Irons, ugh.

I HATE this (insert profane or near-profane adjective here) iron. Yes, I feel that strongly about it. I bought it at Costco less than 18 months ago. Early on it got stuck in "clean" mode. I put up with it because it meant that I got a LOT of steam. But is also leaked and sputtered.....and I clean the (profane) thing ever month with vinegar. Last week it just stopped heating. The cord connection in the handle developed a short. 

Now it's an expensive door stop but I'd love to make it an anchor to something. I should have never bought it. Every Rowenta that I've ever owned has turned out be be garbage.

Last week Karen wrote a blog post about irons. Specifically it was a post complaining about irons. But you knew that already. Judy actually wrote a post about her Reliable Velocity that she loves. At least we know she was loving it in February and I assume she still does or else she would have told us. After I read that I considered buying one but then Sue posted on Facebook that her Reliable broke in less than a year and the company wouldn't fix it unless she paid a fee!

What to do? I swear, I'd pay $500 for a really good iron but I am convinced that they do not exist. I've decided that the best course of action for me is to buy a new cheap iron every year. $20/year is less than I've been paying!

I found this one at Target on sale for $19.99. It sputters a bit but it heats great and it's heavy. Maybe I'll just give up on steam and use a spray bottle. I do that most of the time now.

Is anyone out there knowledgeable about manufacturing? Any idea why a good iron can't be made? Remember when there was a Black and Decker that looked just like this one? It was an awesome iron. Too bad we didn't appreciate it! 

Comments

[Sharon Spingler]

I buy "good" irons from Walmart for around $20 and use nothing but bottled water in it. I HAVE to have steam and plenty of it. If I have to replace it every year, so be it.

[Carol J]

I agree - there are no good irons. My mother who was very thrifty never spent much to replace her iron on a regular basis - just figured it was impossible to get a good, dependable iron. Now it is the 21st century - it should be better.

[Linda]

I once read an article in an industry trade magazine for the sewing/vac industry. The article said that you need to use Distilled water in your iron. Even if the instructions that came with your iron say that you can use tap water, you should still use Distilled water. When the paperwork with your iron says you can use tap water, they are just insuring your next iron purchase.
Distilled water is different that bottled water or spring water. Distilled water is run through heat that causes steam and then the steam is collected and returned to the water state and then bottled. This removes all minerals and other impurities from the water. Using Distilled water prevents calcification and gunky build up in your iron and it will last longer and not start spitting and leaking all over after just a few months.
I hope this information was helpful for you.

[Mary Grace McNamara]

I bought a Black & Decker for $14.99 about 5 years ago, similar to the one pictures. It is heavy which I love, and it steams up a storm, which I also love. The only thing I don't like about it is that the holes in the bottom seem to catch on corners and edges of fabric. Otherwise, I love it and it was cheap cheap cheap!

MGM

[Brenda]

I have no wisdom for you, although I don't mind the department store T-Fal I bought, but I hate the automatic shutoff. I had a Rowenta for 10 years, but then it quit heating and I couldn't afford another one. Have you tried those Olsio irons out there? expensive, but maybe worth it. good luck.

[Gina]

I just knocked one of our irons (a very old Proctor & Silex) onto the floor last week and the base broke off. So I ordered an inexpensive Panasonic ($25) to replace it but in the meantime my husband glued the base onto our old one and it is working great again. So I'll soon have two old irons that are working great and a new little spiffy green one to choose from. I hope my iron luck doesn't run out anytime soon. Sorry about your bad iron luck ...I've read a lot of negative reviews for Rowenta and they aren't inexpensive irons! Guess inexpensive is sometimes the way to go.

[Kelly]

Amen, sister. I actually bought the same iron at Target! LOL! None of them ever last. At this point I am just going the cheap route. In fact I have another (even cheaper) iron as a back up! We have an ancient (15+yr old) iron in our office that heats up fast and stays hot. I do not like the auto-off feature, seems that has made the irons worse.

[Rian]

Ricky Tims taught me that if you never use steam, even an inexpensive iron will last forever. So far that has proven to be true. I'm going on 12 years with my cheap-o special and I use daily when quilting. And when I am pressing clothes, I do ironing like my grandma did before steam irons were invented: I sprinkle liberally with water and roll up. I wish you could buy an iron without the steam holes. It would probably cost a fortune....

[Ruth Lane]

Don't get me started on the way manufacturers make anything these days. Built in obslescence so you have to buy a new whatever every 12-18 months. It drives me crazy.

[Candy from Candied Fabrics]

Ugh, I hear you. I have that same rowenta you do and I LOVE the pointed tip, and the extra heat i get from it being 1800 watts is so helpful when fusing interfacing. But it sputters and leaks. ARGH!

[Cindy Is Crafty]

I don't do the volume of ironing that you do, but I don't iron until I am to wear it and that sometimes is problematic! I have always used a spray bottle with my iron as I have never had one that didn't sputter! So I stopped using the steam.

[Maureen]

I had a Sussman Gravity Feed iron for years that worked perfectly. The solenoid finally gave out and the local place that repaired them closed so I got rid if it. Next time I have the money, I will be buying a gravity feed iron.

[Kim]

I never put water in mine; it seems whenever I do, it leaks and sputters no matter what. I spray with "Best Press" or water if I need it. I also buy "cheap" irons - about $25. When they get to the point I can't use them for quilting they move down the line; I get a new one and then my husband gets the old one for his uniforms.

[Mary]

I haven't had any problems since I stopped using steam. I use either best press or a spray bottle. ...and heavy is good. I used one in Maine at the sew-in that was heavier than mine at home and it was even better.

[NONNIE]

You can buy BLACK AND DECKER irons with steam and without from VERMONT COUNTRY STORE on line for about $30 each. I bought mine several years ago and they are going strong. LOve them

[Debbie]

This does seem to be a common problem. I have blown through 3 expensive Rowentas and finally decided to buy a cheap iron at Walmart. I've had it for about a year but it leaks and sputters as well. I will be on the hunt for another inexpensive iron because I feel it is better to buy an inexpensive throw away rather than an expensive one. It may not be the best logic but from a financial standpoint....

[TerriW]

I always use a water bottle or starch and never put water in my irons...you can still get the black handled, heavy Black and Dekker iron @ The Vermont Country Store. I think it is 29.99 or something...they have one with a solid sole plate that I am considering after my current one burns out. Good luck!
T

[Kristin]

They don't make things like they used to (LOL, I remember my parents saying the same thing when I was a child, but it's still true!!) I have a Rowenta that is well over 5 years old. I use regular tap water and it is still working fine, but I don't do alot of ironing! Have you ever considered buying a mangle? I have never used one but it looks like it would be great for volume ironing of fabric. They are expensive, though, but maybe you could get one used. Good luck!

[Marcia]

Vicki,

Return your iron to Costco even if you no longer have the receipt. They will have your purchase on file in their computer, and they will refund your purchase price. Try it!

--Marcia

[Cindy B]

Rowenta company was sold so the irons are made in China now, not Germany. On the bottom of the box it will say Made in China or Germany. If you can find a Rowanta still on the shelf made in Germany, that is the quality iron Rowenta was famous for. I found one at a Tuesday Morning store.

[Gabriela Divine]

Vicki - your 18 month old malfunctioning iron comes as no surprise since we have become a Third World country. Nothing is made correctly anymore, nothing is meant to last beyond the warranty period, and nothing works the way it's meant. We've shipped all our manufacturing overseas and have lost all quality control. The Chinese and Japanese laugh all the way to the bank knowing they are manufacturing substandard products for the greedy Americans. Ours came from Wal-Mart and we end up getting a simpler, more basic model with less bells and whistles when we replace it every 18 months. I'm sick of steaming rust stains into my $80 button down collar shirts I wear to work, despite emptying the iron of all water prior to storing it. Yes, we too clean it monthly with vinegar but to no avail.

[Amy]

Michael got me a nice iron at Sears - I hate it but I don't have the heart to tell him. (It doesn't really get very hot...)

[Amy]

I loved my el cheapo black & decker - it worked great for a long time. (I dropped it too many times...)

[Mary Couch]

I think you can return things to Costco regardless of how long you've had them. I'd give it a try. They need to know that the *&^%($# iron sucks!
Hugs from Mary

[Karen]

I'm glad I read the comments - I didn't know the Vermont Country Store still sold the Black and Deckers - I might have to get on their page and order one! And Rowenta's now made in China -- I am trying to remember to not put water in my new cheapie but I have already forgotten - I will try to keep it empty from now on and use my spray bottle.
Karen