R.I.P. Rowenta
 

My beloved Rowenta died a miserable death today. RIP. It lasted 4 1/2 years. I would love to have another but the circumstances to which it passed leave me wondering if I should buy another. I plugged it in and sparks shot out of the area were the electrical cord enters the body. Yikes! I loved this iron because of the steam it provided. I cant afford the new Eliso so has anyone got good recommendations for a new iron?


Thanks

Cindy in TN

I was in home depot and they had a shark iron on sale. I bought it because I could not keep the sole plate on my rowenta clean. I like the shark better, better steam.

I love my Eliso, but I've heard really good things about Rowenta also. Do you consider your iron well used? If so with the use of a well used iron I'd say 4 1/2 years isn't bad for more high tech steam irons. The sparks sound like a repetitive movement or winding of the cord weakened then broke the inner wiring. Not technical terms I know, but hopefully you know what I mean.

My Rowenta Master (German made) I bought at Costco a little over a year ago started leaking after about 6 months. It wasn't all the time, so I kept using it, but the last months or so it really started leaking in earnest-out of every orifice, the base, cord, everywhere BUT the soleplate. I finally decided I had had enough, so I took it back to Costco on the outside chance they would do something about it (even after a year. I didn't have the receipt or the box, but they took it back, credited my account, and never batted an eye! LOVE COSTCO!!! I then purchased a Sunbeam Turbo Steam Master from them (half the price of the Rowenta), and it works like a charm. Because I do allot of fusible work, I also bought a really cheapo Rival at Walmart, but forget to use it when fusing. I have the Rowenta sole plate cleaner (bought several packs with coupons at Joann's) and it works great cleaning all the gunk off. I hope I have better luck with the Sunbeam. It really puts out allot of steam and so far, no leaks!

My Rowenta died a similar death. I really like the Shark I purchased to replace it. It has a good weight and holds a lot of water for when I want steam.

I bought an Oreck on ebay a few years back. I used vinegar to clean out the deposits in it when it started to leak. No more leak.

Check out the Reliable irons. They are not cheap but I love mine, I finally have an iron that is dependable and doesn't leak all over the place.

I bought two Rowenta , I loved the steam, but for the money I just could not seeing buying another. Mine had a lifespan of about 4 years each. Way to short a life for the money I spent buying the high end of the Rowenta price range.
I have a cheap $12.00 iron , and it has already lasted as long as the Rowentas .. for the big steam I ust use a spritz bottle.

I guess I got lucky- my Rowenta was "off/on" as the wire connected or didn't. I bought a cheapy at the Dollar store for $9 until I find what I'd like to replace it with. I will not use an iron that has connection issues.

The life span of mine was about 4 1/2 years too. heavy use I would say.

I have had several Rowentas and hated them all. They leaked after about six months and I sent one back to the factory. They repaired it and I just recently had to drag it back out again when the Shark I bought eight months ago also failed! So now I have a barely operating Rowenta and a cheapie from WM I only paid $5 for: wanna guess which one will last the longest? I guess the next one I buy will be from Goodwill or my local charity store so I can get a decent one!

The Reliable 100 is amazing and very considerate - no belching or spitting. $$$ but so worth it

I have a Shark, got it at Walmart for under $20. Makes a lot of steam.

I had 2 Rowentas and NEVER again!!! The only thing they were good for was leaking! I bought a T-Fal - love it!!!

Based on input from other board members, I bought a Black & Decker that looks like my Mom's old iron. It works great, but I have not had it long. It replaced a 10 year old Rowenta that died.

I have a Sunbeam I got at BJ's. It works but is a little "spitty" at times. Makes good steam & is a good weight. The Sharks at my LQS hardly ever work properly.

How do you clean an iron with vinegar?

I had a Bernette made for Bernina it was 120.00 in 1994 and it lasted about 10 years and was wonderful. It was on sale for 89.00 when purchased. I used to tell people the wrinkles jumped out of the way when they saw it coming. It was awesome. I have Rowenta dressmakers now. Ok, but not like the Bernette. When we sew and keep them on all day it takes a beating. Teresa

I have a 9 month old Velocity by Reliable. It was expensive (for me) but the steam it produces is amazing. It roars when you hit the steam button. And you can override the shut off system. But it truly steams better than any iron I have ever owned and I've owned Eliso, Rowenta, Shark, Black and Decker, etc. It takes every single wrinkle out with one try! Unbelieveable!!!

I have to say, my Rowentas have lasted probably about 10 years each. Once upon a time I used mine daily to iron my clothes for work - I know - a dinosaur! After many drops, it finally died. Bought another one that I now use for quilting and have used it for probably about the same amount of time but for the last 5+ years primarly for quilting. No leaking issues at all. I make sure that I read what type water (tap or distilled) that model calls for and use the appropriate one. I'm having cord issues currently so it's only working sporadically. But I'd buy another in a heart beat. I did happend to be in JoAnn's a few weeks ago and the store I was in had one of the models on sale for about 50% off. Was tempted but ended up not buying it then. Probably the wrong decision, but, oh well. I'll get one sooner or later.

To clean an iron with vinegar: It's just like using vinegar to clean a coffee maker or a steam humidifier. It softens the calcium deposits that can gunk up the vents or cause particles to break loose and cause leaks where once water was kept tight.

Pour straight white vinegar into your iron. (Vinegar is a base, not an acid, this will not hurt your iron). Fill the iron, turn it on and let it sit for 2 hours. The auto-shut off will turn it off eventually, this is ok, just let it sit to soften the crud.

Afterwards, take the iron to the sink, hold it upright and shake it gently to loosen the crud. Then turn the iron upside down and pour the vinegar out of the iron.

Next, add more white vinegar to the iron, fill it to the top. Turn the iron on high, turn the steam to high and hold the iron horizontal over your sink, as if you're ironing. Let the steam vent out until the iron is about half empty of vinegar. Then turn the iron upright, shake it gently as before and turn it upside down to pour the remaining vinegar out of the iron.

Fill with plain water, empty, fill with water again and repeat the process of venting steam until you're satisfied all the vinegar is out of the vents. And you've just added another few years of service to your iron!

Vinegar works on clogged shower heads as well.

Christine-
http://quiltdasher.blogspot.com/

I just bought a new Rowenta...the one with all the steam holes. I had bought the Sunbeam but they didn't have one on display for me to "feel". That iron was huge and heavy and I ended up returning it for the Rowenta. One thing I noticed as I read the directions (yes!! I actually did!!) was to only fill the iron with the stated water type WITH the iron turned off and the steam button push all the way to dry. Hmmm, that sounded crazy to me but it doesn't spit (yet). Then you plug the iron in, set the temp and push the steam lever to steam! The directions also said if the auto shut off light goes red, to wait until it turns dark again before trying to use the steam AND not to push the burst of steam too often or too much. We shall see how long this one goes without spitting and sputtering!!

Those darn directions!! LOL

I like to shop at Savers. What I have found is they have lots of Rowenta irons. Seems there is a flaw in them cause they leak. I bought one for $5 to use as a dry iron.
Love Savers for quilting books also.
Now that I have moved to the mountains no more Savers near me. I miss it.

I wish that I had a Savers near me...I shop there everytime I go to see my BFF in Nevada. I agree, I think it's a flaw
in the design, although we are hard on them.
Thanks, Christine! I printed out your cleaning instructions. Will give a copy to sons...

I bought 2 Rowentas at the thrift shop for under $10, they both have been very good so far.

I like the Shark and its weight but find it too annoying that it automatically shuts itself off too soon! If I'm piecing and want to do a bunch of pieces the iron turns off and you have to push the button repeatedly to get it up to the correct heat. I use a good old Proctor - Silex for under $10.00.

My sunbeam is just starting to sputter and isn't getting hot enough anymore, but it lasted over 20 years...over 3 years quilting. I've spent the last 2 days looking at iron reviews, and am now more confused than ever.

After drooling for a few years over owning a Rowenta I finally got one too! Started leaking after a few months. Brought out my old T-Fal, which I used for fusing and it was quite sticky on bottom. Cleaned it and I am back in business with my T-Fal. Will not buy Rowenta again. I got it out of my system.

Hmmm...I need to go back and look at my directions. Thanks for posting this.

I used to love my Rowenta.... nice and heavy, lots of steam. After about a year I started having trouble with leaking and sputtering so I tried to have it fixed. Lots of luck!!!! No one touched Rowentas. So, now what do I do? Right now I'm using my back-up, which was brand new until about 6 weeks ago, and it too is beginning to leak all over everything.... not to mention a few scorch marks it's left. And.... FYI are all of you aware of the fact that if you use the heavier duty iron, the one with all of the steam holes, you have to use a heavy duty extension cord with it?

I have always gone with irons in the $25-30 range...I use them so much they sort of burn out after a while. Fine with me...not really much $$ invested, and they last about 2-3 years.

Have gone through several Rowentas. They all have ended up leaky!! Now I have a Shark and except for the fact that it turns itself off too quickly I am happy with it.

I've had two Rowenta's and they both started leaking after a short period of time. I'm done with spending big bucks on them. I love the iron but hate the fact that they don't last very long. On the recommendation of a LQS owner I purchased a Reliable and love it. Only dislike is that because of the "pump" inside it is really noisy and very heavy. My arthritic wrists don't like ironing with it for very long. All in all it's one of the best steam irons I've had over the years. Very pricey but it does a great job. On the cheaper side, I've used the inexpensive Black & Decker models and they work really well for quick pressing and do a fairly decent job.

I have a rowenta and LOVE it, it get hot enough and with the steam I don't have to press fabric over and over to get the wrinkles out, I did just buy a Eliso on clearance at JoAnn's by my house is going out of business, I got it for about 39.00 I haven't plugged it in yet, because I love my Rowneta.

I've buried two of those buggars. Very happy with my Black and Decker.

I had a Shark and it leaked terrible then I bought an expensive Rowenta and that wasn't much better I don't know what it is with irons anymore but they just don't seem to be like they used to.
Hope you have luck with your next one.

My Rowenta finally died as well, threw it in the trash yesterday. I bought a vintage GE iron from a 2nd hand store, it heats up fast, gets super hot, steams great and doesn't leak or shut off. Price $4!!!

I have gone through 4 'expensive' irons - 3 Rowenta's and my favorite - a 'European Pro' - while my son has, and uses almost daily, the same $10 Black & Decker that I got him when he went to college 25 years ago!

I have owned many irons over the years. I liked my Rowenta, but now use a Black & Decker cheapie. One rule of thumb that an old tailor (been tailoring for 65 years!)told me is to never, ever, ever add water to an iron! If you want steam, spray your fabric with water. Adding water to an iron will cause mineral deposits to build up inside causing leaking. Depending on how hard/soft your water is, this can take weeks, months or years to cause. Steam irons are a convenience, true, but once you get used to spritzing, sprinkling or spraying your fabric before you iron, it's no harder and your iron will last forever. Remember what our moms and grandmoms did...they spritzed, sprinkled or sprayed as they never had steam irons. How many of us still have mom's dry irons? I'd bet that most, if not all, are still working. I even iron my DH's dress shirts using dry iron and spraying fabric. (Yes, I know, why do I iron shirts when the laundry will do them???) One other benefit...dry irons tend to be cheaper since there are less mechanical parts to them. I also find that they are better built because of the less parts. You can use any iron as a dry iron...just don't fill it with water. I will never go back to using a steam iron. This is just my opinion but it works for me. Hope this helps somewhat.

I am on my 2nd Rowenta steam iron. I bought it at a discount store well over 5 years ago. Works fine and can use any kind of water for steam. No problems so far and it puts out a good amount of steam when I need it.

I have 2 Tfal irons & both have tons of steam. The 1 that has the auto off feature is a pain sometimes but the one I have that does not have the auto off feature is not. Both have tons of steam though & prices are much better than Rowenta irons.