Which iron sole is the best?

There are a large number of interesting and high-quality models of irons. Manufacturers are trying to make decent products that will delight their owners for many years. One of the most important selection criteria is the properties of the sole, since the fabric is smoothed out by the contact of the hot surface with the fibers. That is why the characteristics of this part of the appliance directly affect both the ironing process and its result.

Before you buy a decent device, you need to find out about all the characteristics of a particular material from which the sole is made. There are some requirements to consider.

• The surface should slide easily and easily. Calm movement on the fabric is necessary. A person shouldn't make a lot of effort.
• It is necessary to purchase a device that can carefully and accurately smooth the fabric, will not melt them, and will not leave any creases or other problem areas.
• The sole should be heated evenly, since the same temperature at every point of the surface contributes to the rapid smoothing of the fabric without the possibility of damage.

• The sole must be durable and strong. When the ironing process takes place, the device comes into contact with snakes, buttons, buttons and other plastic or metal elements. Also, the device may fall or be hit by accident. If the outsole is of good quality, it has good resistance to any damage and can last a long time.
• The best option is a device that is easy and simple to maintain.The sole will not form carbon deposits created by melted fibers. And if it does appear, then a high-quality device will make it easy to get rid of this problem.

Today, a large assortment of models from a variety of materials is presented. Choosing the most suitable one, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the characteristics, as well as the positive and negative qualities of each of them.

Aluminum is a very practical and most common material found in many manufacturers. A worthy replacement for cast iron irons, which were incredibly heavy, took a long time to heat up, and their surface was rough. This material has many advantages:

• light enough;
• heats up and cools down quickly;
• has an adequate cost.

Like any other material, aluminum has disadvantages:

• not very good resistance to damage: small scratches may appear on the sole, which during ironing will cling to the fibers and damage the fabric;
• if there is slight damage, then carbon and dust will accumulate in them;
• over time, sliding becomes poor;
• after ironing, you can sometimes see shiny areas on things.

To avoid a lot of inconvenience, manufacturers offer anodized aluminum. The material is processed, after which an oxide film appears on it. This allows the outsole to be stronger.

It has excellent resistance to mechanical stress and rust, the material is able to serve for a long time. Such a sole glides well on the fabric, it heats up evenly. The cost is higher than that of the aluminum options, but despite this, the price is still adequate. The steel sole is easy to clean and will not leave creases or marks on the fabric.

Stainless steel soles have several drawbacks: they weigh quite a lot and take a long time to warm up. Many manufacturers have tried to save consumers from such problems and supplemented the material with other metals. These options are strikingly different from conventional stainless soles. Chromium is able to protect the device from rust and allows it to serve for many years.

Various combinations of aluminum and steel have allowed manufacturers to achieve excellent thermal conductivity and high slip of the outsole. This helps to smooth even heavily wrinkled fabrics. To improve the durability and non-stick properties of steel, laser processing is used.

A device with a ceramic coating is one of the most worthy options. For the manufacture of the coating, inorganic materials and mineral additives are used. They are applied to an aluminum or steel base. Positive aspects of the coating:

• easily and easily glides over the fabric;
• is very careful about textile things;
• easy to clean;
• heats up evenly;
• has an average price.

The main disadvantage is that enamel is a fragile material. If the coating comes in contact with buttons and other metal elements, this can damage it. When a chip appears, the spraying can peel off. Some time after the start of operation, the surface of the sole is covered with cracks, which are quite difficult to get rid of.

Due to the low strength of the ceramic version, other materials are often added to it. It can be nickel, chromium and other alloys.Such surfaces are called sintered metal. With the help of nickel, the sole acquires a golden tone, while chrome gives it a blue tint. Sintered metal is extremely durable, it can withstand impact or other mechanical stress.

There are also options made of titanium. The titanium sole is very durable, it will not form scratches, it is protected from chips and cracks. Incredibly durable, non-stick properties. Glides well on fabric, heats up evenly. It weighs quite a lot.

Most often it is offered at a high price due to its impeccable quality. It takes a long time to warm up. Titanium coating is a good option for those who need to purchase a quality item that will last a long time.

Today there are many different models that are striking in their quality and durability. Let's consider several of the most worthy and demanded options.

• Eloxal iron sole made of aluminum alloys. They are processed and oxidized with an electrolyte solution. This allows the metal to be more durable and last for many years. The base has good protection against rust and glides perfectly on the surface of the fabric. After using such devices, there will be no clues or damage on the clothes.

• Steamglide - robust model made of ceramic or glass-ceramic. This option is highly durable, the sole glides very easily over the fibers of the fabric. The entire area of ​​the sole is covered with small holes, each of which has its own diameter. The ironing process is as follows: the device does not touch the material, but moves along the pillow created with the holes and steam. This way things are smoothed out perfectly.
• Saphir - the sole of the iron is composed of an alloy of zinc, chromium, aluminum and nickel. These metals create an extremely durable and damage-resistant coating that resembles sapphire in its properties. To improve the quality of the sole, its surface is treated with sapphire chips.

You should buy only high-quality products that will not break after a short period of time. In order for the iron to work well and for a long time, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the following nuances.

1. The best option is a product with a slightly rounded back. Such an iron will not wrinkle things.
2. The iron with a sharp nose is able to iron even the most difficult to reach places.
3. The holes in the outsole are extremely important for a quality shoe. If there are a lot of them, then such an iron will be able to steam the fabrics without any problems. This type of sole is most comfortable when ironing heavily creased fabrics.
4. Manufacturers supply modern models with a thin edge, which makes it easy and simple to bring the device under metal or plastic elements (for example, buttons that will not melt from high temperatures).

To choose the right iron, you should learn about all the features, as well as the pros and cons of the material of manufacture. Only in this case can you determine which sole is needed. You can familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the materials by studying the reviews on the Internet. Users recommend titanium-coated or sapphire-coated stainless steel for those looking for a durable and extremely reliable instrument.

If good non-stick properties are a priority, choose a Teflon or aluminum-based ceramic coating. Each type of coverage has its own nuances, so you need to choose based on individual preferences. There are removable soles that protect the product from damage and plaque. Owners of various models recommend this option to those who want to keep the device safe and sound for many years.

The best of the options is a titanium product, which, although heavy, is of the highest quality and durable. However, most often stainless steel bases are chosen because of their good quality and reasonable cost.

For information on how to choose an iron on the sole, see the next video.