I have a cheap big box iron too. If I forget to turn it off, it goes off. Only 'leaks' if I overfill it and then when it gets hot, it splatters all over the ironing board. My sister goes thru a lot of irons - she is a rug hooker. She buys used wool clothing and after washing, it needs ironed before she can cut it. She likes the 'cheap' irons I get for her at yard sales, and the heavier the better. Except one time I got the heaviest iron ever, for 50 cents. She agreed that that iron was way beyond her.