If you need to quickly organize things with a complex cut, you should give preference to a vertical steamer. It is ideal for treating clothes on a hanger, with a large water tank, telescopic hanger stand and efficient steam output. In this context, the Polaris PGS 1860VA model deserves attention. All that remains is to check how well it copes with the assigned tasks.
Characteristics
| Manufacturer | Polaris |
|---|---|
| Model | PGS 1860VA |
| Type | steamer |
| Modification | floor |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Guarantee | 1 year |
| Life time * | 3 years |
| Declared power | 1800 W |
| Steam power | 45 g/min |
| Tank capacity | 1.6 l |
| Time to prepare for work | 35 seconds |
| Continuous operation time | 35 minutes |
| Auto shut off without water | No |
| Steam modes | 2 |
| Maximum steam temperature | 98°C |
| Control | mechanical |
| Housing material | plastic |
| Accessories | telescopic stands, hanger with hangers and trouser clips, two protective gloves, brush attachment, plate for steaming collars and pockets |
| Steam hose length | 1.46 m |
| Adjustable stand height | 106—150 cm |
| Weight | 4.2 kg |
| Dimensions (W×H×D) | 310×340×330 mm |
| Network cable length | 2 m |
* Contrary to popular belief, this is not the time limit after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its performance and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.
Equipment
The Polaris PGS 1860VA steamer is supplied in a durable cardboard box with a matte finish. On the front side of the box in a blue and white gradient there is a photograph of the device, the company logo, the full name of the model and key characteristics. The reverse side contains similar information in English. The side edges complement the packaging with more detailed descriptions and photographs of the device. On the top cover, in addition to the large Polaris logo, there is a QR code that redirects to the page for this model on the company’s official website.
For ease of carrying, the box is equipped with slots on the sides. Inside, the steamer and all its components, each in a separate plastic bag, are firmly fixed with cardboard inserts.
The package contained:
- steamer body with water tank and steam hose
- telescopic stand
- clothes hanger
- two protective gloves of different sizes
- brush attachment
- device for steaming collars, pockets and cuffs
- instruction manual and warranty card
At first sight
The basis of the design of the vertical steamer is a square base with a matte white plastic coating.
There is a drain plug on the left side of the base. To drain the water, turn the plug to the left and pull it towards you.
On the back side there is a removable water tank with a small viewing window to monitor the filling level.
On the right side of the body there is a scale with four marks: 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1 l. The stated maximum volume is 1600 ml, but in fact 1460 ml is placed in the container to the top.
To make it easier to remove the container, there is a special recess in the upper part for easy grip by hand. If you need to fill the tank with water, just take it out, turn it over and unscrew the lid. The hole for filling water has a fairly wide diameter — 3 centimeters.
The base of the steamer is securely installed on the floor, and the tank in the body, although not specially fixed, is firmly held by the sides in the socket. Under the tank, closer to the base, the power supply comes out through a 185 cm long cord.
A steam hose emerges from the top of the base, which is covered with a fabric braid. The length of the hose to the plastic sprayer (steam iron) is 118 cm.
The iron has a metal coating measuring 13x6.3 cm, perfectly smooth and scratch-free. In small recesses there are holes through which plastic tubes pass to supply steam. The device is comfortable to hold in your hand, and the hose feels durable and stable.
The device is controlled using a mechanical round knob with a clock stroke, located next to the outlet of the steam hose.
The metal stand consists of four sections with three plastic clips.
The clamps look reliable and strong, firmly fixing the metal tubes at the required height. The maximum height of the stand from the floor reaches 145 cm. The base of the stand provides strong stability, and removal from the hole requires significant effort, which eliminates accidental falls and provides an additional feeling of reliability.
At the very top of the stand there is a plastic rod 1.5 cm high. You can install a holder for an iron on it.
There is no holder on the rod for fixation. When installing the component there is no tight fit, which gives it a slight free movement on the rack. This allows the hanger to be rotated on the hook around the rack.
Instead of using a stand holder, you can also use a hanger with clips that has a special mount for an iron.
The design of the hanger itself is comfortable, the width of the hangers is adjustable, its maximum is 48 cm.
The clips are easy to remove, strong, and don't feel like they could break easily.
The steamer kit includes two heat-protective gloves made of silver synthetic fabric (one 25 cm long, the other 22 cm), as well as a hard matte plastic plate for steaming collars, cuffs and pockets.
For cleaning clothes or furniture, the Polaris PGS 1860VA comes with a brush attachment with moderately stiff bristles. This element is easily attached to the iron using a latch. At the top of the attachment there is a handle for moving the frame with the brush forward from the frame. However, it may not be entirely clear how much benefit this might bring.
Instructions
The instruction manual is presented in the form of a 43-page brochure in three languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh.
The document, produced on thick, glossy paper, adheres to the classic Polaris design. It has a clear structure, where all the information provided is presented consistently and supported by illustrations. The text is easy to read, and after reading the documentation there are no questions left regarding the operation of the device.
Control
Since the Polaris PGS 1860VA steamer has two steam power levels (as indicated in the documentation), operating it is extremely simple. The desired mode is selected using a three-position rotary switch with a soft stroke. Moving the switch to the minimum or maximum steam supply position is accompanied by the operation indicator illuminating in blue.
Exploitation
Before you start using the steamer, you need to place it on the floor, install the stand, adjusting its height, fill the tank with water and turn on the heating. It is recommended to use distilled or filtered water.
Warming up a full tank takes only 35 seconds, as stated in the technical specifications. The steam comes out in a powerful stream without delay, even when the iron is hanging in the holder on the stand.
During testing, it was found that there are no differences between the two steam power modes, which was confirmed by measurements. Still, the power turned out to be good and optimal for various types of fabrics, although it was noted that there is only one of it, and not two, as indicated in the technical specifications. One full boiler is enough for 30 minutes of operation.
When using the steam vent, drops of water will sometimes be ejected. Although a puddle does not form, the tissues become noticeably moisturized. However, there are no stains left on the material. It should be noted that the reason for this is not that the reservoir is completely filled with water — at the moment of maximum water release, the container was half filled.
The weight of the iron and its shape remain comfortable even during prolonged use. The device is not equipped with an auto-shut-off function when inactive or lack of water. There is also no indication of lack of water, so you must independently ensure that the steamer is turned off in a timely manner. The window for viewing the water level is quite small and is located at the bottom of the back of the case.
The steam hose heats up moderately without presenting a risk of burns. The hose is limited in length, which can make it difficult to handle large items such as curtains or a sofa.
The brush itself is comfortable to use; its bristles are quite stiff. Under the influence of steam and when force is applied to the furniture, it does not soften or lose its shape. The brush effectively removes hairs and lint from the material.
The gloves really provide reliable protection against burns, and a special device for steaming collars and cuffs is not only convenient, but also effective.
The device operates silently, during the steaming process you can only hear a pleasant soft gurgling and hissing caused by the release of steam.
Care
It is recommended to clean the steamer body, hose and spray nozzle with a soft, slightly damp cloth. It is important to remember that the use of chemically aggressive and abrasive products is strictly prohibited. It is not recommended to leave water in the tank after work; it should be completely drained or allowed to evaporate.
To keep the device in good condition, it is recommended to periodically, approximately every 50 hours of use, carry out a descaling procedure. The process involves filling the tank one-third full with water, installing it in the base, partially filling the boiler, removing the tank, and draining the water through the plugged drain hole into the sink. It is recommended to repeat this action 2-3 times until all scale is completely removed.
Our measurements
The maximum recorded power consumption of the Polaris PGS 1860VA steamer was 1650 W, which is slightly lower than stated. The power in minimum mode is not much different and averages 1630 W. During an hour of operation, the device consumes 1.617 Wh.
The heating time specified by the manufacturer is confirmed by practice: just 35 seconds after switching on, the iron begins to actively supply steam.
The metal surface of the iron heats up to 35-45 degrees, and the surface of the hose — up to 60-67 degrees. The heating temperature of the plastic body of the atomizer reaches 37 degrees.
Practice tests
T-shirt with print
We started traditionally with a cotton T-shirt. In this test, we were primarily interested in whether strong steam would damage the drawing.
As you can see, all the jams are gone and everything is fine with the print. It took about 2 minutes to process the T-shirt. The back of the product did not have to be processed; the steam penetrated the fabric well from the front side.
Result: excellent.
Thick knit sweater
The test lasted about another 4 minutes with a knitted sweater that was heavily crumpled after careless storage. As in all tests, we pulled the fabric from below with our left hand, and moved the iron over the material with our right hand.
One or two passes were enough for the folds to disappear without a trace. We processed this thing from both sides.
Result: excellent.
Linen-cotton blend shirt
This shirt does not work with every steamer, and not all irons can handle it. The fabric is dense, and before testing it was deliberately wrinkled and overdried on the battery.
The steamer coped well with this difficult task and left only a few wrinkles. The plate for steaming the collar and cuffs came in handy. With her help, we smoothed out the bottom line of the shirt.
The item no longer looked chewed, although, as in previous tests, it was slightly moistened with water flying out of the iron along with the steam.
Result: very good.
100% cotton jumper
A powerful stream of steam easily straightened out the wrinkles on the jumper. Only a couple of drops of water got onto the material.
Result: excellent.
Polycotton trousers
We steamed trousers made of thick fabric consisting of 65% cotton and 35% polyester on the supplied hanger using clips.
Basically, all the wrinkles from the fabric disappeared quickly. The problem for the steamer turned out to be strong accordion-shaped creases in the upper part of the trousers and a couple of strips from storage when folded.
No matter how hard we tried, we were unable to completely get rid of the folds. The water in this test leaked through the nozzles again, but subsequently dried out without leaving any traces.
Result: good.
Jeans
Unlike trousers, jeans steamed quickly and completely. Despite the density of the fabric and severe wrinkles, it was not difficult to put this item in order using the steamer.
Result: excellent.
Chiffon dress
To gently steam the chiffon, we decided to start the process from the bottom. After quickly becoming convinced of the beneficial effects of the steamer on the material, we extended the process to the entire length of the fabric. As in previous tests, we supported the bottom with our hand, moving the iron close to the fabric. The steamer demonstrated high efficiency and several times displaced a significant amount of water along with steam onto the fabric. However, the moisture quickly dried out.
As a result, the dress is fine, absolutely all the small folds are gone, the fabric itself is not deformed, and the ironing did not leave any snags. Fast, convenient and if not for the water, then great.
Result: good.
conclusions
The Polaris PGS 1860VA steamer has demonstrated excellent results in practice, successfully dealing with almost all types of fabrics. The only small amount of creases left in the polycotton pant dough. The device performed outstandingly well on challenging linen/cotton blends and successfully ironed chiffon while maintaining the integrity of the delicate fabric.
The weight and shape of the iron do not cause discomfort, although a longer steam hose would be desirable. It should also be noted that the lack of indication of the need to replenish the water tank and the lack of an auto-shut-off function when the tank is completely empty are disadvantages of the device.
As for water, from time to time we noticed it escaping from the iron's vents along with steam, which sometimes left the fabric very wet. Despite the rapid evaporation of moisture, it is worth noting that we used filtered water and resorted to a completely new device.
It is important to note that despite the fact that the steamer creates a constant and powerful stream of steam, sufficient for most types of fabrics, its actual power for the Polaris PGS 1860VA turned out to be only one, and not two, as indicated in the technical documentation.
Pros:
- nice design
- fast heating and powerful steam delivery without delays
- removable water tank
- adjustable rack with hanger
- brush attachment, protective mittens and plate for steaming collars and cuffs included
Minuses:
- one power instead of the stated two
- water getting on the fabric
- no auto shut-off or lack of water indication