Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam vertical vaporizer review

Vertical steamers are certainly not for everyone — not everyone likes to iron, and not everyone cares about the impeccable appearance of clothes. However, these devices have their fans. Both expensive and budget models are available on the market. The hero of our article is in the middle price category. Let's take a closer look at it.

^* Contrary to popular belief, this is not the period after which the device will necessarily break down. However, after this period, the manufacturer ceases to bear any responsibility for its functionality and has the right to refuse to repair it, even for a fee.

The steam cleaner arrived at the test lab in two boxes: a reliable but unpresentable outer package and a beautifully designed inner one. The outer box is made of thick corrugated cardboard and contains a schematic image of the device, its name, technical specifications, and instructions for the warehouse on transportation and storage rules. The inner package is designed in a restrained but attractive manner: the device itself and its parts are depicted on a dark graphite background, as well as the main data — name, purpose, technical specifications, and features.

The space inside the packaging is organized quite complexly: there are cardboard inserts and foam seals, which makes reassembling the device into the box a difficult task. However, thanks to this, the device reaches the consumer intact: all accessories are neatly packed, the body and important parts are securely fixed. After opening the box, the following were removed:

• the body of the steamer with a water tank and an iron
• two telescopic stands
• ironing board
• clothes hanger
• iron holder
• thermal glove
• brush attachment for removing hair and wool
• user manual and warranty card

A careful study of individual parts before assembly did not cause any comments on the quality of their manufacture. The assembly turned out to be quite simple, we were able to do it even without reading the instructions.

The shape of the body creates an impression of lightness: the massive base smoothly turns into a narrow top, on which the ironing board holders are installed on both sides. On the front side of the body there is a large power button, and above it there is a hint about what types of fabrics the various steam generation modes are intended for.

The sides are smooth, uniform in color, all joints between the body parts are tight, without cracks or holes.

At the back of the steamer is a steam hose protected by a 4-cm flexible casing at the junction. Below is a cord storage compartment, into which the cable is easily stored, without the need for careful winding. The length of the power cord is quite sufficient for comfortable use, but we will be able to evaluate the convenience of working with a 1.35 m steam hose during practical tests.

On the back of the case there are two wheels with a diameter of 5 cm, four low legs with rubberized pads, ventilation holes in the center and a sticker with technical information about the device.

A 2.5 liter water tank made of darkened transparent plastic is installed on top, which allows you to conveniently control the liquid level. On the back side, the container has a recess for the palm, which facilitates the process of installing and removing it from the steam generator.

On the bottom side there is a screw cap that closes the opening for filling and draining water into the tank. The opening diameter is 5 cm, which allows you to fill it without special cups with a spout.

The telescopic stands are absolutely identical, made of lightweight metal, and equipped with two clamps.

The lower part of the racks is inserted into special recesses on the body, and the ironing board made of heat-resistant gray plastic is fixed in the upper part. This material looks quite durable.

The board is equipped with a cover with a thin but quite dense layer of foam rubber on the back side. The outer side of the fabric is dense and smooth. The cover is removable, which allows you to wash it if necessary.

When you press the locking button located at the top of the board, the structural element changes its position: from vertical to completely horizontal.

A clothes hanger can be installed above the ironing board. The part is smooth, the width of the «pipe» is 2.5 cm. There is a hook on the outside for placing hangers.

On the right side of the ironing board, a holder for the iron is attached, made of the same heat-resistant gray plastic.

We are done with the fittings, now let's move on to examining the main working accessory: the iron. The handle is 22 cm long, smooth, but does not slip in the palm, its shape is very convenient. The weight of the iron is comfortable, the hand does not get tired from holding it for a long time. The handle has controls: a steam supply key on the inside and mode switches with indicators on the outside.

The working surface of the iron, in our opinion, has a ceramic coating (there was no exact information about the material on the manufacturer's website). It is smooth and pleasant to the touch. The steam outlet holes are located along the side edges of the heating part, made in the shape of a triangle.

The Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam also comes with a hair removal brush and a heat-protective glove.

The brush is a triangular (shaped like an iron) part that is fixed on the working surface. The bristles are not high — 5 mm, dense and quite hard.

The mitten is multilayered, the outer heat-resistant material is silver, inside you can feel the seal, the inner layer of fabric is synthetic, dense. The mitten is quite comfortable for a woman's palm, even a wide one.

The first visual impression of the Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam vertical steamer was generally positive. The device looks simple and intuitive, assembly is straightforward, and the device itself and its parts are made neatly and efficiently. The only concern was the telescopic stands: when fully extended, they seem unstable in the grooves, the ironing board is not firmly fixed, and the entire structure does not look strong enough. However, final conclusions can be made after practical testing.

The 42-page manual is presented in two languages ​​- Russian and Kazakh. It describes safety precautions in detail, provides a diagram of the device, and also explains in detail the stages of assembly and preparation for work. The instructions indicate the rules for the operation, maintenance and cleaning of the device. It also describes the accessories, their purpose and methods of use. Finally, there are warranty obligations and information about the certification of the device.

The manual is easy to understand thanks to the many illustrations, diagrams and lists, as well as a well-organized structure. One reading is enough to confidently and safely use the steamer.

The PGS 2850VA Turbosteam vertical steamer is launched simply by pressing the corresponding button on the body. After activation, the indicator lights up, glowing a steady white color.

When you turn on the device, all three indicators on the iron handle (or sprayer, as indicated in the instructions) start flashing, signaling the heating process. When the device reaches the required operating temperature, only one indicator will light — the selected mode. By default, the steamer is set to maximum steam output. Using the up and down arrow buttons, you can set the desired steam level.

Steam is supplied by pressing the supply button located on the inside of the iron handle.

In general, all buttons and keys are conveniently located, adjusting the power does not cause any difficulties or stops in the main process of ironing and steaming.

Before starting work, we poured water into the tank, turned on the device and carried out a test steaming of the fabric. The steam was clean, as was the working surface of the iron, but drops of water fell on the fabric. Therefore, it is important not to ignore the recommendation to conduct a test run.

Assembling the steamer turned out to be easier than expected, despite the many parts and accessories. The process is clear and did not cause any difficulties even without using the diagram from the manual.

It is recommended to fill the device with distilled or purified water, since hard unfiltered water can shorten the service life of the device. It is prohibited to add any additives to the water, including starch or flavorings.

The tank holds up to 2.5 liters of water, but for convenience it is better to pour 2.2-2.3 liters. This volume is quite enough to steam a large number of things for domestic use. When pouring water, the device should be disconnected from the mains.

The only comment that we had during the inspection concerned the stability of the structure with fully unfolded telescopic stands. During testing, it turned out that although the stands sway slightly when applied, the device stands steadily, does not tip over or move when used.

It is easy to change the position of the board. Despite its compact size, it is convenient for horizontal ironing. The steamer can be used as an iron for dry ironing or, if necessary, connect steam. The board is also suitable for vertical steaming of small parts of clothing, such as collars and cuffs.

To activate the steam shot, press the steam button twice. A second steam shot can be performed after 10 seconds.

The continuous operation time of the steamer is limited to 40 minutes.

The brush attachment is attached to the iron by lightly pressing on the bottom until it clicks. When using the iron with the attachment, it is recommended to move it slowly over the fabric, taking into account the direction and structure of the fibers. The attachment is also suitable for cleaning furniture upholstery.

The steam power did not seem too high to us even at the maximum setting. After experimenting with various settings, all tests were carried out at maximum power, since at a lower setting the steam supply did not provide adequate steaming. In most cases, in addition to steaming, it was necessary to lightly iron the fabric with an iron, since steam alone was often not enough to properly smooth out heavily wrinkled materials.

The length of the steam hose turned out to be quite sufficient for working with clothes. We comfortably processed both small children's T-shirts and long women's dresses. However, when cleaning the carpet, the device had to be moved, since the hose was too short for this task. Although it is worth noting that carpet cleaning is not one of the main functions of the vertical steamer.

The heat-protective mitten turned out to be extremely useful and necessary. It is easy to use and helps when smoothing the fabric, especially when working with the lower parts of clothing, which you have to pull. The mitten also makes it easier to work on complex details such as armholes, sleeves and cuffs.

After finishing work, it is recommended to drain the remaining water from the tank and boiler through the drain hole. Before disassembling and cleaning, the device must cool down for at least five minutes. The device body, steam hose and nozzle can be wiped with a soft damp cloth, avoiding the use of abrasive or aggressive chemicals.

The Polaris PGS 2850VA vertical steamer does not require special care. It is enough to drain the water and dry it — care is similar to a regular iron.

The maximum power recorded by the wattmeter for Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam was 2528 W, which is slightly lower than the declared characteristics. When heating the iron without steam generation, the device consumes about 420 W. In 48 minutes of operation, the device consumed 1.149 kW h.

We also measured the temperature of the sole in various heating modes, recording data at several points immediately after heating. The temperature of the sole varies from 158 to 186 ° C and remains the same in all modes, while the heating is uniform.

When steam is supplied, the device makes quiet specific sounds, while in the heating mode there are no sounds. We estimate the noise level during the operation of the steam generator as low.

The device is ready for operation in 65-70 seconds, and the automatic shutdown is triggered after 15 minutes of inactivity.

Let's start with the traditional test on printed T-shirts. They are all made of cotton, but have different thicknesses of fabric and print quality, so the results will vary.

The first one we tested was a children's T-shirt made of thin and soft fabric with a voluminous print. Steaming was successful, although it cannot be called a clean process — we had to frequently touch the fabric with an iron and even iron it, which was convenient due to the location of the ironing board. On the upper left part of the T-shirt there were drops of water released in the first seconds of the steam generator's operation.

The next T-shirt is made of a denser and harder material, which is more difficult to process. In this case, steaming alone did not give the desired effect. Almost all the fabric was ironed with pressure on the surface of the board. In the end, we even thought of laying the board horizontally and ironing the T-shirt as usual, but for the sake of purity of the experiment, we decided to leave everything as is. Overall, the result was not bad: the fabric straightened out, the print remained intact, despite the processing on the front side.

Finally, we will test an adult T-shirt made of thick cotton fabric. We hung it on the included hanger, but this created some inconvenience: the back of the fabric gathers, since the iron holder is installed on the right side.

In this test, we evaluated the heat-protective glove for the first time: only with its help we were able to pull the sleeve to process the armhole and shoulder. The palm and fingers were safe, the steam did not cause discomfort. The processing was not easy — one steam was not enough, and we had to iron the fabric, which left creases that required re-processing. We also failed to get rid of large drops that appeared at the beginning of the work.

All items were ironed, the print remained intact, despite the treatment on the outside of the fabric. However, the quality of steaming cannot be called excellent: one steam was not enough to completely straighten the fibers, and it was necessary to use an iron with pressure on the board, which is not very convenient in a vertical position.

Result: good.

Let's continue our experiments with natural fabrics. Light jeans are made of thick denim. Not very wrinkled, dried as usual, haven't been kept in the closet for long.

We worked on the maximum setting with a constant supply of steam, and the glove again proved very useful: with it we were able to treat the waist area and the bottom of the trousers. In general, the fabric was steamed without much effort: we stretched the area and went over it with an iron with hot steam. At this stage, we also learned to cope with the drops of water that flew out of the nozzles: by pressing the steam button, we moved the iron to the side and released the first stream with drops into the air.

Result: excellent.

Now let's move on to delicate fabrics. The manufacturer of the T-shirt recommends washing at 30 °C and ironing on a delicate setting. Fortunately, it does not require dry cleaning, as is the case with more complex viscose clothing.

The fabric was straightened without much effort: we finally felt the joy of working with steamers — just move the iron near the fabric, and it is instantly smoothed out. The thing was transformed, creating harmony — what else is needed if ironing is perceived as a meditative process that calms the mind and slows down thoughts?

To confirm the hypothesis that Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam copes well with viscose, we tidied up a skirt. The fabric straightened out in just one pass of the iron. No creases or wrinkles appeared — it was enough to stretch the material and, placing the iron close, treat it with steam.

Two wardrobe items were quickly and effortlessly tidied up. We worked on the maximum steam setting, as reducing the power required multiple treatments of the same area of ​​fabric.

Result: excellent

It seems to us that the manufacturer embellished the information a little, stating that the shirt is 100% cotton. In our opinion, the fabric does contain some percentage of synthetics. It is usually easy to iron and does not wrinkle much when worn. The left photo shows the shirt already in the process of steaming. As soon as the fabric was splashed with ironing spray, the author remembered that he forgot to take a «Before» photo.

The shirt was ironed without much effort: we stretched the fabric, turned on a powerful stream of steam and passed the hot surface of the iron over the area. Finally, we laid the board horizontally to treat the collar and cuffs.

Result: excellent.

The dress is distinguished not only by its delicate fabric, which requires careful care, but also by its complex, voluminous shape, which makes ironing on a board a real challenge. After washing, it lay in the closet folded, and deep creases formed on it. Let's try to steam it.

We raised the telescopic tubes to the maximum height so that the dress did not touch the floor. We started with the puffy sleeves, with elastic bands inserted into the cuffs. The thermal glove turned out to be useful again: we pulled the armhole so that the fabric would straighten out, and treated the fabric with hot steam, sometimes touching the surface with an iron. Gradually, by straightening and constantly supplying steam, we managed to get rid of all the creases and folds that had formed from long-term storage. We treated the fabric section several times, since one «pass» was not enough.

It was hard and time-consuming to get the dress in order, but overall the process was easier with a vertical steamer than with a regular iron. In addition, the complex texture of the fabric was not damaged.

Result: good.

Finally, we tested the brush attachment by cleaning hair and other debris from the previously vacuumed carpet in the children's room.

We easily secured the attachment, heated up the device and, continuously supplying steam, began to move the iron with careful movements in one direction along the pile. In just a minute, we noticed the brush: it had collected hair and lint that could not be removed with a vacuum cleaner.

The brush is small, so it took a long time to clean the carpet, but a lot of hair was collected from it. The floor covering under the carpet did not get wet or heated, so the procedure is completely safe for the floor.

Result: good.

The Polaris PGS 2850VA Turbosteam vertical steamer has a convenient design with an ironing board that can be installed both vertically and horizontally. Telescopic stands allow you to adjust the height of the device to the individual preferences of the user. The large tank allows you to steam a significant amount of clothes without the need for refilling. Among its advantages are quick readiness for use, lightweight iron, convenient iron holder, cord storage compartment, as well as ease of assembly and storage. The kit includes a thermal glove for safe operation and a brush, which, although it requires effort, helps clean upholstered furniture and clothes from wool and hair.

Despite its many advantages, the device leaves mixed feelings. It is unlikely to make clothes care easier for those who do not like ironing. It is difficult to say how much fans of this process will like it. The steam power is sufficient to tidy up slightly wrinkled clothes and smooth out synthetic fabrics. It was especially good at steaming viscose without much effort. Natural fabric required not only steaming, but also additional ironing with a hot iron. To achieve excellent results, you need to not just touch the fabric, but actively iron it, leaning on the surface of the board. In this regard, the design of the device turned out to be convenient and easy to use.

Pros:

• Ease of use and maintenance
• Ironing board and accessories included
• Large tank capacity
• Telescopic stands that adjust the height of the device's working position
• Compartment for storing the cord

Cons:

• Insufficient steam power for steaming only