An iron according to the present disclosure includes a light emitter that outputs light, and a base surface that transmits the light. A filter that suppresses transmission of visible light is provided between the light emitter and the base surface. According to the iron, the transmission of the visible light through the base surface is suppressed. Thus, the temperature on the clothes can be kept constant regardless of the color of the clothes.

An iron according to the present disclosure includes a light emitter that emits light, a base surface that transmits the light, a detector that detects a temperature of the base surface, and a controller that controls an output of the light emitter in accordance with the temperature of the base surface detected by the detector. Variations in the temperature of the base surface are less than a temperature of clothes. According to the iron, since the output of the light emitter can be controlled in accordance with the temperature of the base surface, heat can be suitably transmitted to the clothes.

A method of cleaning a substrate with optical energy can comprise applying optical energy from a source of optical energy to the substrate. The method can comprise applying the optical energy to a substrate having a cleaning agent applied thereto, the optical energy having one or more optical parameters selected for cleaning the substrate. The method can comprise reading data from a data bearing element associated with the substrate, communicating the data to a processor associated with a cleaning appliance comprising the source of optical energy, wherein the processor, responsive to the communicated data, controls the cleaning of the substrate with the optical energy. The method can comprise slidingly contacting the substrate with a work surface, said work surface comprising an aperture and emanating optical energy from the aperture for cleaning the substrate. A cleaning appliance can comprise an appliance body comprising an aperture for emanating optical energy for cleaning the substrate and an optical transmission pathway arranged for propagating optical energy received from an optical energy source to said aperture. The appliance can be adapted and constructed for delivering a cleaning agent to the substrate. The appliance can include a processor, a data interface in communication with the processor, and can be configured such that the processor outputs signals that control the cleaning of the substrate, the processor being configured for controlling, responsive to data received by the data interface and via the output signals, the substrate cleaning. The cleaning appliance can include a suction pump for removing material from the substrate.

A method of cleaning a substrate (16, 24, 34, 64, 71, 82, 102, 165, 171, 181, 201, 300, 310) with optical energy can comprise applying optical energy from a source of optical energy (12, 21, 31, 91, 103, 114, 121, 131, 141, 151, 164, 191, 202) to the substrate. The method can comprise applying the optical energy to a substrate having a cleaning agent applied thereto, the optical energy having one or more optical parameters selected for cleaning the substrate. The method can comprise reading data from a data bearing element (173) associated with the substrate, communicating the data to a processor (154) associated with a cleaning appliance (10, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 161, 200) comprising the source of optical energy, wherein the processor, responsive to the communicated data, controls the cleaning of the substrate with the optical energy. The method can comprise slidingly contacting the substrate with a work surface, said work surface comprising an aperture (83, 117) and emanating optical energy from the aperture for cleaning the substrate. A cleaning appliance can comprise an appliance body (80, 90, 104, 125) comprising an aperture for emanating optical energy for cleaning the substrate and an optical transmission pathway arranged for propagating optical energy received from an optical energy source to said aperture. The appliance can be adapted and constructed for delivering a cleaning agent to the substrate. The appliance can include a processor, a data interface in communication with the processor, and can be configured such that the processor outputs signals that control the cleaning of the substrate, the processor being configured for controlling, responsive to data received by the data interface and via the output signals, the substrate cleaning. The cleaning appliance can include a suction pump (142) for removing material from the substrate.

An electric iron includes an iron body defining a steam generation chamber for generation of steam; an iron sole plate formed at a bottom portion of the iron body and provided with an electric heating pipe; a steam nozzle formed on the iron sole plate and being in communication with the steam generation chamber; and an ultraviolet generation device mounted inside the steam generation chamber. The electric heating pipe heats up water supplied to the iron body and produces steam which is disinfected by ultraviolet generated by the ultraviolet generation device.

An electric iron includes an iron body defining a steam generation chamber for generation of steam; an iron sole plate formed at a bottom portion of the iron body and provided with an electric heating pipe; a steam nozzle formed on the iron sole plate and being in communication with the steam generation chamber; and an ultraviolet generation device mounted inside the steam generation chamber. The electric heating pipe heats up water supplied to the iron body and produces steam which is disinfected by ultraviolet generated by the ultraviolet generation device.

The present application relates to an electric iron with ultraviolet steam disinfection function. The electric iron includes an iron body. The iron body has a steam generation chamber for generation of steam. The iron body includes an ultraviolet disinfection chamber for disinfecting steam generated in the steam generation chamber. The ultraviolet disinfection chamber is in communication with the steam generation chamber, and the ultraviolet disinfection chamber is in communication with a steam nozzle. An ultraviolet generation device is provided inside the ultraviolet generation chamber for generation of ultraviolet.