steamer vs. iron

Parent Cafe
1

<p>While at the mall today, my incoming freshman daughter and I saw a demonstration for the Italsteam, a small, lightweight steamer. We had been in the market for a small iron for her dorm room, but hadn’t had any luck, and didn’t want to add a tabletop ironing board to the shopping and packing list if we went the iron route.</p>

<p>So we bought it (after trying it out at the kiosk), and I used it tonight on a pile of my clothes I’d set aside after last wash day; they were all cotton, some a gauzy cotton. On most of the pieces I was really impressed - I basically got them looking unwrinkled in less than 30 seconds. It didn’t have the crisp look of ironing, especially where one would expect creases, but for the casual stuff I run around in all summer, it worked fine, it took out the wrinkles. I know lots of dorms have irons and ironing boards to lend out to its residents, but I’ve seen some of those irons, and they’re usually stained as well as the ironing board covers.</p>

<p>When I emptied out the reservoir after using it, the water had a slight tinge of brown. I became concerned about using this on light colored fabrics, that if the water turns colors, it might stain the fabric. So I went to their website, and the concern is addressed. Because you add a tiny amount of salt to the water reservoir on the first use of the day, there’s some sort of chemical reaction that takes place that turns the water off color.</p>

<p>Has anyone else bought one of these, and found the water to do any permanent damage to fabric? Like I said, it works really, really well, and is so much better than hauling out an ironing board, waiting for the iron to warm up (this heats up in 12 second), etc. You can steam the garment on the hanger.</p>

<p>BTW, my daughter won’t be using it a lot - she doesn’t mind the wrinkled look, but does have a couple of things she can’t go without, that look better ironed. If we don’t want it, we have 14 days to return it.</p>

2

<p>I don’t know the answer to your questions but I HATE ironing. How much does the steamer thing cost?</p>

3

<p>I can’t remember the last time I ironed and re teh two bottom sheets-I think my daughter did change her sheets- but I would be expecting too much if I thought she was going to iron too! ;)</p>

<p>I haven’t had good luck with steamers- although I have hung things in the bathroom while taking a shower- I would stick with the iron.</p>

4

<p>My husband is in the “rag” biz and we have used a professional garment steamer for at least 20 years. It is worthwile buying a good one, they run about 100-150. We only use the iron for certain collars and things like button plaquets. My daughter is an opera singer, wears alot of formal clothing(gowns and suits) and it has more than paid for itself since it really cuts down on drycleaning expenses. You dry clean less, since its a great way to “freshen up” a gown that has just been worn for an evening.</p>

5

<p>My son did not take an iron with him. Do they even allow irons in the dorm rooms? If they allow irons, then why not stoves and hot plates?</p>

<p>If you are careful about the way you dry your clothes, you can get away without ironing. Watch what you buy, and take the clothing out of the dryer before it is bone dry and hang it up. Or don’t put it in the dryer at all, take directly from the wash and hang it on a hanger. In a dorm room, this can only be done with one or two garments at a time (hanging on the back of a door or on a towel rack).</p>

6

<p><a href=“http://www.downy.com/en_US/products/wrinklereleaser.jsp[/url]”>Page not found;

<p>This product is amazing. You simply spray the clothing while it is laying flat on the bed & smooth the wrinkles away. I have cut down tremendously on ironing by using this. I’m a bit fanatic about laundry technique, but shirts still get a crease or two from being folded in drawers. I use this daily before showering & by the time I’m out, the clothes are dry. D has become a fan, as she’s doing lots of traveling this summer. I still iron if I need to set a crease in trousers, or starch a collar. But most stuff can be looking crisp with the Downey spray.</p>

7

<p>doubleplay, there are many great choices for permanent press clothing for men. Women have a tougher time. They pay more for their clothing and it is of lower quality. </p>

<p>I haven’t used an iron in many years. Suits and sport jackets need to go to the dry cleaners. I don’t have any problem finding quality permanent press shirts and more casual wash pants. Occasionally I end up with a shirt that is supposed to be permanent press, but still wrinkles. I either return it or throw it away and never buy that brand again. The best permanent press items include some polyester. I prefer a blend of 60:40, cotton:poly. These garments will greatly outlast 100% cotton. There seems to be a myth that cotton is more comfortable and looks better. I disagree about both. By the way, never iron permanent press items. Even a single ironing will break down the permanent press characteristics. Clothing needs to come out of the dryer promptly and even better remove the clothing while still very slightly damp and hang it.</p>