New Iron Needed

[roscoe62]

Any suggestions for a new iron out there? I have a sunbeam with the stainless steel plate that decided to leave dots that look like rust when using a shot of steam and it also leaves little pieces of black that you can pick off the clothes or ironing board that crumbles ?
I've cleaned the iron after using it a couple of weeks, as suggested, but now I'm a reluctant to use it any more to avoid ruining anything that needs ironing.It's about two years old, is the life of iron now?

 

[polkanut]

If you have any 2nd hand shops in your area check them out for a vintage iron. You'll love the heft and durability of an older iron.

 

[ronhic]

It sounds as if it needs a quite heavy descaling...

If you're thinking about hurling it out anyway, try using some white vinegar in it...heat to maximum and then empty using the 'self clean' process...

Do this at least twice and then rinse it at LEAST 3 times (or until you get no gunk out of it) the same way with clean cold water...all the time allowing it to heat to maximum first...

It should clear it out....if not, you've lost nothing...if it works better and you get another 6months- year out of it, well its worked well...

 

[austinado16]

I was going to suggest the vinegar cleaning too....shaking it vigorously as you let it do the self clean.

Then, if you have some old towels, test the iron on them. It'll probably be fine after you clean/flush it.

The instructions for my vintage Presto say to empty the iron while it's still hot, so that it'll dry out inside. Might be worth doing that to yours in the future, and only using distilled water in it if your tap water is particularly hard and/or full of minerals.

Otherwise, yes, hit the local thrift stores for a good ol' cloth corded vintage iron from the 60's or 70's......or jump on ebay where they are $10-$20 all day long.

 

[hydralique]

At least your iron didn't die completely. I'm not a frequent ironer, but my last Sunbeam didn't last two years before it just quit. No more Sunbeam products for me.

 

[iheartmaytag]

We had a Sunbeam that lasted one ironing then quit. When my Mom took it back to Wally-land the lady said they all come back.

If it's only spitting there is an iron cleaning product that you can use to flush it out, I have also heard that people have used CLR. If you are planning on replacing it anyway, it couldn't hurt.

As far as new irons--My shopping experience is they are all made in China. Some have corrected me so it could only be certain models, but even the Rowentas I looked at were Made in China.

After buying a new Made in China iron from Sear's I found a very nice Proctor Silex burst of steam yadda-yadda at the used store. I had to fix a broken wire in the cord and Walla.

 

[hoover1100]

New Irons

Was going to suggest Philips, but it appears they don't sell irons in the U.S.? Those are by far the best sold here.

So having ruled out the top brand, the best brand which springs to mind would be a Tefal with the ultraglide soleplate (Sorry, I can't bring myself to call it T-fal *LOL*)

If having tried cleaning your current one out, it still isn't working, I would recommend one of these. If you aren't happy with your current iron, tefal are also excellent performers with the ultraglide soleplate, personally I can't be doing with the stainless steel soleplates.

Matt

 

[roscoe62]

T-fal

OH, Pretty !!!!
I've tried cleaning the sunbeam but I believe the self clean button is NOT working which is probably why it didn't clean so well before, there is no big Ka-Boom of steam after letting it heat up to clean it so may be CLR will work I don't know, maybe it'll blow the handle off and leave me no choice either way I have to do something.I think we can get Philips here in Canada, so I'll keep an eye out so if all irons are made in China is there one that is relatively dependable???

 

[ronhic]

Personally, I agree with Matt...but in the reverse order....

Tefal are made in France

Or, if you can get Braun (if they still make small appliances), they too are FAB..and made in Spain..

 

[launderess]

Word Is Out

Regarding vintage irons, and prices have risen accordingly.

If you can find one NIB at a thrift store for a good price nab it, you will pay dear on fleaBay or some such place. Your only hope is for someone to list an item at a "decent" "Buy It Now" price not know what they've got, and jump in it.

Time and time again have seen MIB GE, Sunbeam and other irons, most from the top of the line listed at say $9 opening bid. Several hours later or perhaps a day, the listing is removed and the thing reappears with either a much higher opening bid, and or a BIN price >$60.

Avoid all modern offerings from Rowenta, as they are rubbish IMHO. Now made in China they are cheap, poorly built and almost certain to leak, spit and or fall apart within less than a year.

If you do allot of ironing it might be worth looking into a commercial/industrial gravity iron such as those offered by Sussman,Silver Star, Namamoto and others.

 

[brisnat81]

Hey Chris,
​
​The Philips are made in Singapore, so at least there are three brands that arent coming out of China.
​
​Having said that, I havent had a lot of luck with Sunbeam or Philips lately, both models struggle to make it out of the 2 year warranty period before they start dripping.
​
I've never been fond of Tefal frying pans, so that has put me off the Irons, but as another $130 Philips has just started to Drip it might be time to try and change my mindset.
​
​Its the downside of being Gay, that you have 10 Dress shirts a week minimum to iron.  A Hetro couple has 5 shirts and usually a bunch of wash and wear ​

 

[circlew]

"It's the downside of being gay,

that you have 10 dress shirts"---. Please explain what exactly that has to do with being gay. I don't get it.

 

[hoover1100]

If you can get a Philips

I'd definately say go for that one, I've heard of more problems with modern Tefal irons failing prematurely than Philips, plus they come with a free 2 year guarantee (over here at least). Make sure to get one with the 'steamglide' soleplate. My Mum just replaced her 5 year old (still working), Philips with a new one (we bought it in Germany and it had a Schucko plug, she was sick of using an adaptor and wouldn't wait for me to come over and change the plug!)
​
​Yes as has been said above Philips irons are made in Singapore. Not that it matters, surely the product itself is more important than where the iron is made? After all, just be cause an appliance is made in China, or any other country for that matter, does not determine it's quality. Plenty of excellent products are made in countries such as China and to tar them all with the reputation of a few seems somewhat naive to me.
​
​I haven't seen a Braun iron over here, they certainly aren't on their website.
​
​Matt

 

[brisnat81]

Tom, it was a tongue in cheek comment.

We end up with 10 Dress shirts to iron each week. We now just take it in turns each week to do them.

A Hetero couple ends up with half as many, plus some little blouses that may or may not be Wash and Wear.

Thus the downside, unless you love ironing.

 

[circlew]

Oh OK, Nathan. Get it now - yours and his. Was thinking you were implying gay men wore more shirts, lol. You and he must both work in an industry where dress shirts are required.

An iron (though I do own one) is something I've not used in a number of years. I've found if I remove everything from the dryer promptly and then fold or hang right away, that they have few wrinkles. Most of my shirts are either knit or flannel this time of year.

 

[ronhic]

I haven't seen a Braun iron over here, they certainly ar

No, nor here anymore either....damn it!

...they sitll feature on the French website though

 

[magic clean]

Roscoe

I've attached a link to an iron from Sears. Seems to work quite nicely.....lots of steam and fast to heat up. Extra long 10 foot cord too. Plus a 2 year replacement warranty.

Don't think you can go wrong. The model in link is their $39 digital model. The one in the picture is the $29 dial controlled iron that I have. No complaints or qualms about recommending.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00880588000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=L1

 

[roscoe62]

@ Magic Clean

Thanks Magic I'll try on the Canadian website, last time I typed in Iron on the Canada website it gave me "Vanity Fair high cut brief for women" so I may have my work cut out for me, ironing with woman's brief, should be interesting to see how long it takes to get the wrinkles out and NO I'm not wearing them either before you even go there, LOL.
I've tried ordering from Sears US but shipping is too high, so I'll try our side again.
Thanks so much.

 

[laundromat]

I like the classic GE/Black and Decker spray/steam and dry model.

 

[austinado16]

Example of how inexpensive they are on ebay...

Here's a nice GE Steam Iron. In the box, $10 and still no bids. Very typical for what they go for on ebay. Polish the bakelite AND the chrome with "Simichrome" and if the sole plate is a bit rough, polish it with water and 600 grit wet/dry paper and then 800 grit, and then polish with Simichrome metal polish. Then give it a test iron and steam on a nice thick old towel, and you're back in business. Probably be the last iron you ever buy.....except owning a vintage one may stir you into collecting a few of them!

http://cgi.ebay.com/G-E-VINTAGE-C-1...107?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eb217f113

 

[austinado16]

Here's another

"newer" example for a bit more money. $25. I have a similar era GE version of this one and it's really nice to use. The jet steam feature is pretty cool too.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-Sears-S...049?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a3dd7759

 

[launderess]

After Having My Fingers Burned Too Many Times

No longer purchase "used" steam irons on fleaBay.

More often than not sellers only plug in the iron and state "it gets hot", and that is that. What is not checked is how much steam and or if the thing makes any at all.

Have received steam irons so clogged with grit, rust, and god only knows what; that no amount of cleaner and or white vinegar can make it work properly again.

If the iron isn't clogged, it leaks like a sieve. This happened with a large made in Germany Rowenta iron purchased on eBay. There at least the seller was reasonable and refunded my money.

Don't mind paying $5 or less at a local thrift for a used iron. Then at least one can either take the thing back or at least one is not out the sometimes very dear shipping charges which often are more than the iron.

Purchasing a used steam iron always requires caution because one has no idea what sort of water the previous owner used. Tap water in some areas of the country is hard enough to chip teeth, and routine use will sonner or later kill the most robust steam iron.

 

[austinado16]

I continue to have good luck on ebay...10yrs now

The '49 Presto Steam iron I "won" a few months ago cleaned up beautifully, looks like new, and works great. I use it frequently.

I still enjoying trading on ebay, whether as a buyer, or seller.

 

[mtn1584]

Try the Rowenta Steamium

I bought a Rowenta Steamium on sale at Kohls last year for about $120. I iron my dress shirts all the time, I love it, it has 1800 watts of power, has a nice weight to it, and looks good too. It kinda looks like a mid seventies TOL GE iron. Google the reviews, I think that they are like 99% positive, no matter the site you visit. I love mine, and I enjoy ironing, I find it relaxing believe it or not, anyway good luck.Let us know what you get.
Mike