Most of us are avid users of the normal dry iron. This is caused by the fact that the dry iron is the first type of irons that was invented. From a humble start of the old-fashioned coal-heated dry iron, brilliant inventor come up with the steam iron to ease our ironing even more. Perhaps, it is time for us who been using the dry iron the entire life to switch to steam iron and feel the difference ourselves.

A steam iron removes the wrinkles, fold marks or creases from almost all types of fabric by using the steam, heat and weight. However, let us first get to know the regular features of a steam iron. Most steam irons will come in with these essential features i.e. a thermostat, a setting for different types of fabric (silk, polyester, wool etc), a water chamber, and some also might have the anti-burn control.

First of all, you will notice that the metal ironing plat is different than that of a dry iron. Instead of a smooth surface, the steam iron's ironing plate has small holes from which the steam will come out to make ironing process easier. Those steams are produced when iron is set to steam after you fill the water chamber with water. Once you set the iron to steam, the water will be released from the chamber to the heated plate and the steams are released from the small holes of the plate.

The water chamber is made of clear plastic so that you can monitor the level of water. This is to make it easier for you to determine when is the right time to add up the amount of water in the chamber. Topping up the water will avoid you from losing the steam in the middle of ironing.

Now, test the smoothness of your ironing. If you feel that the iron is sticky and it does not run smoothly on your fabric, then it is time for you to clean the surface of your iron. Spray the mixed solution of water and vinegar. Then, sprinkle some baking soda onto the surface. Use a soft cloth to rub away the dirt and also the cleaning materials. Repeat this step 3-4 times to get better result.

Once you are done cleaning, wash all of the residues. Use a soft cloth to wipe all of the cleaning solution that is spilled. To neutralize the solution, use dish washing liquid and soak the cloth into it before wiping. This is a good step to prevent the solution from leaving any marks of corrosion on the place surface.

A cordless iron is suitable for those who need to iron a light load of garments. This avoids you from using extra electricity which will result in extra energy bill to be paid. In fact, this type also comes with power-saving feature, especially for those who are little bit careless. When the iron is left idle for a couple of minutes, the power saving feature will turn of the iron.

After each use, wipe the plat's surface with a soft cloth. This is to remove any sticky materials after an ironing process. To avoid sticky materials, especially when you are ironing clothes with plastic decorations, line the cloths with a thin fabric. This prevents the decorations from sticking to the plastic surface.