Are you hards on Irons?

151949 · ‎03-09-2010

One thing I just can't seem to take good care of and keep a long time are irons. I sew and I do ironing of laundry weekly so mine do get a lot of use, but I buy very good irons, not cheap ones , and yet if I get 5 years from an iron it is a bonanza. My iron here at camp just died. I will have to go buy a new one, then I'll take it home and when we come back next spring I'll bring the older one from home for up here.I never understand what I do to my irons. I think my mother had the same iron for her entire marriage of 49 years. I do all the things you are supposed to do - keep the plate clean, empty the water out when I'm done with it, use filtered tapwater. I don't know!

blueroses47 · ‎03-09-2010

I feel the same about me and irons. My mom was a champion ironer, and taught me to iron well, and I ironed from an early age. I think I did great ironing with a basic iron and that iron lasted forever.

I sew also, and I iron a lot of my clothes, and I remember years ago when I splurged on a Rowenta. It didn't last long before it started leaking all over the place. I blamed myself for not cleaning it properly. I have since bought a couple of other good irons, and they just don't seem to do the job as well as I remember my old basic iron doing. Maybe I'm just remembering incorrectly....nostalgia being what it is.

So, is it me or is it the iron? I'm just not sure.

GenXmuse · ‎05-15-2016

Did somebody call me?

ECBG · ‎01-08-2011

@151949 wrote:
One thing I just can't seem to take good care of and keep a long time are irons. I sew and I do ironing of laundry weekly so mine do get a lot of use, but I buy very good irons, not cheap ones , and yet if I get 5 years from an iron it is a bonanza. My iron here at camp just died. I will have to go buy a new one, then I'll take it home and when we come back next spring I'll bring the older one from home for up here.I never understand what I do to my irons. I think my mother had the same iron for her entire marriage of 49 years. I do all the things you are supposed to do - keep the plate clean, empty the water out when I'm done with it, use filtered tapwater. I don't know!

@151949Like everything else, they aren't as sturdy as they were years ago. I use Rowenta and iron my clothes every evening for work. I don't iron ahead because I don't like crushed clothes and although I taught tailoring, I don't sew except for repairs.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

I use distilled water in my iron. I don't think most filters remove the minerals that cause calcification. The only way to assure you're using mineral-free water is to use distilled. I have a simple no-frills Sunbeam steam iron I've been using over 30 years, mostly while sewing. I remember paying $12. for it at a discount store.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Krimpette · ‎03-09-2010

I've been using my Black and Decker iron for many years now. I believe it was under $30. Still going strong. Tried Rowenta before that and hated it. I'll stick with my "cheapie".

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

No, I've had my rowenta five years and it's going strong. I think I still have the iron before that one. If not, I gave it to my mother. I upgraded for steam.

Tigriss · ‎03-12-2010

I have about a half dozen irons that I use for different things from applique to quilting to sewing to everyday ironing. I empty them, use well water, and don't have issues. If things get a bit minerally, I fulsh them with vinegar water to clean them. I put a mix in and let it sit then steam away on the iron pad or old towels. Then flush with fresh water.