Ironing out your problems.

The article discusses how an iron works. The two styles are the steam electric iron and the all-steam iron. On the steam electric iron there is a thumb switch that activates an electric solenoid, which releases steam through the iron. On an all-steam iron, there are no electrical components; the thumb lever opens a mechanical valve to release steam. The choice of an iron should be based on what kind of garments one will be finishing. The steam electric iron is slightly heavier, and definitely hotter. Irons are not designed to be waved around squirting steam everywhere. The excessive flexing is especially hard on the hoses and wires.