Owners of curtains and drapes made of thick, heavy fabrics at some point face the need to clean them. But how to do this if regular washing and ironing are not suitable here? There is an excellent way to return such curtains to a neat appearance without even removing them from the window: treatment with a steam generator.
Content
Steam Generator: What is it for?
The essence of such a device is that it heats water to very high temperatures, converting it into steam. Then, hot steam is released under pressure onto the desired surface.
The steam generator has comprehensive functionality in the matter of curtain care. It is able to cope with all the main tasks.
- Smoothing fabric with steam. The easiest and fastest way to remove creases from curtains, without having to remove them.
- Removing dirt. Easily liquefies dirt, grease stains, effectively cleaning fabric.
- Odor removal. Textiles actively absorb any odors, hot steam will help get rid of them.
- Antibacterial treatment. Curtains can accumulate both harmful microorganisms and dust mites. Steam treatment will get rid of them due to high temperatures.
Depending on the main task, steam generators are divided into steamers and steam cleaners. The difference between these devices is that they serve different purposes.
The steam cleaner for curtains works on the basis of dry steam. It is used to get rid of stains, germs, and destroy dust mites. This method of cleaning curtains has its advantages. Firstly, this method is the most gentle. The device does not exert any mechanical impact on them, which eliminates damage to the structure of the fabric, leaving snags. Secondly, the steam cleaner for fabric curtains eliminates the need to use chemicals.
The steamer, in turn, works on the basis of producing wet steam. Its task is to smooth out curtains, give them a presentable appearance. Mainly, it is used on those types of fabrics that are difficult or contraindicated to iron.
Attention! Before starting work, be sure to read the marking on the fabric label. If there is such a symbol, steaming is prohibited.
There are two main types of steamers: hand-held and stationary (vertical), but only one of them is suitable for curtains.
The thing is that a handheld steamer is too weak to work with such large items as curtains. It is only suitable for clothes. And its water tank is very small - from 40 to 90 ml., which is extremely inconvenient.
A vertical, i.e. stationary, steam generator for curtains will become an indispensable assistant in this matter. However, there are some nuances here that you need to pay attention to.
The device not only irons, but also cleans and disinfects fabric.
Vertical steamer: what to look for when choosing
What characteristics will allow you to distinguish a good vertical curtain steamer from one that can disappoint? There are several.
- Steam supply intensity
The higher the better, in the range of 40 to 140 g/min. At lower intensity the quality of work will decrease proportionally.
- Power
Optimal from 1600 to 2600 W. The higher the power, the faster the water heats up. In addition, a device with a higher indicator is guaranteed to withstand long-term continuous use.
- Heating time
The interval from the moment water is collected in the tank until the device is ready for operation. Depending on the power, the process takes from 2 to 10 minutes.
- Number of modes
It's good if there are 2-3 modes to choose from, depending on the thickness of the fabric.
- Length of steam hose and cord
The electric cord is not less than 2 m, the hose is not less than 1.2 m. The main thing: they should not be short, this is extremely inconvenient!
- Water tank capacity
This determines how often you will have to stop working and fill up with water. The minimum volume of the tank should be at least 1 liter, but 2 liters is better.
- Availability of protection against scale
If such a system is not available, then special tablets must be added to the water each time before use. They are available for sale, but this is an additional expense.
Having sorted out all the desired characteristics, you can start choosing the model that suits you best. There are no problems with variety, on the contrary, there are so many options that it is easy to get confused.
Curtain Steamer – Rating of the Best
As part of the rating, we will consider 5 household models according to three criteria: customer reviews, technical capabilities and convenience when working with different types of fabrics.
1st place. Galaxy GL 6206
Probably the most popular model of vertical steamer.
Pros:
- Very powerful, 1800 W
- With a large 2.3L water tank
- Good steam supply – up to 40 mg/min
- The heating time is also pleasing – only 35 seconds
- At the same time, it is capable of working without interruption for more than an hour – 65 minutes.
- There is a steam supply adjustment and 8 different modes for different fabrics. Due to the high power
- It has a huge number of positive reviews due to its affordable price and good quality of work.
Cons:
- Owners note the main drawback - a short cord, which has a negative impact on the convenience of steaming.
2nd place. Kitfort KT-913
It is slightly inferior in its characteristics to the leader of the rating, but also has high ratings from owners.
Pros:
- The most powerful of all those presented in the rating, 2000 W
- Sufficient steam flow rate – 35 mg/min, although it could be higher
- A good indicator of water heating time is 1.5 minutes
- There is a four-mode steam supply adjustment
- Works well on thick fabrics
- Attractive design
- A large number of components
Cons:
- The water tank is not very capacious, only 1.3 l
- Short electric cord for working with curtains
3rd place. MIE Steam Master
It deservedly ranks among the top three thanks to customer reviews, compactness and versatility.
Pros:
- Good power of 1800 watts
- Fast water heating in 30 seconds
- Very high steam flow rate – 80 mg/min
- Perfectly smoothes even very dense fabrics
- Multifunctionality thanks to various accessories: irons, steams, cleans.
- Long cord 4.8 m helps in working with curtains
Cons:
- There is no button to rewind such a long cord
- The water tank is very small - only 0.9 l, it is inconvenient to pour water into it
4th place. Philips GC527/20 Easy Touch Plus
Owners like it for its compactness and delicate operation.
Pros:
- Average power with a rating of 1600 W
- Convenient water tank size – 1.6 l.
- Five different modes for different types of fabrics
- Perfectly steams all types of curtains and tulle
- There is a scale removal system
- The cord is not too short, of average length – 2 m.
Cons:
- During operation, the handle and hose of the device become noticeably hot.
- An unimpressive 32g/min steam flow.
5th place. Polaris PGS 1806VA
It was popular with customers due to its budget-friendly nature and ease of use.
Pros:
- Good power - 1800 W
- Produces steam at a flow rate of 40 g/min
- Heats up quickly, in 35 seconds
- There is a function for regulating the steam supply
- Very budget friendly
- Not heavy, weighs less than 3 kg
Cons:
- The tank volume is too small at 0.6 l
- It is difficult to put on the steam attachment
- The hose is kinked in some places
ATTENTION! Whichever steam generator for curtains you choose, remember safety precautions. Always direct the first stream of steam to the side – it is too powerful and long. During operation, hold the device carefully so that the hot steam does not accidentally burn you!
It is worth understanding that all steam generators listed in the rating are household, i.e. for use in the household! If you need more power and performance, then a professional steam generator will suit you.
Professional steamer - what are the advantages
This type of equipment is mainly used in hotels, shops, studios, curtain salons - where there are large volumes and time constraints. Moreover, both a professional master and an amateur can use them.
What are the main advantages of these units?
- Higher power – from 2000 W and steam intensity from 70 g/min.
- Boiler steam generation system. Under pressure, steam penetrates fabric fibers more easily and deeply.
- Larger water tank capacity 3 – 3.5 l. In addition, most models are equipped with a refill function.
- With such a large amount of water in the tank, the device heats it up in 30 – 45 seconds.
- Long continuous operation: on average, 2 hours and more.
- Versatility. Usually, such steamers can be used as steam cleaners due to the high temperatures of the steam produced.
- More convenient to work with, due to the hose being at least 2 m long and the cord being about 5 m long.
- Reliable housing that prevents the device from overheating even during long-term operation.
These brands include Karcher (Germany), Grand Master (Russia), Sauber (Sweden), MIE (Italy), Philips (Netherlands) and many others.
This device will become a reliable assistant on the way to perfectly ironed curtains. Regardless of which of the above models you choose!
