Lead warning on Iron
 

I have been trying to find a new iron with an on/off switch (to no avail) so currently have four new irons. Was happy with my Black & Decker, so got another. This new one has a light to tell you it's plugged in, even though it's off, and the handle is hot after several hours of being off.
So in looking for their contact number, noticed a warning: The power cord on his product contains lead. Wash hands after handling.

Amazing.

I plug my iron into a power strip that has a red light when the strip is powered on with it's on/off switch. My Ott light and small fan is also plugged into the power strip. So, I know everything is off when I leave the room as the light is out. My iron is supposed to have an auto off, but it still feels too warm if not used in over a hour.

I have another Ott lamp which clamps onto my sewing table and has a flexible arm. It has a big module that plugs in. I was shocked the other night when I unplugged it and it was "very" hot. The lamp had been on for about 5-6 hours. I have learned to unplug anything not in use that uses those power modules to help save on electric. I recently got a new Cable box, and the new one does not have a plug module that gets hot to the touch.

"noticed a warning: The power cord on his product contains lead. Wash hands after handling. " !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ​Seriously??????????? You'd think they wouldn't allow those to be sold in the US!!!!!!

Where did you see this? And which B & D iron did you have? I ask as I just got a new B&D digital advantage iron and I couldn't find anywhere where it said it had lead in the cord. Am I missing it?

Have you ever bought those pretty, sparkly, little Christmas lights? Take a look at the tag on the cord, and on the box. It says the same thing about lead and washing hands. So, what do you associate with Christmas and lights?, children? I don't think any of those lights are made in USA, even though they have been approved by the appropriate labs. I guess it's okay to foul the environment as long as the product doesn't short out or electrocute you.

I wonder about the workers who made the cords? It's so hard to find everyday products not made in China for US companies. I have a Black and Decker classic and the handle stays very warm for a long time, always had. It's made from Bakelite so holds the heat.

All power cords and extension cords I've ever seen have this warning.

NEVER heard that before. I keep iron plugged into a surge strip that has a light attached so I always know then it is on. Easy to just flip the serge protector off and both light and iron are securely turned off.

Went to check on my iron. My Sunbeam is made in China thumbdown: but no lead. I would just cover the handle. I don't trust any small appliances, toasters, irons, curling irons. When I worked in the salon for many years, I just unplug the multi plug outlet. I placed it on the vanity/workstation so I could see it wasn't on. One look is all I needed. It doesn't take that long for a small appliance to heat up. I turn all appliances off and still unplug. When I leave the house for the day and know I'm going to be gone awhile, I unplug my sewing machines by unplugging the multi plug from the wall. It's been stormy lately and I'm not taking chances.

It's not what they warn you against that you should be worried about. It s what they don't that will kill you. Try buying anything in California. The warnings here will scare you to death if you take them seriously. I don't. The amount of lead you will absorb from a plastic cable is well, non-existent and the lead warning comes from the solder they attach the wires to the plug inside the plastic housing of the plug. Don't chew on the cable, don't cut the plug off, don't burn the cable with the iron, and you will be fine.

I found the cheap Black and Decker iron to be not hot enough. I find auto off systems on irons to be a pain but I do understand why they use them. And we have no thunderstorms here in Silicon Valley so nothing ever gets unplugged. I do remember the days of unplugging all electronics when I lived on the east coast. What a pain but necessary.

tim in san jose

I agree with Tim about the California warnings. I was nearly scared straight out of the store when I read the printable quilt labels note on the back of nearly every one about them containing some ingredient that California believes causes cancer.

Personally, I love my Rowenta iron and it doesn't have that warning about lead. I do unplug it after use, per the instructions. Sometimes I think the warnings that have to be included on electronics cross the line into absurdity. I just bought a new hairdryer & in addition to telling me not to dry my hair in the bath, it said not to dry it in the shower. My curling wand came with a huge warning that the iron could burn my eyes. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what was with this huge red insert with such a serious warning -- turns out some idiot somewhere tried to curl her eyelashes with a curling iron.

My iron did come with a warning not to fill the water chamber with "water" from an air conditioner or dehumidifier. It's tough at times trying to sort through which things are legitimate warnings because there are so many things included to protect companies from lawsuits by people with no common sense.

Misty's Mom, it was model D2030. The warning is on the bottom of the box in small print.

And thank you, Tim, for the clarification. Still, I'm not going to keep it as the handle stays very warm even when it's turned off.

I think it's a good suggestion to use an electric strip.

I unplug everything when I am through using the appliance. A friend fried her computer because she left it plugged in during a vicious storm. Lesson learned.

i have that same model and I've had it on for 4 hours this morning and the handle is still very cool. Maybe you got a lemon. I did see the lead warning on the box, but I won't be licking or chewing on the cord:D. And I wash my hands frequently anyway.

I have the same set up. I just turn off the plug strip protector.

That handle is always warm when it is plugged in. It is using electricity to keep the little red light burning. My husband has always had a problem with the light being on when I wasn't using it. I have a power strip that I flip off when I leave the sewing room. All my machines and lights are on that strip. I have another on the iron and light in the laundry room. If the light is on, the iron is on. Easy to see they they are on when they need to be turned off.

After plugging or unplugging the cord, do not lick your hands????

my timed shut off iron (Shark) if left plugged in is always warm. The point being that quick reheat. So it is like anything electrical that is quick start, tv's come to mind, they are drawing power and running up the electric bill.

My iron doing that irritated me enough that I put it and the overhead light on a power strip like the members above, and shut the whole thing off when I'm finished for the day.

I'm surprised something with exposed lead can be sold in the US.
I mean it would have to be exposed to require hand washing wouldn't it?

I agree! So many products have this kind of warning that you can be hesitant to use them. Especially medicines. The warnings could scare you death.

Same with me...we had a fire when I was young, and my mom instilled it in me to unplug appliances when I'm done. The news reports of appliances starting fires when not in use keeps me reminded

My daughter and her family live in San Francisco, and when we went to visit last year these were on the entrance to the hotel where we stayed in Berkeley. :shock: Talk about a warm welcome...nice, huh?

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Definitely overkill. Just don't suck, chew on, or eat the wires and you'll be fine. Oh yeah...and don't stay in California hotels! :thumbup: :D

Sorry...don't know why these pics posted twice...

Ok, so you all have a solution for irons.. Now... don't use the $1.95 power strips you find inthe discount section of the hardware or Walmart stores. Use a power strip designed for your woodshop. Should be 14 gauge wire capable of 20 amp loads. You won't be at 20 amps but the cheap ones they sell for 15 amp service are not what you want on your sewing machines and or irons. They too can burn up. Cheap connectors and switches can and will fail! Splurge and buy the 14 gauge wire ones. If you don't believe me, ask your husband (if you have one)(and if he knows anything about electricity)
tim (robotics engineer) in san jose

Excellent point.

my garden hose had a LEAD warning on it. warned not to use for vegetables.

I think they are using lead for flexibility in the cord cover itself, that's what keeps the garden hose flexible too.

Wow...I did not think they allowed lead in products in this country anymore...Check to see if it came from China..I hear a lot of stuff is still coming from China with lead..