Modern steam irons and ironing stations are becoming increasingly popular. They make housework easier and deliver good results.
Also, they are becoming increasingly affordable. No wonder that the models that work with water vapor are becoming increasingly popular. But how exactly is it with the handling of these irons?
Does it always have to be distilled water or can I use conventional tap water?
The hardness of water
You have probably heard of water having different levels of hardness in different regions. This is because tap water is groundwater that absorbs different minerals on its way from the ground to our tap.
The more lime and magnesium the water contains in an area, the harder it becomes.
The consequence of particularly hard water is that it calcifies kitchen and household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, and kettles.
Steam irons are also affected if you use exclusively tap (hard) water. The problem here is if the nozzles from which the steam comes out calcify, the iron begins to drip.
Not only is this extremely impractical, but it can also result in the clothes getting water stains.
To avoid this annoyance, you should take care not to use tap water only, if your area has particularly hard water.
Below we will mention some simple solution to avoid calcification on irons:
Resway Distilled Water
Solution # 1: Distilled water
When the first steam irons came onto the market, it was common practice to fill them with distilled water only to avoid damage. Most manufacturers now point out that it is safe to use normal tap water.
The fact is: If you live in an area with high water hardness, it makes perfect sense to mix tap water with distilled water.
However, that doesn’t mean that you only need to use distilled water when using a steam iron to smooth out your clothes.
If you want to use only distilled water, you can find it easily in the market.
You can buy distilled water at the petrol station, in the hardware store, and some supermarkets. The water is immediately ready for use and does not have to be treated or prepared again.
Solution # 2: Built-in water filter
Nowadays anti-limescale systems are common in most of the steam irons and ironing stations. They work relatively simply and are very functional.
The filters extract the minerals from the water so that there is less calcification.
Even if irons with built-in water filters are more expensive, the purchase is worthwhile because the water filters significantly extend the life of the device.
Solution # 3: External filters
You already have an iron, but it doesn’t have the anti-limescale filter you want?
No problem, there are also external systems that filter the water outside the iron before it flows through the nozzles as steam.
The great advantage of external filters is that they are not tied to a special iron model.
This means that you can use the system for multiple irons or lend it to friends and family. This is practical and also saves money.
