The sole of the eloxal iron - what is it?

No mistress represents his existence without an iron. And if such a necessary device has broken down, then we immediately run to the hardware store for a new one. The sole of the eloxal iron - what is it?- Such a question will inevitably arise for the majority of consumers when acquainting themselves with the assortment of various irons in the store. Those who bought the appliance for ironing not so long ago, managed to find out that technology has long gone ahead, and the soles of irons are not only made of aluminum and stainless steel. To choose an iron that meets exactly your needs, you need to familiarize yourself with all the innovations in this industry, their features, and then make a purchase. Otherwise, you, confused by unfamiliar terms( eloxal, Saphir, steamglide), buy something that is beneficial to the seller, and not something that suits you. In this article you will find information about different types of irons, and also find out that this is the sole of eloxal.

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Kinds of irons

On the properties it is possible to divide irons into:

• Simple( in them there is only a function of temperature regulation).This - home and road irons without additional "bloat."
• With a temperature regulator and a water spray( hole above the iron spout, which emits a jet of water when the button is pressed).And water, as we know, is sometimes needed when ironing some fabrics, flax for example.
• Steam irons. They have a water tank and a hole in the sole for the escape of steam, which helps to smooth out "difficult" types of tissues. In old models, steam is supplied only in a horizontal position, and in new ones - in a vertical one, too. This makes it possible to iron the steam of delicate fabrics directly on the trembler. In addition, they have a so-called "steam stroke" - a one-time powerful release of a portion of steam to smooth the folds on a dense or rigid fabric.
• Irons with steam generator, steam and ironing stations. These are expensive powerful professional ironing machines designed for clothing stores, ateliers and fashion houses. They are very rarely purchased for domestic use, since this technique is bulky, with a large water tank( designed for a large number of clothes) and consumes a lot of electricity, and it costs a lot.

The first two types are already the "last century".Such models are not in great demand today. Let us dwell on the most convenient for domestic use steam irons.

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The main differences between steam irons:

• An iron is not a washing machine with many additional functions. In it, the main function is the regulation of the temperature of the sole from the minimum( for synthetics) to the maximum( for flax, tweed).Different manufacturers may have different designations: numbers, dots, words.
• Also irons can differ in power:
  • low-power( 800 to 1400 W) - this is basically a small road model;
  • medium power( from 1400 to 1900 W) - for home use;
  • powerful( from 1900 W and more) are ironing installations for professionals.
• But the most important thing in an iron, on which we will dwell in detail, is its sole, and more specifically the material from which it is made. This, first of all, depends on the quality of ironing.

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What are the types of soles of irons?

The most important thing in the process of smoothing the fabric is how easily the iron slides over the surface and whether it will stick to it and leave shiny areas. For the safety of the iron itself, it is very important how much its sole is resistant to scratches, as metal parts are often found on clothes. Different materials react differently to similar problems. Consider this issue in more detail by studying the most common types of surfaces.

Ceramics( enamel, cermet and other)

It should be understood that the sole is not all ceramic, it's just a coating of enamel on metal( aluminum, steel or their alloys).But despite this, the advantages of this version of the sole are more than enough:

• Many prefer irons with ceramic soles, as they heat up quickly and hold heat for a long time.
• They also easily slide on any fabric, very manoeuvrable and easy to clean.

A significant disadvantage of ceramics is its fragility:

• can cause cracks and chips in case of accidental impact;
• when the iron falls even from a small height, the sole will completely fail.

Therefore, these iron models require careful handling.

Important! All well-known manufacturers have a line of irons with ceramic coating:

• Tefal;
• Philips;
• Bosch - proprietary ceramic coating Palladium glissee;
• Zelmer - technology Pro steam;
• Electrolux.

Teflon

This type of coating is often used in kitchen utensils, so many housewives prefer Teflon-coated irons, knowing that it does not stick to clothing.

Important! Such an iron will not leave scorching on the blouse and will not stick to it.

But it:

• Not so easily slips on the fabric and easily scratches about the zipper, buttons, other elements of the clothes decor.
• Shortlived. Over time, it is erased, so more modern technological soles materials gradually displace Teflon.

Important! Such irons are produced by Tefal, as well as Maxwell, Scarlett, Bosch.

Stainless steel

It is used in an overwhelming number of irons. This metal has many advantages:

• inexpensive;
• resistant to deformation and scratches;
• is corrosion resistant;
• easily slides over the surface of the fabric.

Previously, stainless steel was used for the production of soles of irons in its pure form, and now many cover it by spraying or applying alloys. This improves the speed and ease of sliding.

Important! First started using steel instead of aluminum company Rowenta( it produces a series of irons with a sole Microsteam 400 Platinum, which has a special spraying of the nanostructure and hundreds of micro-holes to create a steam cushion during ironing).

Aluminum

This metal has taken the place of cast iron in the production of irons, as it is smoother and lighter.

Its significant disadvantages are:

• softness - it is very easy to scratch and deform;
• on some tissues it leaves las( shiny traces).

So the soles of pure aluminum have not been used for a long time.

Important! Many manufacturers have developed their patented alloys and coatings, which retain all the advantages of aluminum, neutralizing its shortcomings. The first in this list are the companies Braun and Philips. Let's dwell on their achievements in more detail, since irons with such soles are very popular among buyers.

Eloxal sole

Braun has developed a new firm coating - the outsole eloxal( stands for "oxidized aluminum electrolyte").

This technology, which, by the way, is successfully used in other areas, for example in the automotive industry, allows to achieve serious resistance to damage, but at the same time:

• light weight;
• excellent thermal conductivity;
• is an affordable price for aluminum.

Important! Irons with eloxal soles are presented in the Texstyle series( for example, Braun Texstyle 5, where there is an additional sole for ironing delicate fabrics).

Sole Sapphire( Saphir)

Another interesting development of the company Braun. They patented the production of a soleplate of stainless steel, which is coated with corundum - a hard mineral, grown artificially.

What this gives:

• The material has a great hardness on the Mohs scale( near the diamond).It was renamed for sonority into sapphire, which undoubtedly attracts the attention of buyers.
• This "sapphire spraying" gives the sole of the iron super strength, durability and perfect slip.

Important! With such an ironing device, you can fearlessly stroking dresses with zippers, shirts with metal buttons and rivets. This in no way will damage the coating. A bright example of the model is the Braun SI 530 iron.

Steamglide sole

Philips, in turn, offers us its vision of an ideal iron for demanding housewives. The sole is made of alloy steel. This is a multi-layered surface consisting of alloys of metals, silicon, ceramics, and also an oxide layer to increase strength.

Its characteristics:

• It is scratch resistant and easily slides through the fabric.
• Another feature of this product line is the presence of numerous holes of different sizes and shapes for the exit of steam( "steam sliding"), which creates a steam cushion during ironing.

Important! Not so long ago Philips released new models, with the sole of T-ionicGlide, and stated that they are even stronger and have more holes for steam, which improves the quality of ironing.

Other innovations:

• In addition, Philips has a series of irons with soles of Сareeza and Anodilium - an alloy of yellowish color, aluterm( aluminum after heat treatment).It does not burn, it moves easily along the fabric, leaving no puffs on thin material and is resistant to scratches.
• The soleplate of anodized aluminum is developed and successfully used by Electrolux( Superior glide EDB 75400).It is not inferior in quality to the above models.
• Bosch has developed its know-how "Inox" - an aluminum sole( with its excellent thermal conductivity) was coated with a layer of stainless steel( with its resistance to mechanical damage).The Inox soles of Bosch irons( for example, model B25L professional or TLB4003N), quickly heat up and cool down, perfectly smooth and steam the fabric, are very resistant to scratches.

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On which iron to choose?

After you got acquainted with the pros and cons of different types of irons, you learned not only about the sole of the eloxal iron - what it is, but about all other options, you can safely go for a new thing. What should I pay special attention to when choosing ironing equipment?

Size:

• If you iron a little and mostly clothes, and besides, often travel, then get a small iron with a sole made of stainless steel.
• And if you iron often and a lot, then the iron should be with a large area of ​​the sole to shorten the time and effort when ironing.

The steam function of

Almost all models of irons are produced with the function of steam( about old models without it, and it is not worth talking), which at times facilitates the ironing process:

• But if you often come across a "hard-to-grind" fabric,a steam blow and a sharp spout( to get everywhere).
• If you like clothes made of silk, chiffon and fine synthetics, then it will be easier to iron it directly on the shoulders with an iron with the function of vertical steaming.

Important! The additional function of self-cleaning from scale will be useful.

Kind of sole:

• With frequent ironing of different clothes, it is important to be sure that the iron does not threaten anything( scratches, cinders).Therefore, it is best to bypass the store irons with soles of aluminum and Teflon, but the rest should be considered.
• If you have enough money - take a look at the iron with a titanium sole. Nice and ceramics, but only if you will be careful with it.
• If you are not ready to pay a lot of money for an iron, then stainless steel or aluminum in combination with alloys and special coatings is the most durable, light and budgetary option( eloxal sole, for example).

Manufacturers

Here on the taste and color, as they say, you can not find comrades. Very often we give preference to a certain brand, which in practice has confirmed its quality. Most choose the products of European manufacturers, there are, of course, and lovers of domestic brands.

The only thing to emphasize your attention - buy irons from official representatives, where you will be given a guarantee and will provide service repair if necessary. Do not take in the markets of goods of unknown Chinese "scrapers".You can now save, and a week later throw the iron in the trash.

After acquainting yourself with all the important nuances of choosing an iron, you will get a really good model that fits all your requirements.