Emptying the Iron?

I'm too lazy to empty mine, too. However, Rowenta does tell you to in their instructions. Guess I should do as I'm told!

I leave it in my GE---for months sometimes---no problem (yet---prolly just jinxed self)

-- Jean S

I always use distilled water, and leave it in until it's gone, and have never had a problem. But, I would NEVER put tap water or spring water in the iron.

-- Royce A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.

But....my Rowenta instructions say NEVER to use distilled water. I use tap water with a little distilled added because our water is a bit hard. I don't empty my iron when done...even though the instructions say to do so.

Betty

Be aware that if the iron has an aluminium sole plate or aluminium surrounding the heating element (and many of them doo: have you taken it apart to check?) that water left inside the works can corrode the metal. It leaches the salts out of the metal, leaving it rough and damaged, and more prone to holes and leaks where it shouldn't have them, and contaminates the water for the next bit if ironing you do.

Also if you live in a hard water area with lots of deposits in the kettle/iron, this will be facilitated by leaving the iron full. I always empty mine while still hot so it dries out before it cools.

I just use tap water and leave it in, although my nan empties it when she uses it.

Charlie.

I too, am very lazy and use tap water, leaving it in the iron until empty. Mind you I learned the hard way that one does need to give certain bits a clean every so often to keep the iron functioning!

My mom taught me to never ever put anything into the iron. I have a spray bottle of distlled water next to the ironing board that I use.

Since I'm still using my grandmother's iron, I can vouch for longevity and preservation of irons that way.

-georg

My Black & Decker says it is unnecessary to dump the water. Same for my old Rowenta.

I had much better luck with my irons when I started using filtered and softened water in them. Besides our water softener, we also installed a 'whole house' filtering system on our water supply. I have not had to buy a new iron since (5 years). =20

The whole-house water filter is >

How hard is it to install one of those, (basically, how much re-working of the existing plumbing needs to be done) and how long does a filter last you???

We have liquid rock around here and DH and I were thinking of installing one of those, (we *can* but we have to put things back the way they were when we moved in, and I don't want to go to a large hassle to get a whole house filter) softeners are out (something in one of the chemicals makes me break out into a rash, and they take a lot of modifying to put in), so we are reduced to a Brita pitcher and a faucet filter (that needs to be replaced about every week with regular usage due to the "liquid rock" content of the water....at 16 bucks a pop, them suckers are 'spensive!)

TIA Karlee in Kansas

My DH did it in one day. It's a canister-type unit that is installed on the water pipe, right where it comes into the house (before it snakes off to all the rooms, etc). Basically he cut the pipe, and fit the unit 'in between' the two pipe sections. We only have to replace the one filter about every six months.

What got us th>How hard is it to install one of those, (basically, how much re-working =

of the existing plumbing needs to be done) and

one of those, (we *can* but we have to put

to a large hassle to get a whole house filter)

into a rash, and they take a lot of modifying to

needs to be replaced about every week with

bucks a pop, them suckers are 'spensive!)

I think this depends on what kind of water you use in your iron. If you use tap water, I would definitely drain it, at least after every two uses. But, if you use distilled water, I don't think it is necessary. I have always used distilled water in an iron and I have never had it clog.

Mardi Real e-mail address spelled out to prevent spam. mardi at mardiweb dot com. ____________________

My Quilting page:

There are instruction with an iron??!

I use distilled water in my Rowenta, and never empty it. Never ocurred to me to toss out water I'd paid for.

D>

Mine does! I just use tap water but I don't ever empty it either. I use it waaaayyyyy toooooo much! In fact, I usually keep it turned on all day, on high, so I know one of these days I will probably burn it up!

Laurie G.

Kathy Applebaum wrote:

Mine is a Black & Decker, and says to only use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits & buildup from regular tap water. I've always used distilled water in every iron I've ever used, & never had any problems. I started ironing for all of my Aunts & a few neighbors when I was about 8, and they all told me to only use distilled, softened, or filtered water, so that's what I've been doing for almost 42 years.

When I worked for a commercial embroidery shop a few years ago, they only used distilled water in the steamers for removing the solvy from the finished garments. Once in a while some new or lazy person would put tap water in one, and it would get filled with mineral deposits & sputter debris onto the garments. Not a good thing. Then we'd have to take the steamer apart & scrape all of the gunk out, fill in with white vinegar and let it soak to get the really crusty stuff. Then the owner would remind everyone about the rules, and show everyone WHERE the distilled water was kept.

-- Royce, wishing I could afford to have one of those steamers at home to press with. A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.

Which just shows why it's good to read the directions! LOL