The best iron--I found it.
 

Each of us have our favorites of just about everything. I have found the perfect iron for me. It is the Black and Decker Digital Advantage iron.

I have owned one for numerous years and have kept it in its little travel bag ready for the next sewing adventure away from home. During those years I have had Oleso, Rowenta, and a couple brands I don't recall. None have lasted nor been as perfect as my Advantage. My last iron leaks badly (Rowenta) so I just got a new Advantage. And the instructions say that to empty at the end of the day is Optional! If it leaks I'll let you know, as I do hate emptying my iron every day because I sew in the lower level of the house where there is no sink. This is, of course, all my own humble opinion although I sure wish Black and Decker wanted to pay me to say my piece. Happy Sewing.

Grammahunt

I've had that one and agree, it's a great iron.

I'm currently using an iron I found at my local hardware store, of all places, for $20. I bought it because it has no automatic shut-off.

There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to features. Another great iron I own is the Reliable Digital Velocity. It is an awesome steam powerhouse, heavy, great for pressing backs, yardage, stubborn wrinkles, etc. It can get quite heavy, so this smaller, lighter hardware store find is great for piecing, classes, retreats, etc.

My favorite iron is a Sunbeam that I have had for about 20 years. The first one I purchased did not have auto shut off, so I gave it to my Mother and bought another with auto shut off. Has served me well, never put water in it, just have a spray bottle on my ironing board. My Mother still has hers too.

My best: a travel iron from a garage sale for $1.00.

Ummm...Are we supposed to empty the water daily? I seriously have never done that!

So far the best iron I've had is the Continental brand that I got from The Vermont Country store. Dry iron, no steam, no auto shut off and is heavy. I just spritz a little mist on what I need ironed and I'm good to go.

I bought the Digital Advantage about 2 years ago after having had a dissatisfied experience with a Rowenta...it’s a great iron and about a third of the price of a Rowenta.

I have this iron as well. I have had it for at least 3 years. I can't remember when I bought it. I haven't had any issues with it. I use water in it always and have never emptied it.

Am I wrong, but I believe I’m seeing a lot of OLD brand names here. LOL. I’m using my MIL ‘s old black and decker. I tried a Rowena, hated it, tried the Oslo that jumped up every Time you set it down, didn’t like it. I’m going to look at the advantage whenever my Old BD gives out. I got one of the small steamfast’s for 25.00. Love it also. No more expensive new age irons for me. Good thread.

I have been using a Panasonic cordless iron for over 5 years now. I absolutely love it! I will never buy an iron with a cord again. It is so much easier to use a cordless iron for your fabrics. The only thing I don't like about it is the auto-off feature, but I realize that is a safety issue, so I don't complain.

I had a reliable and felt I was filling it all the time. Was disappointed with it for the price.

Me too, I had mine for over 20 years. I like the kind that can be either corded or cordless.

I have found through trial and error that the cheaper the iron the more I like it. No more expensive ones for me.
Glad you found a good one!

I just bought this iron about a month ago, and I love it!!! The only minor quibble I have with it is that you have to push the button to move to different heat levels every time you turn it on as it goes to the lowest setting when you turn it off. I kind of like having the dial that I set to what I generally use, and it is always there. That is being super nit-picky though and the rest of it is so great I can live with that!

It has been a great iron thus far, heats up quickly. It does have an auto off, and it will beep to let you know it is going off. However, when you pick it up and tilt it over to iron, it wakes itself back up, so to speak, and heats right back up. I love that! No drips, great steam output. :o

I really like the Eureka 1800 watt. So far it's been great and going on three years. I don't empty it, I just refill it when low. The main thing for any iron is to keep the steam off when adding water until the iron has heated to the steam temp. If you don't let it heat up before turning on the steam it will start sputtering and spewing.

Glad you have found an iron that works great for you.
I have a B & D Classic. :)

KwiltyKathy. Could you tell me how a corded/cordless iron works? Also brand name please. Sound like what I have
been looking for. Thanks

I bought this iron to replace a 30-year-old Sunbeam and only used it twice before I put it away into the back of my closet. Constantly having to reset the temperature drove me nuts. See Dawn Furlong's post. I'd sew a block, turn on the iron, set the temperature and press my block. Back to the machine, sew another block and the iron had turned itself off and the temperature had to be reset all over again. Glad I didn't throw out my old Sunbeam - I set it to Cotton and there it stays.

I bought a Digital Advantage iron 10 years ago and I just loved it, but the "clean me!" light started going on all the time, so I quit using it. There was a build-up of white mineral-y crud that kept coming out of the holes, probably because I never emptied it after I used it. I found an older Black & Decker Classic at the thrift store and it doesn't have auto shut-off.

I like it well enough, but I also bought a Hamilton Beach Retro iron that has a 30 minute auto shut-off, so it takes much longer than any of the other ones to shut off. They're both "fine", but I still loved that Digital Advantage more than these. I think I was trying to find one that I like as much as that one. :rolleyes:

But then last year I treated myself to a Panasonic cordless iron, based on all of the glowing reviews I read here and on the MSQC forum and, Oh My Goodness, I'm in love all over again! That iron is wonderful! But having said that, I'm still thinking about buying another Digital Advantage.Yes, it shuts off pretty quickly, but it heats up really fast too. And I didn't mind having to reset the temperature - after a while it just became "muscle memory" and I didn't even think about it.

The only thing stopping me is the collection of irons I seem to have acquired, quite unintentionally. Right now I can't justify buying another one until one or two of the ones I have already, go kaput. (OOPS! Now how did those irons fall off the balcony?!)

Try this: empty all water, fill with vinegar and let it sit for a couple of days. Empty the vinegar, fill with water and turn on. When it's hot, set it to steam and hold it vertical over the sink. Let it actively steam for a few minutes. Dump the rest out and you should be good to go. If the build-up is really bad, you might soak it longer, or repeat the process. You can also try heating the vinegar in the iron, steam it out, then rinse with water.

:eek: Now why didn't I think of that before I got rid of it?! I've cleaned coffee makers out with vinegar, I don't know why it didn't occur to me that it would work with the iron too.

Oh, well...too late now. But I will file that tip away for future use! Though I finally started emptying the water out when I'm done, or just use a spray bottle of water.

I've had the B&D Digital Advantage for years and I'm still very happy with it. Despite being used at least 10x more often, it has outlasted my barely-used Rowenta travel iron. My Rowenta still works but the spot where the cord meets the iron broke.

I've been tempted by that one because of it being cordless! But when I get my next iron I am really hoping to find one with a solid bottom. I don't use steam anyway.

For those of you that don't like resetting the temperature on the B&D Advantage I have good news for you. Once it shuts off due to not being used--all you have to do is tip it down and it heats up again. You don't have to press the button numerous times. Mine reheats in less than a minute--I've timed it. I really like this feature because I don't like the auto shut off and I wouldn't like having to press the button all the time.

I have a cordless Panasonic which has never reheated automatically when placed on the base. Panasonic was not helpful since I had the iron 31 days when I contacted them. Said I could ship it to them at my expense and they would try to repair it or send me a refurbished one. I wanted them to replace it with a new one. That didn’t end well. I still would like a cordless if I could be sure it would work.

I've had two of the Continental no steam irons and both have stopped working within a year of purchase. I won't buy another.

I bought this same iron from the VT Country Store. Lasted about a year, then the internal wiring shorted out and my DH (electrical engineer) told me to throw it away. Couldn't be fixed and for the price we paid (around $50 if I remember), not worth it at all. Back to a Walmart iron for under $30. I never use water and spritz fabric with spray bottle when needed.

I bought this same iron on Amazin recently. It was recommented by Pat Wys during a class I took with her. Love it!

Your method is how I learned to iron. Grandma said only use purified or distilled water to iron, no tap water. I have a small spray bottle that I refill as needed (grandma had a coke bottle with a tin shaker top with holes in it). I have had the same iron for many years and still works perfect. Black and Decker Advantage.

This is the iron I use...I love it! I have 2, one on my ironing station in my sewing shack and one packed up to take when I sew with my friends at the clubhouse...

I have never even heard of this! Also, can anyone tell me why a manufacturer would say that using distilled water may void the warranty?

In the instructions of all the irons I have that I have actually read it says to empty the water when not in use. If the iron says do not use distilled water then it has a filter. Tefal brand says if you do use distilled water mix it with 50% tap water.

Yes - THIS! I was going to post this (well, I guess I am too ;) ). This is what mine does. And I love this feature (think I mentioned that in my first post). It reheats super fast as well. When I carry my pieces to the ironing board, I tip my iron first so it resets, then I fiddle with my pieces, laying them out to iron. Iron is ready to go when I reach back for it. I just have to reset the temp after I unplug/plug back in my iron. So a very nit picky quibble.

I bought mine off of Amazon. There is a 2030 and a 2530. I went with the 2530. I believe the different is in the color and it has an INOX Stainless Steel Plate. Also, it appears the display is slightly different (shows the type of fabric for the temp selected I think).

Original Poster - is this the one you have? I Googled and a few different models came up.

https://www.amazon.com/BLACK-DECKER-.../dp/B00GJB79X0

My beloved Oliso iron just went to the great appliance repository in the sky, so I'm in the market for a new one. I have the Panasonic cordless and I really like it, but I'd also like an iron that gets a bit hotter. :)

All you have to do is set the iron so the tip is pointing down and it won't shut off. I use a iron stand that looks like a wedge and turn it around so the back in of the iron is higher. Many of the older auto shut off irons work on a level switch so this works.

I have had my Sunbeam iron for more than 25 years and I bought it at a rummage sale. I have never emptied the water. But I use distilled water. A gallon costs less than one dollar and lasts me for more than a year.

When you find one you like, it's a gem. I've had different ones--a Sunbeam, a B&D, a GE, and one I can't remember the name of (my current one). All have cost less than $40, one was from Goodwill ($4). There were pros and cons to all of them but overall I've liked every one of them. I stopped filling with water and instead spritzing with water--that's the key to not having them leak.

Distilled water doesn't have any minerals in it, so it doesn't steam as well as tap water. More importantly for the manufacturer, the lack of minerals will make distilled water slowly dissolve the metal components of the iron. This corrosion can dramatically reduce the life of the iron.

I am using my Proctor Silex iron that is over 50 years old. It's heavy and I've never had a problem with it. Probably because it's never had any water in it but distilled. Never have cleaned it because the build up never occurs. I have wrapped the cord in electrical tape as over the years it has worn a bit, however, I have the bracket that hold the cord in the air, has a spring that allows the cord to move anywhere. And 'when' it quits working, I'll get another, I think they are between $15 and $20. I think I paid $5 for this one, in the 60's, a lot at that time. A friend with a very expensive 2 year old iron, was upset because her's went bad. The instructions said DON'T use distilled water. Of course it does, you have to buy a new iron right?

And this comment: More importantly for the manufacturer, the lack of minerals will make distilled water slowly dissolve the metal components of the iron. This corrosion can dramatically reduce the life of the iron.

I say someone is feeding you a line if you believe it. Mine steams just fine, if the new ones don't, they are defective. Water is water. I never empty it either unless I put the ironing board down as I use it ever few days.

You will be in for a surprise. The only irons Proctor Silex makes now are lightweight with non stick sole plates.