distilled water/demineralizer in gravity feed iron?

For those of you with gravity feed irons, do you use tap water with the demineralizer in the system or just distilled water? I just wondered if either one was better than the other in the long run. Any other usage tips for a new gravity feed owner? Thanks.

Reply to
liv
Loading thread data ...

Your owner's manual should state what sort of water to use in your gravity iron. Most prefer tap water, but "filtered" through special resins one places in the water bottle. This is that green powder one sees in gravity iron water bottles in commercial settings, which gradually changes to brown as it becomes mineral laden.

Several canisters of the powder came with a gravity iron I purchased, however with my first iron used distilled water.

Just so you know, depending upon how often used, all gravity irons will need to be cleaned out/serviced regularly. This can be years in some cases, or once a year in heavy usage and or with bad quality water. If your iron starts spitting brown gunk, it is time for a cleaning.

Tips:

Never lie the iron on it's back, but rest it flat. You should have received a silicone/heat resistant pad of some sort with your iron.

Keeping the steam switch pressed down for too long can flood the chamber and cause the iron to spit. You will soon learn just how long you can call for steam before this happens.

When using the iron for long periods, such as ironing lots of laundry, set the temp at one setting higher (i.e. for cottons choose linens), to keep constant production of hot dry steam.

When ironing silk, rayon, polyester, nylon or any other fabric that can be damaged by heat, use the ironing shoe that came with your iron. When using the ironing shoe you can set the temp dial to "cottons" and not worry about damaging fabrics with proper use. The ironing shoe acts like a pressing cloth.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

Oh, and there is this as well; the higher the water bottle is hung, the greater the steam.

Mine hangs from the ceiling by one of those hooks one suspends plants from. If you do go this route make very sure the hardware is placed into a stud/joist with the proper screws. Those hanging bottles are heavy when filled with water and can cause damage and or bodily injury if they come crashing down.

Candide "Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper." Quentin Crisp 1908 - 1999 _+_+_+_+_+_+__+_+_+_+_

Reply to
Candide

Thanks for the feedback. The instructions that came with the iron are rather vague on lots of things. It does say to use the enclosed demineralizer as an "option" if tap water is used, but it never mentions using anything else, like distilled water. So I don't know what they expected customers to use if not using the demineralizer. I have read that you can also use distilled water. Our water is hard and from a well, but it goes through a filtering system which uses salt to soften it. I guess I'll stick with tap water and the demineralizer for now since I won't be sewing and ironing daily with this iron. The demineralizer should last awhile.

Reply to
liv

special

They all are, as most of these gravity irons are made in Asia for a worldwide market. What you usually get is simple basic instructions (if that), and diagrams/pictures.

It does say to use the enclosed demineralizer as an "option" if tap water is used, but it never

Stick with the demineralise and tap water. Softened and sometimes even distilled water can contain all sorts of things not good for the insides of a steam boiler.

The demineralizer should last awhile.

Mine has been in the same bottle for almost a year or longer, with many fills of water and is only half way turning brown. "Hangs" around sometimes weeks or months before use as well, since I do lots of ironing damp laundry/shirts dry, so don't need steam. Also when working on a small project or only the odd thing has to be steam ironed, will use my T-Fal iron rather than hooking up the heavy Naomoto gravity iron.

Best of luck,

Candide

Reply to
Candide

Candide wrote: Also when working on a

What model of T-Fal do you have and do you like it? I sometimes see these in bargain stores. I was thinking about getting another iron for quick and casual ironing, times when I don't want to warm up the gravity feed.

Thanks, Liv

Reply to
liv

Have an old "Diffusion Turbo" that I bought for my first apartment after graduating college. It was top rated by CR at the time and served me well ever since. Makes lots of steam and is great for when I'm steam ironing, however it now leaks/spits after prolonged use due to a fall from the ironing board. Still use it for quick projects and dry ironing. Have been searching eBay and thrifts for another, but CR gives good marks to T-Fal irons in general. I neither want nor need any more electronics, so those new fangled irons with digital displays are out. One wouldn't think it is so hard to make a basic simple steam iron and leave things alone. But no, they will insist on messing about. Fully expect soon we shall have irons that speak as well.

"Stop, your putting too much water in me" "Hey, you left me on" LOL

Candide

Reply to
Candide

Candide wrote: I neither want nor need any more

That's the truth! They're too complicated and more likely to break down. I guess that is why you see those simple metal irons from the

40's, 50's and 60's still running fine. They do make replicas now of the "classic" irons, though I haven't read a lot of great reviews of them. Maybe the quality just isn't there like in older irons.

Liv

Reply to
liv

It's half a dozen of one, and six of the other when it comes to vintage irons. Have had my share and still own several, but mainly "dry" irons as the steam irons for the most part will only steam within a narrow range. That is if one wants lots of steam but low heat for say ironing silk or polyester, you are out of luck.

Am now using a commercial grade dry iron by Cissell, and it works a treat. Replaced my long loved vintage Proctor "Champion" and "Never Lift " irons from the 1940's or so. Much as I love the old dears, thermostats have changed much since then, and feel these new commercial irons give better heat control. At 1000 watts the older irons got VERY hot, and even when set one setting lower, one could still scorch things.

Candide

Reply to
Candide

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.