How Does a Clothes Iron Work?
A History of Irons A clothes iron is a small appliance used to remove the wrinkles from fabric. A iron consists of a heated plate that has a handle and is pressed onto fabric. The first irons were made of iron (hence, the name) and were heated on a stove or over coals. Some versions were even hollow, which allowed them to be filled with heated coals. These early irons had several clear disadvantages, the least of which is the inability to control the temperature. Today irons are heated electrically and have temperatures that vary, which allows them to be used on a variety of fabrics. How Irons Work Irons work by heating the molecules within the fabric so they become loose. The weight of the pressure exerted on the iron flattens the fabric. When the fabric cools, it retains the new flat shape and will be wrinkle-free. Certain fabrics (like cottons) have molecular bonds that are more difficult to alter and are more difficult to iron. These fabrics require high temperatures and more press
