The modern electric iron is much safer than not only the first electric irons, but also the pre-electric ironing tools on which current products are based. The evolution of iron was well advanced before electricity appeared. For the most part, each step forward made irons easier to use, but they didn’t necessarily make them safer until the second half of the 20th century, when electric irons were advanced and perfected. In fact, early electric irons may have been even more dangerous than their furnace-heated and hot-coal predecessors, largely because people still didn’t know how to use electricity safely, especially for heating mechanisms.

Fortunately, today’s story is quite different. The modern electric irons that you will find on the shelves of any department store or in an online catalog undoubtedly come with many safety features. Certainly the more basic a model is, the more basic its safety features. Not all irons have all of the considerations listed below, but these are some of the main safety features found on modern electric irons. “

• Auto power off. The automatic shut-off feature will generally come on (turning the iron off) for one of two reasons. Either the iron has been left on for a certain period of time (considered ‘too long for normal use’ and therefore potentially forgotten), or it has been left upside down for too long (which will probably cause something to fall apart. burn me). If it is turned off by mistake, you can easily turn it back on immediately without losing heat.
• Non-stick plate. The metal plate that directly touches clothing tends to adhere to certain materials if it is moved too slowly or if the materials were too wet or too dry, causing burns and possible fires. Almost all plates today are non-stick by design, which minimizes this risk.
• Insulated retractable lanyard. The iron cord could be a problem if it melts or burns easily, so modern cables are well insulated to reduce that risk. Many models also have retractable cords, which is certainly convenient, but it also reduces the chance of you (or a child or pet) tripping or getting tangled in the cord.