By James Wells

SYDNEY: Electrolux Home Products will release a tumble dryer called Iron Aid (RRP $2,108) on Monday that uses steam to reduce the wrinkles in clothing in a similar way to the LG Steam Washer Dryer launched last year.

According Electrolux Home Products marketing director, Nick Gibson, the new product is designed to reduce the amount of time people iron, which is considered to be one of the most disliked household chores.

“Iron Aid is a unique technological innovation, with special steam cycles that will reduce, or even eliminate, the need to iron, saving the hassle and time associated with this chore,” Gibson said.

“The thoughtful design uses steam to reduce and remove wrinkles and creases, to deliver ready-to-wear clothes. Up to five wrinkle free shirts can be produced in just 20 minutes.

“Furthermore, doing the thinking for you, the Iron Aid can refresh and de-odorise clothing, even dry clean only garments. Visits to the dry cleaner are often linked to a need to de-wrinkle or refresh garments, so Iron Aid is sure to cut those dry cleaning bills.”

The refreshment cycle has been specifically developed for de-wrinkling delicate garments and odour removal with steam. For example, one suit, one to two trousers or one to two jackets that are ‘dry clean only’ garments, such as silk and wool can be refreshed in just 20 minutes with the Iron Aid.

Equipped with automated sensors, Iron Aid will automatically dry wet clothes prior to dewrinkling. In total, Iron Aid offers consumers the opportunity to dewrinkle up to five shirts, or a total of 3kg of standard cotton items per cycle.

“Iron Aid has been specifically developed over several years to ensure the end result will make our consumers lives more enjoyable. Not only does it significantly reduce ironing time, but the cycle helps relax the textile fibres, making it much easier to iron clothing, should the need arise.

“Further, the ‘dry clean only’ label no longer needs to instil fear into the hearts of its owners. Many consumers have dry cleaning bills for refreshing their suits, purely because they may not smell fresh – this is now a thing of the past.” said Gibson.

Similar to the Iron Aid, the LG Steam Washing system, which was developed by LG over two years of research and development, was designed to provide consumers with a more convenient and hygienic method of washing and cleaning clothes, with such key features as the dual spray system, which sprays both water and steam on clothes continuously throughout the wash cycle to improve wash performance.

The LG Steam Washer also features a 20-minute Steam Refresh Cycle which refreshes clothes with steam to deodorise and reducing creasing without using detergent or taking water into the drum.