The Electrolux condenser tumble dryer uses steam to make ironing easier and saves on dry cleaning bills

One of the most universally despised chores, ironing is a killer-app opportunity. With this in mind, household appliance innovator Electrolux has introduced a new type of condenser tumble dryer that cleverly uses steam to make the job of ironing easier. 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. The 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 and the Iron Aid can refresh and de-odorise even “dry clean only” garments and will refresh a silk or wool suit in 20 minutes. The product was released in Europe earlier this year, achieving its projected annual sales figures for 2007 by the end of March. Like we said, ironing is a killer-app opportunity, and this product appears to be a contender.

The refreshment cycle has been specifically developed for de-wrinkling delicate garments and odour removal with steam. For example, one suit or 1-2 trousers or 1-2 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 significantly reduces ironing time, and 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.