Steam Iron Rant

I have had a Rowenta for almost 10 years, and it works very well. It was a gift from my mother -- I about died when I saw how much the silly things cost! Sheesh! She must have temporarily lost her mind. If I were to purchase a new iron tomorrow, I would get a small, light weight, very inexpensive one, since all I ever need to do is a bit of steam ironing and dry ironing of the more normal fabrics. I might feel differently if I were a professional seamstress using fancy fabrics, but

Hey John

Like you I too listened to the advertisements of just how great the Rowena was. I bought one and within 3 months it was spitting and sizzling everytime I turned it on. I threw it in the trash. Went to a Street Fair that we have here and found an old GE dry iron for 18 dollars. I bargained the lady down to 9. I have a spray bottle handy if I need to steam something but have found the old dry iron is still a workhorse. And this iron was made in 1936. I have Mama's GE iron that is 40 years old, when I really need a steam iron for things such as ironing a blouse.

Kate T. South Mississippi

Good for you John - makes sense to me. I've got a Sunbeam with a metal plate (never the teflony or non-sticky ones again!) It's a corker and I certainly wouldn't replace it with some over-priced iron no matter what .... it was priced right too.

Sharon (N.B.)

Mine leaked too, so I quit using the steam part, then it decided it didn't want to heat up very well. It sits on my shelf--guess I should pitch it but it cost more than $100. I replaced it with a $20.00 dry flat Proctor Silex iron that I've used for 10 years. It finally doesn't heat up very well so I'm searching for another dry flat bottom iron. I use a spray bottle when I need steam. These are so much lighter than a steam iron and weight is a big factor for me.

So don't feel alone

Butterfly

I have had my Rowenta Professional for over 2 years now, and have never had a problem. I had 2 Black and Decker irons, and neither one of them lasted much longer than 1 year. That was when I bought the Rowenta.

Sherry Starr

I'm still thrilled with my $3-from-an-estate-sale like new Panasonic iron (still in the box) purchased two years ago. It has a retractable cord and 20-minute shut off, spray, steam and dry...especially since I dropped the previous and broke it (which was the same model as the current one). The previous I had for over 5 years and was also purchased second hand, and like new, at a thrift shop for $2.

I think if I were to buy a new one, it would be another Panasonic.

-Irene

Do you know, the best iron I've had for quilting is the $7.99 [AUS] job I bought at Aldi! Because it's small and lightweight it's marvellous for pressing. When I turn the steam off it stays off! No spitting all over the place and great for carting around. It dies, I go and get another $8 iron. I have a bigger and heavier iron for general ironing but I found it to big to spot iron.

Wendy in Nsw

I hear ya, John. I got a Rowenta for my birthday. By the time the warranty was up, the thing was leaking like a seive. I griped to Rowena about it, and they sent a brand new iron. That was back in April. This one is started the same spitting the other one did prior to serious leaking. But you know what? We had to clean out a storage building recently. I found the iron I'd gotten in my wedding shower 35 years ago. A Sears steam iron. That was back in the polyester-double-knit days, and I barely ever even used it. I don't know why I even kept it. It had tons of yuck on the soleplate. ( probably scorched polyester)....I cleaned it, then fired the thing up. O. My. Gosh. It is an amazing iron & I love it. It gets hotter than the Rowenta, doesn't spit, and glides like a dream. One of those old chrome & black numbers with a fabric-covered cord. Only drawback is, I have to be *very* diligent about unplugging it, since it has zero safety features. (I consider that a "good thing". It irked me go back to the ironing board after sewing for 5 minutes, and find the stupid Rowenta had shut off).

Sherry

Mary, everyone I know who *loves* their Rowenta has had them for several years. That's why I bought on. It kind of makes me wonder if the newer ones just aren't as good as the older ones. Our LQS has about a 10-year-old Rowenta that impressed me so much, that is why I bought one. Either they are just not good anymore, or I got 2 lemons in a row.

Sherry

I love my Rowentas too. I rotate them because I don't properly empty them. When one gets hissy, I move to the other one. My sweetheart does a bit of rescue maintenance for the abused one and on we go. They really should be flushed and emptied and dropping them is not a good thing. However, there's just nothing like one for heft, high temp, and serious steam. Polly

Polly, that's another thing I think is amiss with this new Rowenta. (the one they sent me to replace the one that was leaking). It just does not get very hot. I know the first one got hotter than this one.

Sherry

I heard quite some time ago that there are TWO different manufacturers of Rowenta Irons. One has a model number starting with (or including) the letters ME (for Mexico) and the other with the letters DE (for Denmark??). Or some such telltale markings. Anyway, my understanding was that the ME, or Made in Mexico, irons were to be avoided at any price. The DE irons were made in Europe and were still reliable. I always check before buying. I'm still on #2, only because #1 was dropped on her poor little pointy nose at a quilting retreat. #2 still works like a charm. Just my 2¢. Lorraine

When my 20 year old GE iron finally bought the farm, I looked at Rowentas. I had heard a great many good things about them. However I did not find one out of the six kinds the store had that I would have paid a dime for much less the amount of money they were asking. Pretty much they had so many safety features as to be unusable. They didn't get hot enough, they turned themselves off after rather short periods, they all had blunt noses. You can bet appliance guy was startled when I asked to turn them on and see how hot they got on the high settings. But what else are demonstrator models for? Besides if they want me to pay more than $100 for an iron they darn well better be prepared to let me find out how it works! I don't think the manager loves me, for after he was dragged over and we tested the Rowentas I didn't want any of them. Not one of them could press a collar worth a damn.

I ended up buying the same B&D you got John. Plus a cheap Procter-Silex that was on serious sale (less than $10). Paid less than the cost of a Rowenta for the pair of them, they both get hot, they both have a sharp nose, they both work for any quilting application I have. The only trauma so far was a cat jumping on the board and knocking the P-S off which broke off the temperature selector (cheap iron, no shock). I just turned it all the way up with a pair of pliers and only use it for cotton and linen. By the by, neither iron has ever had water put in. I prefer a spray bottle.

NightMist

I have to say I'm very happy with my Rowenta Professional. I'm on #2 within about a 10 year span. Think #1 was dropped one too many times. One thing to keep in mind w/Rowentas particularly (and some other brands) is if they are designed to be used with tap water or distilled water. I've always made it a point to have one that required tap water as I couldn't be bothered with relying on distilled water for everyday use (I iron work clothes every morning). I think I paid in the neighborhood of $50 for each that I've owned. A couple of years ago I also bought some European brand of steam iron -sorry can't remember the name - that was being demo'd at a home show and then a couple of weeks later at a quilt show. $200 thank you very much. I actually like the iron even if it does require distilled water. I don't empty each time as I should either as I use this almost exclusively for quilting and usually don't get enough uninterrupted quilting time to be able to use all that water in the tank. I have noticed with that one if it is plugged directly into the wall outlet as opposed to a power strip (like it is currently) it does get quite a bit hotter.

Do you use distilled water? If so, that may be causing the spitting. The instruction book tells you to use tap water. It also tells you what to do if you have an extremely high mineral content in your tap water. Our water has a lot of rust in it so I use filtered water and haven't had any problems.

Julia in MN

No, I followed the instructions to the letteer. The irons, as manufactured today by that company, are not worth the price. Those poeple whe have and like theirs are often long time ago purchases, which are a different kettle of fish. If you go online and check out various sites that have feedback on Rowenta irons you will find legions of bad reports about their products and service policies. I am now perfectly happy with the Black and Decker 26 dollar iron, for quilting. For clothes ironing I have a steam generator iron, that will blow the socks of any Rowenta made.

John

I just ordered a Black & Decker Digital Advantage D2030 which was rated as a best buy from Consumer Reports. It is around $50 and was rated much higher than the Rowentas. I have also owned 3 and have now given up. I will let you know how the B&D is? Kathy in NH

John wrote: