Short Description

Many items of clothing can be hung or folded in such a way that ironing may not be necessary. For those things that must be ironed there are irons with many & varied features. Ideally an iron should be reasonably light & comfortable to use, it should get wrinkles out of delicate and heavy duty fabrics, equally the soleplate should glide smoothly, be easy to clean & have button slots.

More Details

POINTS TO CONSIDER :
* Ease of seeing the controls / temperature setting.
* Ease of use of controls / temperature setting.
* Ease of seeing water level.
* Ease of filling water tank.
* Weight.
* Comfort of handling contouring.
* Stability when standing upright.
* Manoeuvrability.
* Length of cord (in relation to available power points).
* Flexibility of cord (making it suitable for left & right handed people).
* Length & conditions of warranty.
* Ease of cleaning.
* Safety features eg. automatic power shut off, beep when iron is left
turned on.

FEATURES :
Commonly Available FEATURES :
* Capacity for steam and dry ironing.
* Variable heat settings for various fabrics.
* Lights to indicate 'on' and 'heating-up' to the required temperature.
Other Available FEATURES :
* Self cleaning capacity.
* 'Shot of steam'.
* Water spray for dampening clothes.
* Silverstone sole plate to reduce iron sticking to fabric.
* Thumb rest.
* Detachable water tank.
* Cordless irons (may not stay hot for long between bursts of power).
* Compact travel irons which are light and easy to handle.
* Auto shut off which cuts power to the iron if its left stationary for a certain length of time
* Thermal safety fuse is an emergency safety device that cuts power to the iron when the temperature reaches a dangerous level.

PEOPLE USEFUL FOR :
SUGGESTIONS For Those Who Experience Pain, Weakness or Stiffness or Have Poor Endurance :
* Don't iron sheets, tea towels, underwear, towels, etc.
* Buy clothes in wash and wear fabrics.
* Get someone else to do your ironing.
* An iron with the temperature settings above the handle may be easier to operate than one where they are on the body of the iron.
* A lightweight iron may be helpful.
* An iron with a swivel cord may be more manoeuvrable.
* A product which helps remove the plug from the power point may be useful.
SUGGESTIONS For Those With Sensory Loss :
* An iron with well contrasted markings and an obvious indicator light may be helpful to the person with a visual impairment.
* An iron which turns itself off after a certain period may be helpful to
the person with a memory loss.

SAFETY :
Available SAFETY Features after set period.
* Beep when iron is left on.
Additional Item That May Improve SAFETY :
* Some shields are available which fit over the iron or on top of the
clothing which prevents scorching or burning. They may allow you to iron
different fabrics without having to change the temperature.

COMMENTS :
For further information, check the yellow pages of the telephone book, Choice magazine, or talk to an electrical retailer.

FEEDBACK :
We are keen to receive feedback on the information we provide. If there are something we should add or need to change, please let us know. These are general suggestions - if you experience considerable difficulty in performing activities of daily living, consult an Occupational Therapist at a Community Health Centre, or Aged Care Assessment Team, or make an appointment at the ILC.

Standards

Some assistive technology needs to meet Australian or other standards. Standards may relate to materials, manufacturing and installation. Products that meet Australian or international standards will have written certification. To find out if a product meets Australian Standards ask the supplier to show you the certificate. For a fact sheet about standards contact us or visit www.ilcaustralia.org/home/standards.asp