The Cordless Steam Iron and Its History

Over the last 50 years the idea of going cordlessThese tools had batteries that could sustain
has bled over into a lot of industries and products.operation for a half hour or more before needing
These range from cordless phones, wirelessrecharging.
laptops, cordless tools, and even cordless steamSince then the technology has improved and you
irons. You may be wondering why you wouldcan now use cordless tools such as drills or
want to go cordless with an iron or why it's a bigscrewdrivers for several hours at a time. A
deal. The simple fact of the matter is that cordcordless steam iron will only last about 1 to 3
can cause an immense amount of trouble whenhours due to the energy needed but that's plenty
you're trying to maneuver.of time to take care of the laundry. Due note
This is the same complaint that's lodged againstthat there are various designs for steam irons
any appliance when there's a cord involved and it'sand not all of them use the traditional method of
perhaps the most valid argument for making itboiling a tank of water on the unit itself.
cordless. While some household items like a phoneSome models use special materials and heating
aren't that dangerous with a cord other itemselements to generate steam pressure inside the
such as irons are. The most damage that youunit and therefore produce their own steam
could do with a phone is possibly trip someone orwithout water. These units do burn out eventually
get yourself twisted up in the wire. An iron on thethough and need to be replaced. Aside from using
other hand has the possibility of burning throughbatteries to power cordless irons there have been
the actual cord if there is a mishap in handling.earlier attempts to make the common household
Now most people aren't going to do thisitem cordless.
intentionally but just like with electric turkeyOne such idea was to fill the iron with boiling
knives accidents are known to happen. Whatwater and use the resulting steam pressure until
makes the iron a bit more dangerous than thethe water cooled. When it cooled it would need to
turkey knife is that steam has moisture in it.be reheated and the steam pressure was
Apply a hot metal surface to an exposed liverestored. This would continue until the water inside
wire with moisture in between them and sparksof the iron evaporated and then the unit would
will literally fly. Thus the need to make theneed refilling.
traditional iron cordless has been very strong inThe idea of a cordless steam iron is nothing new,
households.like all current cordless devices its development
However until recently the idea has been put onwas rough and there were many failed models.
the back burner due to battery technologyHowever as technology advanced and became
limitations. In order to constantly heat water tomore reliable the idea of a cordless iron was finally
the boiling point to produce steam you needrealized. The result was an iron that can be used
energy and typical household batteries won't lastfor a few hours before needing recharged with
long under long term ironing. The solution cameperformance at the same level as old fashioned
with the development of cordless power tools.wired models.