Istriwalas (laundrymen) are a common fixture in many Indian localities. These people work day in and day out, and many depend on them for their clothes to look fresh and pressed. Like any other job, this too has occupational hazards—an increased risk of respiratory issues, as they use the traditional iron, which is heated by charcoal, and continuously inhale the fumes released by the burning coal. Well, according to a report in The Hindu, an LPG iron is all set to ease their woes.
Set to replace the conventional coal-fired and electric iron boxes, this eco-friendly iron box, launched by the Indian Oil Corporation has seen a good response in Maharashtra and Kerala.
There will be no harmful emissions, and it will be cost-effective, as the time taken to iron one garment is about one-third that of the coal-fired box, and the cost is one-sixth of that of an electric iron, according to Indane officials. A 5-kg cylinder will suffice for 1100 garments, and a 19 kg cylinder will suffice for 4,500 garments.
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Weighing about 500 grams more than a conventional 6-kg iron, and priced between Rs 2,500 and Rs 7,000, the LPG-powered iron is not very difficult to handle. While it might seem costly, but the long-term cost savings as highlighted above, are great and officials are rightly optimistic about its prospects.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
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