How much time do you spend thinking about your iron? If you’re like me – probably not that much – until something goes wrong. Leaky irons are normally the result of not using or caring for our irons in a way that allows them to function at their best.
Before we jump into the list – I’m going to be right upfront about the fact that I rarely put water in any of my irons. I prefer to use a very light spray of unscented Best Press.
Why? I’ve had issues with rust spots showing up on fabrics when I use the steam function after not using my iron for a while. It’s heartbreaking to ruin a beautiful fabric and I decided long ago that to prevent that, I wouldn’t put water in my iron. I may change my mind about that now that I’ve had a chance to take a short class from Michele Muska at Oliso this past week.
She shared 10 tips for dealing with the issue of leaky irons and caring for our irons in general – (you know it all comes down to operator error – it always does.) Her tips made me realize that I can use water in my iron, I just need to empty it when I’m done (Tip 5). Here’s the list of tips that can cause issues with our irons:
[1] The iron is not hot enough. Don’t use steam before the steam is ready.
[2] Turn the steam function off if using cooler temps for more delicate fabrics. Leaving the steam function on can cause the iron to leak.
[3] Don’t overfill the tank. It’s not necessary to put any more than the minimum amount of water in it unless you are going to steam with it all day long.
[4] No distilled water in the iron. Use regular tap water. Filtered water is good too. Need the natural minerals inside the iron to help it produce steam. The rule is – if you can drink the water – so can your iron.
[5] Empty the tank if it won’t be used for a long time. A long time is defined as a day or two at the most. A better practice is to empty it every time it is used.
[6] Store the iron on its heel, don’t store it flat.
[7] Use a Q-tip to wipe out the holes on the sole plate to remove residue.
[8] Use equal parts white vinegar and water to clean the tank, steam it all out, then 2 water fills and run it all through. Do this over a towel to catch the mess.
[9] Use a micro-cloth to wipe off the soleplate and the iron itself.
[10] Let the steam button come all the way back out before depressing again. This gives the iron a moment to recover for the next full burst of steam.
Are there any on the list that were new to you? You can print these tips out and have them handy for when you need to refer to them. I hope you find them to be as helpful as I do!