Need Advice on Vintage Iron Care, Please

[michaelman2]

On this same note...someone saying in a moment of exasperation " well, I could care less"....when what they are meaning is " I could NOT care less"......the former implies they still care. I hear this all the time. The iced tea is common around here as well.

 

[retromania]

Michael,

What is that in the background?  Looks like a Rowenta gravity feed ironer.  Is that what it is???  What do you use it for?  Do you tailor or do alterations? 

 

[foxchapel]

danemodsandy,

Getting further OT here, but the one that bugs me more than "ice tea" is "carmelized onions" on restaurant menus. It's supposed to be "caramelized". Carmel is a city in California that does not affect any onions.

 

[retromania]

Now y'all!!! 

 

[michaelman2]

retromania,..yep there are two Rowenta steam chamber irons. One takes forever to generate steam but when it does finally heat up...IT STEAMS. The other is much more quick when it comes to steam generation, but the trigger on the handle needs to be repaired. No alterations, no professional use here...just an obsession and as you can see, I have almost gone full circle now ending up with a 1960s GE Steam Iron as my daily driver....

 

[xraytech]

Michael,
For your GE iron if you choose to use water in it I would use distilled.
In my vintage irons that is what I use, though I rarely ever put water in my irons. I grew up with mom and my grandmas having steam irons but never putting water in them and sprinkling dry clothes or ironing damp clothes instead.

When I do put water in its distilled and I always drain it out when done.

I'm also glad to hear I'm not the only one who travels with their iron. I take my General Electric F-92 steam, spray and dry iron as I cant stand the light weight and much cooler operating modern irons.

 

[westingman123]

Dritz

Somehow, I always manage to bake starch on my iron's sole plate. Impatience, most likely. I've found Dritz Iron Cleaner to be a lifesaver. I get it at the fabric store. My local Ace Hardware has it, as well.

That's a fine iron you have there. I love an iron with some heft.

 

[michaelman2]

Dritz Hot Iron Cleaner

Hey Westingman123, I agree, this is the same formulation as the Faultless Sole Plate Cleaner. This really works to remove anything that may have stuck to a sole plate. It also works really well on a ironer shoe to remove any residue or build up. Spray starch is less of a problem for me if I spray the garment and wait a few minutes before ironing. I used to spray my dress shirts, roll them, bag them in a plastic bag, then into the freezer. Take them out to iron them. There was little or no starch transfer and I assume it was because the starch had been absorbed fully into the fibers of the shirt and not sitting on top waiting on a hot iron.

 

[westingman123]

Yes, sir!

In the ancient days of my youth, Mama used to prepare all of the ironing as you describe. Would that I were so organized now! I continue to batch iron (and that aroma on ironing days!) but I can't ever plan ahead enough to prepare the "pile" overnight.

I have Mama's Ironrite,and use it for flatwork, but I never mastered the craft of ironing shirts.

I've tried the Faultless cleaner and it is competent. I'm not so pleased with the packaging, as I can only ever find it in those single-use containers. I much prefer the tube that Dritz comes packaged in.

Call me Keith, by the way, and I'm off to gnosh on some cheese straws!

 

[launderess]

Iron Soleplate Cleaner

Can be had in large tubes at a decent price from any commercial laundry/dry cleaners supply house. Those tiny tubes sold in supermarkets/hardware stores are a ripoff IMHO.

http://www.cleanersupply.com/products/product.cfm?pID=703

 

[michaelman2]

Okay, now this I have never seen...you are right, the small tubes are very expensive...this is a find..THANKS!

 

[appledude1]

Just bought a GE dry iron, model 703

I am learning how to replace jeans pocket liners with the iron on liner patch things - so I bought a GE dry iron, model 703. Was looking for the instructions for it, how about general instructions for how to use a dry iron? I assume keep a spray bottle of water nearby and spritz the fabric occasionally, I am reading I just need a bit of heat to melt the glue for the patch, use an old t-shirt between the patch and the iron - what setting? Bought an ironing board -

 

[bpetersxx]

start out slow and carefully

use medium heat and work up

These vintage irons get HOT

But they do take wrinkles out beautifully

I got one like my grandma had power spray kind

 

[launderess]

Consult directions for patching material being used for suggestions on correct iron temperature. Usually isn't very high but needs to be warm enough to melt whatever adhesive is used on mending material.

Like sad irons before them electric "dry" irons were used on laundry that was damp. This being either taken down from line when almost dry or sprinkled/sprayed or whatever application of water, rolled up, allowed to sit then ironed.

Spray bottle is useful for stubborn wrinkles but material really should be evenly moist before ironing. SB does come in handy for dampening areas that have slightly dried out before being ironed.