Steamer!

[maggie~hamilton]

When I was a little kid, I loved going to the dry cleaner with my daddy when he went to drop off or pick up clothes. Because they had a machine there that I was crazy about -- a tall, upright steamer! I guess the reason I was so fascinated by it was because it looked like a vacuum cleaner, with the shiny metal nozzle on the end of a long red rubber hose.

Well, I had kinda forgotten about that, although when I'd be at a cleaner's and would occasionally see a steamer, I'd kinda chuckle about it. Never gave any thought to having one, especially since I assumed they were really expensive.

Then Saturday I stopped at a thrift store near my apartment where, what to wondering eyes should appear, stuck way back in a dark corner of the store, a STEAMER! At first, I figured it was there because they actually used it to freshen up clothes before putting them out -- but then I realized it was standing back there with other tall stuff - skis, a ladder, fishing poles etc.

So I went and found the proprietor and asked her whether or not it worked, and how much it was. She said she did not know if it worked, but I could get some water from the bathroom and try it, and if it worked, it would be ten dollars.

Wow!! I sure hoped it worked!!

I took the plastic jug back to the wash room and put some water in it, went back and inserted it into the steamer, plugged it in, turned it on...

... Dramatic Pause! ...

In no more than 30 seconds, I heard a merry gurgling sound emanating from the nozzle, and before I knew, it a nice volume of steam was coming out!

YAAAAAAAY!!!

So, yes, now it's right here in my place, and I have already been using it. It really works great!!

No, this is not an old one --- I assume it's fairly modern since the nozzle, hose and jug are plastic. The one I remember from when I was a little kid had a metal nozzle, a red rubber hose, and I -think- the jug was glass. Now, of course, I am thinking it would be fun to find an old one!!! hahaha!!

Here are four photos --

(Anyone else out there have one?)

 

[maggie~hamilton]

 

[maggie~hamilton]

 

[maggie~hamilton]

Look at all that steam!!!

 

[launderess]

Nice Looking Steamer Ya Got There Bub

Have had one of those sitting in my closet unused for years now, in fact it is going to Goodwill soon.

Yes, Jiffy steamers produce gobs of steam, but have a quasi commercial steam boiler ironing system that puts out tons of steam at 50psi to 80psi, which is hotter and dryer than Jiffy's steam, hence the later sitting unused

One thing to take care with these early models of Jiffy steamers, afterwhile the copper boiler/tank can develop leaks. This will cause water to puddle under the unit. When mine did this, several layers of "Seal All" sealant took care of things. Newer models of Jiffy steamers have changed the tank system to prevent leaks caused by rotting of the inner tank.

L.

 

[maggie~hamilton]

What is the model number of yours, Laundress? I have been researching them tonight (new obsession, haha!) and discovered mine is a discontinued model, meaning if/when it needs parts I'm gonna be S.O.L. So I might be interested in buying yours if it's a newer or better model.

 

[launderess]

Mine looks exactly like yours, and am almost certian it tis #200. Won't look now as not in the mood to dig into the back of the closet where the unit now resides. If you wish, will give you a heads up later this week when I start "winter cleaning". *LOL*

L.

 

[maggie~hamilton]

Yes please do let me know!

I understand winter cleaning. Completely. But for me, I usually get around to it, hm, mid-July. The cleaning I do in the winter is actually very late Spring Cleaning! hahaha

 

[launderess]

Not so much cleaning as avoiding being diagonsed with Collyer syndrome.

It has been pointed out to me that my ebay purchases have become excessive and there is simply no more space to store anything; as the old saying goes: either they go or I go. Thus the cleaning out of closets, under beds, cupboards and the like.

L.

 

[polkanut]

I have a hand-held Oster steamer that I love. The instruction booklet has a date of 8/69, that makes it more special as I was hatched 8/15/69.