I'm so sick of Rowenta!

[sudsmaster]

I have a Rowenta Professional (Made in Germany) I got about 15 years ago. It's still going strong. It started spitting and sputtering a few years back so I switched it over to tap water instead of the distilled I was using for a while. That fixed it. It doesn't leak, but my main complaint is that the water reservoir is a bit on the small side, and the iron is hard to fill (one had to go slow and fill it just so).

Next time I'm unplugging it and taking it to the sink for a fill...

I've also tried a 90's era Sunbeam but the steam was weak. And the vintage blue cord GE meters out steam so sparingly one has to check to see if it's still on... lol...

Ironing isn't one of my favorite tasks, and I've had a rod half full of summer short sleeve all cotton shirts that are overdue for a session with the steam.

I remember seeing the Rowenta steam generator at Costco a few years back, and was tempted, but haven't seen one there since.

Are the Rowentas that are failing now made in the USA?

 

[norgeway]

Presto!!!!

Find a Presto with the colored pushbuttons,It is big-heavy-and puts out more steam than anything else!!

 

[bobbyderegis]

I have a Rowenta Professional, also about 15 years old, still going strong. I have only used distilled water and it only spits if you pump the steam button too fast. My mom's GE is 40+ years old and still going strong. And she irons every day!
Bobby in Boston

 

[ptcruiser51]

Distilled Water

Is all I ever used in my Sunbeam Steam Master for twelve years and never a problem. I load up on the water from my sister's dehumidifier in the summer (filter it thru a paper coffee filter first). I'd still be using it if the multi-directional cord hadn't shorted out (and scared the bejeebus out of me!) I couldn't find one in any store so I just got a $10.00 Everstar (THD store brand) at work. No complaints after two years, enough steam to suit me on the shot o'steam. I never use the spray because I usually sprinkle things before ironing (honest!). Only complaint is the "dots" wore off the thermostat dial; fixed with a magic marker.

I don't know anyone who irons more than I do.

 

[volvoguy87]

Ironing.

I iron dry, wetting the clothing to be ironed with a spray-bottle of starch. I also use my Ironrite and love it. Lots of pressure, and no steam.

Creases so sharp you can practically shave with them,
Dave

Well, maybe not that extreme, but pretty heavy starch nevertheless.

 

[rll70sman]

I agree with the others on here that have said, "Go vintage!" They were built to last and if you use distilled instead of tap water, an old unit should give you years of trouble-free service. When I moved out on my own, mom gave me her harvest gold Sunbeam Jewel Self-Clean Shot-of-Steam iron from 1977. It was built like a tank and still works great.

Check Ebay. Often there are vintage appliances still in their unopened boxes listed for sale.

 

[whirlpolf]

Laurastar! Anytime again and again!

My friend and me, we decided for Laurastar. Swiss made, swiss manufactured, swiss precision. No other around to beat that. We had the i-S5 system, nowaday's i-S6 is just more lightweight and has a better sole to it, otherwise no big difference.

What a dream: A real pressure boiler with automatic re-feeding (no simple pump-style steamer) The pump will draw water from a fill tank while the boiler is still under pressure, the iron itself has several sensors and will automatically adjust to what you do, the iron board has a blower/suction fan in it and it just does what it is supposed to do: We iron more than 40 shirts in one go, that thing will just hum and go, no irritations.

I just love that brrrrrrrt sound, when the pump goes on again and draws more water in, the best of all: Once you are done, you throw the iron in the heatproof iron-chamber and push that one shut, that was it, you tilt the whole unit with that gravity joint and fold the ironing board down like there was nothing to it, you roll it away on its own casters, hardly any thicker than a regular board.

The Laurastar unit has now been working for us for more than 5-6 years without one single flaw - sturdy, weekly, reliably. Would never want any other. Minor drawback: Once you want to do more than 40 shirts and you use excessive steam all the time, some condensed water may accumulate in the board and sweat back to the fabric surface, this leads to unpleasant moisture spots and undue ironing times on those wetted areas.

Other than that: No complaints. Decalcification is a snap: Open boiler top and bottom orifices and flush with some fresh water. The gray stuff will rinse and flush out in the bottom tray.
Tell you: 799,- Euros was not cheap (actually more than a gasp), but worth every single cent.
No other, I am convinced. Anytime again.

Cheers, Joe

Oh, and btw.: If you want to look at their marketing videos back from that time we purchased it, I downloaded them back then, use the link. (you need Quicktime to view them).
On one of them I added english subtitles, so you guys can read them. Download and view.

And NO, I am not working for them, I just love that steamer, not love, I ADORE it.
Worth every penny. Best you can get. One of the few companies still producing themselves, you will notice once you've seen it live. Enjoy.
Joe

http://homepage.mac.com/wetterwolf1/Laurastar/laurastar-clips.zip