risk of burning them. The compact device fits comfortably in your bag. Even while traveling, staying at a hotel, you can always quickly iron clothes of the most complex cut.

Hand steamer device

In compact models, all the main parts (electric steam generator, liquid container and iron) are enclosed in a single housing. There is no hose and marker stand here. There is a special filter that softens the water and does not allow scale particles to pass through. Portability gives tangible advantages, it makes the device mobile, but it affects the tank volume and power of the device. A hand-held steam generator with nozzles with brushes on a working sole is convenient for cleaning a coat or jacket made of thick fabric. The bristles are required to raise the pile so that the hot jet penetrates as deeply as possible.

Additional features

Sometimes the device is used for other purposes than its intended purpose :

• boil water for tea;
• boil eggs;
• carry out disinfection;
• refresh the appearance of fur products;
• treat clothes and closet surfaces to destroy moths and larvae;
• remove adhesive labels from ceramics and glass;
• clean upholstered furniture;
• wash the windows.

To perform the latest types of work, manufacturers of some models have added a special attachment .

How a handheld steamer works

After switching on, the liquid is brought to a boil in a compact boiler using a heating element. Using a sensor, the temperature required for steam formation is maintained in the container. When the water cools, the relay periodically turns the steam generator on and off. Steam ironing is carried out after pressing a special button, with which the supply or termination of the hot jet is regulated.

The best brands

Let's consider the professional rating of the best brands of popular manufacturers in Russia:

1. Philips. This is a Dutch brand. Consumers know it and trust the products. The company produces floor-standing, with manual models. The design is ergonomic. Excellent assembly and the device works without interruptions.
2. Kitfort. Russian brand. The devices are produced in China. At the factories, specialists carefully monitor that the products are of high quality. More popular than other models are floor-standing Kitfort. They are inexpensive, high quality, with excellent technical support. characteristics.
3. Polaris. The holding is considered international and specializes in the production of various small appliances used in everyday life. There are factories both in the Russian Federation and in China. The price of the product is affordable and the quality is good. Polari competes on equal terms with more popular brands.
4. MIE or Modern Ironing Equipment. Not all manufacturers of household appliances know this brand, since it has a narrow specialization. The plant produces only ironing household appliances, including steamers and devices that help with cleaning. There are also devices that are used to care for fabrics and various clothes. Prices for MIE products are average, and the quality is good.
5. Endever. This brand is from the famous Kromax Group from Sweden. They produce household appliances that help clean the house. They are produced as floor-standing ones, with manual (compact) steamers. The brand is inexpensive.

Pros and cons of a hand steamer

You can find weaknesses or undeniable advantages in the operation of any device. For people who are accustomed to working with an iron, a hand-held steamer does not look like a practical thing from the outside. Taking a closer look, you can find a lot of positive aspects in this compact device, especially if you often have to put in order thin, delicate items with a lot of decorations, frills, flounces and ruffles.

Advantages of steamers:

1. No ironing board or table required for operation.
2. A small volume of liquid heats up faster, which saves time.
3. Availability of attachments for different fabrics.
4. Removing unpleasant odors from surfaces.
5. Getting rid of dust mites and harmful microorganisms.
6. The device copes well with complex-cut products.
7. After treatment, no shiny spots remain on the surface.
8. Steaming clothes occurs without the risk of thermal deformation of the fibers.
9. Hand-held instruments are compact and suitable for travel.
10. Affordable price.

Disadvantages of a hand steamer:

1. Treated items are damp to the touch, so they cannot be put on immediately; it takes time for the fabric to dry completely.
2. If professional large-sized floor-standing devices with a 1.5-2 liter tank work for hours, then a compact manual mini clothes steamer uses a small volume of liquid of 200 ml in 15 minutes.
3. Low-power models steam the fabric slowly and are not suitable for thick fabrics.

Accessories

However, is it possible to make ironing even better? You can use the sender's selection of accessories for clothing and fabrics. There are many of them, but only two are truly easily accessible and effective:

1. Mitten. The principle of its operation is similar to the mitten that is used when removing the baking sheet from the oven. It is much more convenient to iron on a surface that is stretched, and it is most convenient to tighten it with your hand. In this case, there is a high chance of getting a burn, because the temperature can reach 100 degrees. Accordingly, using mittens with thermal protection will eliminate the likelihood of such an outcome. Of course, if you direct a direct jet at it, there will be no effect. The only thing is that the burn will be less. However, direct exposure occurs only through negligence and is an emergency rather than the norm. Using a mitten on the second hand also does not make sense, because it is not used during the ironing process. The only exceptions can be those cases when the clothes are located on the board, which naturally “ricochets” the steam flow.
2. Bristle brush. An equally useful accessory, the use of which will allow you to tidy up fluffy surfaces and treat upholstered furniture using high temperature. It also promotes quick and high-quality removal of pet hair, threads and other small particles that are difficult to remove with standard means.

In special cases, you can use universal plates that are attached to the collar or pockets, covers, and so on. As a rule, this is all beyond choosing “add-ons” for home use.

How to choose a hand steamer?

Once you familiarize yourself with the main characteristics, it is easier to make the right choice. To purchase the most powerful handheld clothing steamer, we recommend following the following criteria:

1. Steam intensity and power
   - good devices start at 1500 W and above.
2. steam pressure
   for gravity flow devices. A pressure of 3 bar is a good indicator.
3. The operating time without refueling
   depends on the volume of the boiler.
4. The material of the iron
   is preferably metal.
5. The set
   includes additional nozzles and a water filter.

Functions of hand steamers

Each household device has a precise purpose. When choosing the best handheld steamer on the market, you need to have a clear idea of ​​what kind of work this device can handle:

1. Treatment of curtains and drapes directly on the eaves.
2. Cleaning furniture upholstery.
3. Steaming mattresses.
4. Gentle care for complexly cut clothing with appliqués, sequins, ruffles, and numerous folds.
5. Disinfection of fabric products and soft toys.

Video

More information about the operating features of the device can be found in the following video:

Author: Anna Chizhik

Found a mistake? Select it and click the buttons:

Ctrl + Enter

Interesting! Astronauts, while in Earth orbit, solve the problem of dirty things using an original method. Clothes are dropped from the spacecraft and burn up in the upper atmosphere.

There are a variety of balls that are used in the washing machine. Antistatic ones will prevent the fabric from sticking to the body after washing, balls with special loops will “comb” the lint and prevent the appearance of pills, and silicone ones with pimples will prevent fluff from matting when washing outerwear.

In the 19th century, washing ladies' toilets took a lot of time. The dresses were first ripped open, and then each part was washed and dried separately so that the fabric did not become deformed. After washing, the clothes were sewn again.

The first officially patented washing machine was made of wood and was a box with a frame, half filled with wooden balls. Laundry for washing and detergent were loaded inside and the frame was moved using a lever, which, in turn, made the balls move and grind the laundry.

There is a washing machine “for bachelors”. Linen washed in such a unit does not need to be ironed at all! The thing is that the device does not have a drum: some things can be placed inside the container directly on hangers (for example, jackets and shirts), and smaller things (for example, underwear and socks) can be placed on special shelves.

Washing machines equipped with the “No Iron” or “Easy Iron” functions can wash clothes with little to no wrinkling. This effect is achieved through a special approach to spinning - it is performed at low speeds, with long pauses, and a small amount of water is retained in the tank.

History knows the fact that a kitten fell into the drum of a washing machine and, after going through a full wash cycle on the “Wool” program, got out of the unit unharmed. The only trouble for the pet was an allergy to washing powder.

For washing small items on the road or in a hotel, it is convenient to use a regular plastic bag. Socks or tights are kneaded inside a tied bag along with water and a small amount of detergent. This method allows you to pre-soak things and wash them without damaging the fabric or wasting a lot of powder and water.

The expression “soap opera” (“soap”) did not arise by chance. The very first series and shows that had a female audience were broadcast on television at a time when housewives did cleaning, ironing and laundry. In addition, to attract female viewers to the screens, commercials for detergents: soaps and powders were often played on air.

Rating of hand steamers

Descriptions of successful models help to make the right choice. We offer a short TOP of the best steamers of 2022:

1. Tefal DR8086E1
   – Tefal hand steamer 1500 W, tank 0.2 l, steam supply 22 g/min.
2. Philips GC440/20 StуleTouch Pure
   – Philips manual steamer 1500 W, 0.2 l tank, steam supply 30 g/min.
3. VITEK VT-1285 BD
   – power 1000 W, tank capacity 0.25 l, feed 20 g/min.
4. CENTEK CT-2383
   – power 1200 W, capacity 0.25 l, productivity 26 g/min.
Read also:  Air washing: important recommendations for successfully purchasing an air purifier for a private home or city apartment
5. RUNZEL VAG-150 Jatten
   – power 1500 W, tank 0.35 l, feed 40 g/min.

Precautionary measures

In order not to harm the body, it is necessary to follow safety precautions, which provide the following simple rules:

• If you need to add water during operation, first disconnect the device from the mains;
• Before adding water, the device must be disconnected from the power supply;
• Depending on the type of work, a heat-resistant glove may be required.
• the steamer should not be directed at yourself, other people or pets;
• the steamer must not be left unattended;

Important! The steamer produces high-temperature steam under pressure! Steam contact with skin can cause burns!

Sources

• https://make-a-choice.ru/kak-rabotaet-otparivatel-dlya-odezhdy/
• https://tehnika.expert/dlya-chistoty-i-poryadka/otparivatel/kak-polzovatsya-otparivatelem.html
• https://homeasking.com/kak-rabotaet-otparivatel-dlya-odezhdy/
• https://tvjam.ru/glazhka/kak-polzovatsya-otparivatelem/
• https://tehnikoved.ru/poryadok-i-chistota/otparivatel/vybor-otparivatelya.html
• https://severdv.ru/tehnika/kak-pravilno-polzovatsya-otparivatelem/
• https://IsoProfTeh.ru/uborka/ustrojstvo-otparivatelya-dlya-odezhdy-2.html
• https://stirkaved.ru/kak-polzovatsja-otparivatelem-dlja-odezhdy.html
• https://ld58.ru/tehnika-i-byt/kak-otparivat-utyugom.html
• https://home-tehno.ru/faq/kak-polzovatsa-otparivatelem-dlya-odezhdy/
• https://womanadvice.ru/ruchnoy-otparivatel-ustroystvo-princip-raboty-preimushchestva-i-nedostatki

How to use a hand steamer?

These devices are competitors to standard steam irons, allowing you to clean things without additional equipment directly on a clothesline or hanger. Steaming clothes is a simple and understandable process, but any electrical device, if the operating rules are violated, is a potentially dangerous product. The guide on how to use a handheld clothing steamer may differ in minor nuances depending on the model. It is recommended to always read the instructions that come with your passport.

Basic recommendations for using hand steamers:

1. Water is poured through a special neck on the outer surface of the body; in some models, the headboard must be removed to fill it.
2. Do not overfill the container above the recommended level.
3. When installing the nozzle, you need to make sure that the shutter closes tightly.
4. To prevent the formation of unpleasant scale, it is better to fill with distilled water.
5. The steamer is plugged into the outlet.
6. An electric heater turns liquid into steam.
7. The supply or termination of steam supply through the working opening is regulated by a special button.
8. You need to make sure that the liquid does not run out.
9. When overheating, the shutdown sensor is triggered, but it is advisable not to leave the hand-held steamer with an empty boiler connected to the network for a long time.

What is a must-buy and what is it for?

• Water for the steamer
  is your guarantee against scale formation in the steamer. Many housewives are well aware of how scale in steam irons clogs the holes, causes incorrect operation of the device and increases the risk of its breakdown. Special water goes through several stages of purification; it does not contain salts or their compounds. Using such water, you can be sure that your steamer will work at full capacity and without failures.
• Eau de parfum
  will not only provide you with impeccable cleaning of upholstered furniture or carpets, but will also give them a pleasant aroma, eliminating pet odors and absorbed home aromas. Excellent for processing outerwear.
• care kits
  are universal and will come in handy when using a steamer. You won't have to look for rags, brushes, or cleaning fluids suitable for caring for your device when you have a professionally designed set at hand.