9 facts about the iron that used to be a flock of sheep

The electric iron was patented in America by Henry Seeley in June 1882. It would seem that it is an ordinary household appliance, but several interesting facts are associated with it. In the XXI century, there is an iron in every home. But there were times that are extremely difficult for our contemporaries to imagine. It was then that this device was not an obligatory attribute, but rather exotic, chic.

A bit of history …

In ancient times, folds were removed from clothing with the help of cobblestones, preheated to a certain temperature. Irons, which were used in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, had a similar shape to the modern shape. These were cast iron fixtures that were heated in a conventional oven before use. Since they quickly lost heat, they had to be constantly warmed up.

It is interesting! Since the second half of the nineteenth century, quite expensive models have appeared in European countries that run on oil, kerosene and, no matter how strange it may sound, on alcohol.

Curious facts about the iron

Here are a selection of funny moments that most people have never heard of:

• The name itself came to us from the East. In our country, only the last letter was added to the word "utyu" - "g".

Irons that were heated in the oven cooled down very quickly. To establish a normal ironing process, people used several devices at the same time, the size of which could be different. The devices were heavy and required a lot of strength (physical) from the user, as well as concentration and memory. It was necessary to constantly remember which of the irons and when exactly was placed in the oven for heating.

In the 19th century, an alcohol-powered iron was so expensive that a flock of sheep could be bought for it.

Heavy cast iron irons are still produced in Poland. And they have a lot of fans.

In ancient Rome, they used their own techniques to remove folds from clothing. People simply took hammers made of metal and pounded them on the fabric.

The weight of the ancient iron could be very impressive. Often, the design reached ten kilograms. Naturally, the simple procedure was not easy to follow.

In some regions of our country in the seventeenth century, the iron was considered an item indicating prosperity and wealth. He occupied a place of honor next to the samovar.

You can iron not only things and fabrics. In London, guests of prestigious hotels are asked to iron newspapers. They needed this so that the press would not get their hands dirty. Not so long ago, Michael Raphael received an award for his unusual use of the iron. At one of the culinary art competitions, he managed to fry the sole of the sole in a creamy sauce on the sole of the device.

In the Yaroslavl region, in Pereslavl-Zalessky, an unusual museum of irons was opened. It contains and presents expositions of structures that have been used for three centuries.

Little tricks for hostesses

Henry Seeley used a spiral to create a new generation iron. He placed it inside the structure, and this allowed him to achieve a heating effect. Over time, the device received other very useful and relevant functions - thermostatic control, steaming. But at the very beginning of the development of irons, it was not possible to regulate the temperature. In this regard, the soles of devices often overheated. As a result, things deteriorated, often burned out. Of course, modern models practically do not cause such troubles. Nevertheless, you need to take care of the device correctly, and then the iron will not only last a long time, but will not spoil any thing.

• There are specially designed pencils for removing carbon deposits from textile fibers, formed plaque or scale stains from the soleplate. The instructions say to what temperature the iron should be heated, after which the pencil is applied to the heated surface. After that, the sole is wiped with a soft cloth.

If synthetic particles adhere to the aluminum or chrome-plated non-stick surface, they can be easily removed. For this, a wooden spatula is taken and all foreign particles are removed. In conclusion, it is necessary to walk the device on the terry.

It happens that spots form on the sole. In this case, ordinary hydrogen peroxide is the ideal remedy. It is enough to moisten a cotton swab in it and treat the work surface.

Many users have encountered polyethylene adhesion to the iron - ordinary film. This nuisance is perfectly eliminated with nail polish remover.

If rust appears, don't panic too. A cleaning powder for kitchen items (dishes) copes well with it. After finishing the cleaning process, the sole must be wiped with a clean, dry cloth.

Each piece has its own interesting story and the iron is no exception. Modern models of irons have made the ironing process much easier. But in order for it to be comfortable and productive, it is important to pay attention to the little things and eliminate them in time. Moreover, this is not difficult to do.

Technologies do not stand still - what seemed fantastic yesterday is becoming an everyday reality today. Read about innovations that make our life more comfortable.