Do you think Thais from 50 years ago and earlier ironed their clothes? Of course, but you may be surprised at the process involved.
Irons from the olden days were created by assembling a few metal sheets together to press clothes. This type of iron was called ood-tao in Thai and came in brass or metal varieties.
The brass iron was bigger than the metal version, and both decorated according to the craftsman's imagination.
These irons had pointy heads with serrated edges to release heat from the charcoal inside. The heat from charcoal pressed the clothes, but the iron also had to be heavy enough to smooth the clothes flat.
There was a cover with a tiny flap attached at the back with a long ear to be used as a window to add new coals.
The handle was made of crafted wood to fit the user's hand. The charcoal used back then was made of mangrove wood.
Before using a charcoal iron, you had to rub it with several banana leaves to generate moisture and release heat to avoid the iron sticking to the clothes.
Water should be sprinkled on the clothing to make it easier to press, or you can put an additional white fabric on top of the clothing to prevent it from getting burned or losing its collar.
The Chinese have used metal pans filled with hot water to smooth fabrics since the 1st century. In the 17th century, a flat iron was made of thick slabs of cast iron in a delta shape with a handle that was heated in a fire.
A later design consisted of an iron box that could be filled with hot coals and had to be periodically aerated by attaching a bellows. In India, burning coconut shells were used instead of charcoal, as they have a similar heating capacity.
The electric iron was invented in 1882 by New Yorker Henry W Seely. His iron weighed almost 6.8 kilogrammes and took a long time to warm up.
Irons gradually became smaller until they resembled the type we have in our homes today. Most irons these days are electric and use an ironing board.
In the olden days, traditional irons were a staple in most households and cleaning shops for decades. Some still exist in remote areas without access to electricity.
The steam iron was introduced in Thailand in only the past few decades. Initially, the function of a steam iron was only to press clothes flat, but it has evolved to allow users to adjust the temperature to fit each type of fabric.
With various ranges of steam power, it can be used on every seam and corner of all fabrics. For safety, there is an automatic cut-out when the iron is not in use.
The Thai electric iron market is worth almost 2 billion baht a year, with most brands imported from Japan, the Netherlands and France. Demand for irons is growing over 10% annually as more single adults are living in condominiums.
