Question about an Iron

[phoots]

I am going to be buying a new iron very soon because the one I have belches out this black powder whenever I use it dry. My question is a simple one...do you still use distilled water in irons or do you use tap water?? I used to use distilled water until about 5 yrs ago when I was told that tap water is fine. I need your input!!

Thank you!

Pam in Vegas

[Lisa Albrecht]

When we lived in Michigan, we had a water softener and I just used tap without any problem. Once we moved to Idaho, and do not have a softener, I had to go back to using distilled because the water is so hard here.

[Bubby]

Pam....I have two irons - one needs distilled water and the other says to use spring water in it (which I figure is bottled drinking water). You live in Las Vegas and I know how hard the water is there - I lived there 22 years and battled hard water the whole time. You will need to read the directions for whatever iron you buy. The reason you have black powder coming out of your iron could be from using tap water. Barb

[AngelaLashley]

I dont use any water in my iron. Instead I keep a spray bottle at both the ironing board and my pressing station and give it a squirt when needed.... I've read in quite a few places that using water of any type in the iron will make it go bad faster, even with the expensive irons

[Sandy Navas]

I dont use any water in my iron. Instead I keep a spray bottle at both the ironing board and my pressing station and give it a squirt when needed.... I've read in quite a few places that using water of any type in the iron will make it go bad faster, even with the expensive irons

My feelings, exactly. But I don't buy expensive irons. My Black & Decker works perfectly well for me.

[sewbizzy]

I also remember my Mom using a spray bottle and I do also...I have never put water in any of my irons yet...I have read pros and cons about using water in the iron, so I just have never done it yet...notice I said yet because I never say never...I just might someday...I have also heard horror stories about irons "spitting out" more than the water, so I'm kind of afraid of starting to use it...have a great day everyone...I had to laugh at some of the posts...they make my day
Carol

[Loonwatcher]

I do the same as Angela except when I need to steam something. Then I use tap water at home (it's filtered and softened) and bottled water at camp (tap is from the lake, yuck). Otherwise it is the spray bottle for me.

[Slokarma]

The Rowenta I have now, specifically says not to use distilled water in it. I assume it varies with the brand of iron you use. I'd go buy the instructions.

When I was young and ironed my dad's cotton work shirts, we always sprinkled them.... had a top with little holes and a cork fitting that fit into pop/soda bottles.....anyways, we dampened the shirts and let them "rest" and then ironed Or we ironed them before they were completely dried. That's what i've been doing when I have lots to iron.... Eliminates refilling the iron all the time and I don't have steam billowing out.

Maybe I'm getting that old timers condition... where you remember things working better, but seems like irons used to be hotter and heavier......

I've been doing the same with starch, I spritz and let it sit until it is absorbed by the fabric.

[Auntpiggylpn]

The Rowenta I have now, specifically says not to use distilled water in it. I assume it varies with the brand of iron you use. I'd go buy the instructions.

When I was young and ironed my dad's cotton work shirts, we always sprinkled them.... had a top with little holes and a cork fitting that fit into pop/soda bottles.....anyways, we dampened the shirts and let them "rest" and then ironed Or we ironed them before they were completely dried. That's what i've been doing when I have lots to iron.... Eliminates refilling the iron all the time and I don't have steam billowing out.

Maybe I'm getting that old timers condition... where you remember things working better, but seems like irons used to be hotter and heavier......

I've been doing the same with starch, I spritz and let it sit until it is absorbed by the fabric.

I remember my mother having one of those sprinke bottles! She used a glass 7UP bottle! Wow, what a blast from the past!!

[Jean Sewing Machine]

SPRINKLING--BRINGS BACK MEMORIES! Did that so much as a newly married lady! And we would sprinkle then run out of time and put the sprinkled clothes in the fridge so they wouldn't mildew! I usually ran out of interest, so my hubby's shirts got very cold from sitting in the fridge for a couple of days!