Do you know the differences between steam iron vs steam generator iron? Steam iron is getting more and more popular these days, but even the most powerful (and also the most expensive) steam iron may not be enough for those with certain preferences. In the laundry industry, especially, the regular steam iron is considered not enough. At least, not for the stubborn and difficult wrinkles. That’s why there is steam generator iron – created to be a stronger option to tackle the wrinkles and creases.
Understanding the Different Devices
A steam iron is an iron with its own water tank to contain the water. When heated up, the water will produce powerful and hot steam that can loosen up the fabric’s fibres to eliminate the wrinkles. Because the water tank is incorporated to the iron, its size is pretty limited. In general, the tank can accommodate 12 oz of water. Some bigger products can accommodate 300 ml of water.
A steam generator iron, on the other hand, has a different design and construction. It is an iron but with a separate water tank. Unlike the regular steam iron with its built-in water tank, the water tank in a steam generator is separated with its own construction. The water tank also has its own boiler. Because of this matter, the water tank is bigger and it can accommodate more water. And it can produce powerful (and super hot) steam in just 3 or 4 minutes.
So, how does the generator work? It’s not too much different from the regular steam iron, really. On regular steam iron, you need to press a button to release the steam. The same thing also applies to the steam generator iron – you need to press a button to let the steam go. However, the only difference in steam iron vs steam generator iron is the steam pressure and power. Imagine that a regular steam iron can produce hot steam power and pressure. The power of a steam generator iron is many times of those pressures, so it takes extra careful management and approach to handle the device.
Extra Differences
Since the steam generator iron has its own separate tank, it allows vertical ironing possible. No need to worry that it will lose its steam power – as long as it stays connected to the tank (and the boiler), you will never run out of enough steam pressure. You can iron hanging garments, curtains, or drapes easily. And because the device produces strong and powerful pressure, it can deal with heavy and thick fabric.
Don’t forget that the steam generator iron is definitely bulkier and usually heavier because of the extra tank and boiler. If you are going to use it for a regular ironing activity, make sure to use a very solid and sturdy ironing board. Using a cheap and flimsy board will only put you into a huge risk – for your own safety. Imagine that heavy and bulky device falls on your feet while still producing steam.
Final Words
If you want something lighter, the steam generator iron can be the perfect one, but look for the one with long attachment to the tank. If the attachment is short, then the generator iron would be heavy. A steam iron alone isn’t exactly light because of the built-in water tank. If you need to deal with loads of clothes to iron professionally, then the generator iron would be the perfect one. But if you only need it for regular and daily ironing task, a high-end steam iron would be the most ideal pick. Those are the basic features of steam iron vs steam generator iron.
