Steam generator, steamer - which is better? Types, Models, Functions

It is unlikely that you can find a hostess who likes to spend all her free time ironing. This lesson sometimes takes so much time and effort that I don’t want to take it. Manufacturers of small household appliances are trying as much as possible and able to facilitate this not too pleasant job.

Today in the market you can find a variety of steam generators, steamers and whole ironing stations. What to prefer? What are the fundamental differences between these devices? Let's get it right.

Steamer - what kind of appliance is this?

To surely determine for yourself what to choose - a steam generator or a steamer, you need to clearly understand how these units are arranged and what is their fundamental difference. Let's start with the steamer.

This household electric appliance looks like a small vacuum cleaner and consists of three main parts:

• plastic tank (boiler) for water;
• telescopic tube with various nozzles;
• hose connecting the above parts.

The whole variety of models of household steamers can be divided into two large categories: manual and vertical.

Hand models

Such devices are lightweight, compact and incredible mobility. They can be called almost ideal for travel. The water in the tap and the outlet are almost everywhere. So you can always put your clothes in order without spending a lot of time and effort. Such devices are very light, no more than 1.2 kg, so your suitcase will not put on too much weight.

Similar models have some disadvantages. Firstly, manual models have a fairly small power. They are quite capable of light and thin fabrics. But with heavy costume options they cope poorly. Secondly, such steamers have a very small water tank. Most often, it lasts only 15-20 minutes of work. This is sometimes very annoying.

Vertical models

You can’t take these units on a business trip. They are exclusively suitable for stationary use. The weight of such a steamer can vary from 5 to 8 kg. And they take up a lot of space. Vertical models have advantages:

• volumetric tank - water is enough for several hours of continuous operation;
• high power - in some models the level reaches 2 kW, so that the unit is able to cope even with very heavy tissues;
• power control - this allows you to choose the optimal mode of operation depending on the type of surface.

Advantages and disadvantages of the device

What to choose: a steam generator or a steamer? Or maybe confine yourself to the good old iron? Let's analyze what benefits you will get when buying a household steamer.

Pros:

• Vertical models can not only iron, but also perfectly clean furniture, heavy curtains, wash windows and mirrors.
• High temperature steam disinfects surfaces well.
• It does not require special physical efforts - the device itself most often has wheels, and the brush weighs a little.
• The steamer can eliminate many unpleasant odors, which is very important when cleaning furniture and pillows.
• You do not need an ironing board, you can carry out the procedure directly on a hanger.
• The device is fully ready for operation within a few seconds after switching on.

Minuses:

• The unit must be handled very carefully so as not to get burned with hot steam.
• On the hand with which you hold and straighten the thing, it is worth putting on an extra thick glove. It will also help not to get burned accidentally, because the temperature of the vapor reaches 99 ° C.
• With the help of a steamer it is impossible to smooth out the arrows on trousers or to pleat without a special nozzle.
• A stationary appliance requires a lot of storage space.

What is a steam generator?

And yet, which is better - a steamer or a steam generator? In order for the choice to be reasoned, the principle of operation of the second device should be considered.

To begin with, it is worth clarifying that the word "steam generator" means a device that looks like an iron with a steam generation function. The difference lies in the fact that the water tank in this case is not located inside the iron, but is placed in a separate stand tank. The design also provides a thin hose connecting these parts. A variety of nozzles and an ironing board can be included.

The principle of operation of this unit is incredibly simple:

• water boiling in the tank turns into steam and is thrown up under pressure;
• through a flexible hose, steam enters the iron and is fed out through a network of holes located on its sole.

In principle, this is the main difference between the steam generator and the steamer. In the first case, the steam is dry, and in the second - wet. In the steam generator, the steam jet is forcedly ejected, under pressure, and in the steamer, the process proceeds by gravity.

Ironing steam generators have several basic characteristics that determine the quality of the device:

1. Tank size It’s worth choosing depending on what volumes of laundry you have to process. For a small amount, 0.7–1 liter is enough, and for those who like to overload it, it is better to take a device with a tank of at least 1.5–2 liters at once.
2. Power. The standard value is 1.5–2 kW, but the larger it is, the faster the ironing process is.
3. Performance. This refers to the amount of steam that the device is capable of producing per unit of time. The optimal parameters are 100–120 g / min, but the higher this indicator, the faster and easier the process will complete. True, the water consumption in this case will be greater.
4. Steam boost is a special mode that helps to cope with the most difficult moments. The average value is 150-200 g / min, but you can also find models where this figure reaches a record 360 g / min.

Pros and cons of the unit

The most important difference between the steam generator and the steamer is that it is capable of simultaneously ironing several layers of fabric at once. For example, to quickly iron a sheet, you can fold it four times. So with the help of a steam generator, you can quickly and fairly easily overload a fairly large amount of things.

But this is not all the advantages of this device.

Pros:

• The supply of steam under pressure greatly facilitates the process of smoothing the laundry.
• The steaming function can be used both horizontally and vertically.
• There is no risk of dripping the laundry, as the steam generator emits only steam.
• You can process several layers of fabric at once.
• Unlike a conventional steam iron, the steam generator has a much larger tank. So you will have to add water infrequently.
• If necessary, you can disconnect the iron from the steam generation system and use it as an ordinary household appliance.
• The kit often has a large number of different brushes. This allows not only ironing things, but also cleaning them.

Minuses:

• The device is very heavy and bulky. You will need a lot of space to store it.
• The steam generator is a stationary device. So in order to iron, for example, the curtains, you have to remove them.
• Some models are so expensive that this purchase just does not justify itself.

What to choose: a steamer or a steam generator?

Customer reviews are so diverse that sometimes it is incredibly difficult to determine. We will try to help you make the right choice.

So, you better give preference to the steamer if you:

• often iron a large number of clothes with a variety of decor or sophisticated cut;
• Prefer multifunctional technology;
• Want to use the device not only to iron clothes, but also to facilitate cleaning in the house;
• suffer from allergies and are forced to regularly disinfect mattresses and pillows from dust mites;
• smoke or have a cabinet not too big - in this case even completely clean things can get a musty smell.

It is worth buying a steam generator in those cases when you:

• Do not want to spend a lot of time and effort on ironing bed linen;
• need regular antibacterial treatment, for example, children's things;
• you can’t imagine how you can iron on a non-board;
• often forced to iron a large number of sheets, bedspreads, duvet covers, towels and other similar things.

Top 3 Steamers

To further facilitate the reader’s choice, we suggest considering the features of some models from various manufacturers.

Philips GC670 / 05

Opens our rating steamer Philips GC670 / 05. The unit belongs to the category of professional and is just perfect for working with clothes that have a complex decor. All sequins, beads, shuttlecocks and lace will remain intact. The kit provides for the presence of a protective glove, a special rack-hanger and many additional nozzles. With their help, the Philips GC670 / 05 steamer can not only clean the fabric from lint or other small dirt, but also form perfect arrows.

Euroflex Monster MB-10035

This device is simple and effective, and it is quite cheap. The kit has two additional brushes and a nozzle for forming arrows. The volume of the tank is 1.6 liters. Adjustable steam supply is provided. The kit includes a rack-hanger for vertical ironing.

Polaris PGS 1502CA

Compact manual model that fits in any suitcase without any problems. It copes with not too heavy fabrics. It can easily tidy up a shirt or dress. In addition to the main function, it can clean surfaces from lint and dust. Just 30 seconds after switching on, the device is completely ready for operation.

TOP 3 best steam generators

This is one of the most popular models. A very powerful system for a reasonable price. The model is equipped with a spacious 1.5 liter tank and is able to work even on hard water. So you don’t have to spend money on an additional filter. A special indicator will show the presence of scale. There is also a function of automatic shutdown.

Vitek VT-1224

Another good representative of the middle price category. The volume of the tank here is slightly less - about 1 liter, but the ironing system is equipped with a ceramic sole. The unit is able to work both vertically and horizontally. The only drawback is the weight - about 6 kg.

Tefal GV 8930

An advanced model, very popular with users, despite the rather high price. A wide range of settings allows you to cope with almost any type of fabric. Self-cleaning sole with non-stick coating is provided.

Tefal GV 8930 has a steam boost system and automatic shutdown, overheat protection with built-in sound notification. Due to the special technology, the issue of twisting the cord during ironing has been resolved.