Ironing is a daunting task that many women hate. Between work, the kids and maintaining the house, who has time to iron? It has to rank right up there with “stopping at the gas station” as one of women's least favourite tasks. Is there a safe and effective way to remove wrinkles from your clothes?
Fortunately, the answer is yes. There is a way to remove wrinkles from your clothes that does not involve hours of drudgery.
Most of us have been taught that the only way to clean your clothes is to wash and iron them regularly. The most common way of washing is to use a washing machine and add harsh soaps and chemicals. When you take them out of the washer, you put them in a dryer and add more harsh chemicals. This constant exposure to chemicals is bad not only for your clothes but your skin as well.
Steam Cleaning
Steaming clothes has been a popular way of removing creases from wrinkled fabrics for years. Many people don’t know that a garment steamer can sanitize clothes as well. Steam cleaners have been shown to eliminate more than 99.9% of the bacteria commonly found in clothing.
By treating your clothing with high-temperature steam, you are not only removing wrinkles but eliminating odour-causing bacteria as well.
Wrinkles
Steam cleaners work in the same way as irons. Steam penetrates the fabric and relaxes it, letting the wrinkles come out naturally.
Irons operate on the same principle, but they can get dirty and cause scratches or burn marks, particularly on delicate fabrics.
Steamers can be used on delicate fabrics including baby knitwear. Since steamers don’t come into contact with your clothes you avoid any risk of burning or unintended creasing. All of your delicate fabrics can benefit from steam cleaning.
Stains
Steamers may not be able to remove stains on their own, but they can help relax the fabric so that a stain remover can work more effectively.
Pre-treat the stain as usual, then steam the area for approximately 30 seconds. This helps loosen the stain and increases the chances of it coming out.
Travel
Steamers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including handheld models. These types of steamers are small and portable.
They are ideal to take on a business trip or even a vacation. When you have to dress up on the road, steamers are perfect to take out wrinkles that come from folding or packing your clothes. Even the best garment bags can’t eliminate all wrinkles from your suit or dress.
Versatility
These devices are extremely versatile. While they are designed for clothing they are just as effective at cleaning curtains, carpets, mattresses, pillows, sofas, and other surfaces in your home.
Safety
Steamers are considered safe by the Australian Products Safety Commission but there are some common sense things to keep in mind.
Don’t steam clothes while they are on your body. Steam can go through the fabric and burn your skin. You should also be careful around young children.
Steamers are a great alternative to ironing and can lengthen the life of your garments.
