I'm just realizing what hard water can do to things. My glasses are all foggy from the dishwater. Then the the dishwasher didn't seem to be doing everything right. Once I learned about hard water(have only lived here 3 years) I ran a dishwasher cleaner through the machine many times which has made things somewhat better but glasses are still foggy. Oh, and I read that putting a bowl of vinegar in the dishwasher can help the foggy glass problem.
The answer to hard water is vinegar.
Next I'm going to clean my irons with vinegar as they don't seem to be as hot as they once were. I'm hoping this will bring them back to the hot temps I had been getting.

A whole house water softener will also help, not only with the iron but with all the water supply in your house, especially laundry.

Wow! That looks like an amazing iron. I may have to start saving now, but I'd like to have one. I have an Oliso that I liked but it's quit steaming and the auto off only works when it feels like it so I probably won't be getting another one.

Maybe I'll try vinegar too; at this point it's worth a shot. :)

I have had my Rowenta for twenty three years and have never had any problems with it. I have bought several others and didn't keep any of them. Living in the San Antonia area we have the hardest water in the world and that is what I have always used. I do now use the filtered water from my ref. I got afraid of it when I read here about fires and was going to replace it but so far I haven't found one I like better. I do run vinegar through it to clean out the lime buildup when needed as I do with everything here with our problem here.

Rowenta irons were good about 25 years ago, before they started making their water tank parts in plastic. One drop of the iron and that was the end of the water tank. Even if you didn't drop the iron, eventually they started leaking. After using my first Rowenta iron for over 20+ years and it finally fizzled out, my next 2 Rowenta irons were a dud. They are too expensive to have them die untimely deaths. I just recently purchased a really cheap iron from Walmart because I forgot to bring mine with me on a quilting retreat, that doesn't turn off automatically, and it has been wonderful. I just put the iron on the same circuit that the lamp is on and turn both lamp and iron off at the same time. Now I know if my light is on, so is my iron. It has been great not having to wait for the iron to heat up every time I need it.

My Rowenta did the same thing. That is why I now own a Black and Decker Digital Advantage. Much nicer and much less expensive!

I have the Shark Professional, had it over a year now and at first I used filtered water in it, but decided to go back to using the spray bottle to avoid the iron from leaking. I love weight of the iron and how hot it gets. My other irons that were a lower wattage just didn't get hot enough.

I have the same one, no water, I have a dollar store spray bottle I use instead. I had a beautiful “Quiana “ (remember that?) and my nice expensiveiron, the brand of which I have forgotten spit rust water all over it, and destroyed it. Nothing ever washed out of that fabric did it? Cheap irons and spray bottles for me.

I've had 3 Rowentas and they all leaked water everywhere.

Wouldn’t own anything but a Reliable Velocity. Have had one for about 6 years, and it’s never once sputtered, spit or leaked, and it gets dang hot. . If it ever dies, I’ll spend the extra $$. Dang well worth it.

I am now using an iron my Granddaughter bought. She decided she ironing wasn't for her. I just use a spray bottle.

I have been told to use the bottled water instead of distilled in irons. I use the spritz bottle from hair supply store. It was cheaper than the ones at the LQS.

Me, too, but mine came from Walmart.

a $20 Black & Decker or Sunbeam from Walmart--I've quite using the steam feature unless just ironing yardage cause I figured out the steam was shrinking my blocks :p but do typically use Best Press or a water spray instead.

I have a spray mister & Best Press. I have a 40+ year old GE that is my backup as well as 2-3 vintage dry irons. But my main iron is the Panasonic 360. I had on Oliso that the feet started popping in & out when ever it felt like. I am very happy with the Panasonic.

This is the same thing that I did.

I loved my Rowentas. I had 2, and they both lasted a long time even using them with water. Whatever the directions said use is what I did. Now I've inherited irons from my parents' homes. They are the least expensive you can buy, but they work fine and I now use a spray bottle for water if steam is needed.
Others have said they consider them consummables and I agree with that.

I never got why anyone would spend 100's on an iron...maybe I'm missing something. I have a light weight B&D and then went out and bought a heavy weight B&D...both work find 1700 watts and I use spray bottle also...If I do need steam I put bottle water in my heavy B&D.
I've always bought B&D and most have lasted 3-5 yrs with no issues. It's usually those cords that turn the iron on and off automatically stop working.
The only iron I'm willing to pay $'s for is the Panisonic Cordless which on Amazon would cost 90, one of these days will treat myself.

Sorry for all the frustration with your Rowenta iron; mine leaked too. I then bought a Sunbeam and that leaked too. I finally decided no more water of any kind in the iron. Use spray water or spray starch. I got an inexpensive iron - Walmart brand - and it's lightweight and am happy with it so far. Really like a lightweight iron as I have hand issues and the lightweight iron is nice.

I have a GE dry iron that I bought 50 years ago, I have always used a spray bottle and it is still going strong. It May even be older I can't remember for sure.

Glad to see that someone else has had this problem also. Sorry you had to go through this. I have had that happen to two Rowenta's. Now I use it dry not happy with the results. Also the heating element is failing in both of them as well. I have had each one about three years before the leakage started & onto whatever I was ironing. Would you believe I am going to go back to the iron I won in a "Make it Yourself with Wool" contest back in 1980's.

A quilter friend bought a dry iron from the Vermont Country Store and really liked the weight in addition to it being a dry iron. Anyone else tried one of these?https://www.vermontcountrystore.com/.../product/77684

I just watched one of Donna Jordan's You Tube videos and I also noticed the iron that Donna Jordan was using. It looked different from anything I have seen. What brand is it?

Reliable. I posted the link in my earlier post. It's dry steam.

I love my Olisos--I have 3 of them because I don't like getting on my hands and knees to plug and unplug them to move them to a different work station area in the two attic rooms I use for sewing. Expensive and indulgent, but worth it. The TOL models get really hot (1800 watts), steam is powerful, and the feet feature on all models REALLY helps ease arthritic pain and carpal tunnel episodes. Love, love, love those feet. I recently bought a Euro Steamer (Next Gen, 1000 watts) at a quilt show, but haven't been happy with it as a quilting tool. It works well on clothing, but who irons clothes any more? If your goal is perfecting your piecing and squaring quilt blocks, I find heat or wattage more important to success than steam. I also use those salon water bottle misters, even though I have had no issues using the steam from my Olisos. They are a game changer, especially when working with seams on the bias.

I'm still using my Proctor Silex, it's almost 50 years old. Yes the cord is wrapped in electrical tape, but the iron works perfectly and it's used OFTEN. Still steams like it's new, never had anything in it but distilled water. Of course the new ones tell you not to use distilled. You wouldn't have to buy a new iron every other year, if not oftener. My DMIL, was a seamstress for 70 years. She never used anything but distilled in her iron, it was older than mine. Even used it to press wedding gowns she made.

You know I suggested this very same to a guild member who was complaining she had a lot of hassle moving her iron from one area to another as she needed it. She thought I was nuts. Buy new irons when the one she had was working fine? Some like to suffer for their art. LOL

I have had my Rowenta for years. Use distilled water and no problems. I love it. Plus it doesn't have Auto Shutoff. I hate that feature. Are people to dumb to shut off their irons when they are finished.

Maybe not dumb but distracted. I have left my iron on for a couple of days before. It's on a big silicone mat so I wasn't concerned and if busted into flames the detector would have gone off sending the alarm to mine and DH's phone plus the monitoring company. I always try to have a back up to what could happen in case my brain isn't working.

I've been ​through two Rowentas. Bought them both at yard sales. Both are in iron heaven due to leaking all their water out all over my ironing board. Now I buy all my irons at my local thrift shop, that way if they die I don't feel guilty when I have to throw them away. My most recent one is a Hamilton Beach that had the film still on the hot plate when I got it home and got it to my studio. Yeah for me on that deal.

Distilled water can rust out the inside of irons. Always read the owners' manuals on any iron. The manual always includes the recommended water. I love my Rowenta...never ever had an issue with them. I let them fully heat up and I use the recommended water for them. Never a spit!

I purchased a Shark at Walmart, med price with the highest watts for the money. It did not give the type of water so I called they told me just use water from the faucet. I will see how long this one will last.

I’m glad I stumbled across this thread. “Iron” is a 4-letter word for me, but I realized I’d have to use one to sew and quilt decently. Mine has sat in a corner for years, but if I find it doesn’t work well I won’t spend a lot of money on a new one. I also like the idea of using spray instead of steam from the iron. I was never fond of dealing with a steam-spewing dragon while executing an already-dreaded task.

just a quick question. For those of you who have no problems with their irons......do you always empty the water out of the iron when putting it away? For those of you who have problems with their irons spewing...do you usually leave the water in the iron? I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth the extra effort to empty that water after each use. If it's a waste of time.......then maybe I won't. But, if you think it helps preserve the iron, I'll continue doing it.

Thanks for your input.

I do the same thing. I love the narrow front of my Rowenta and how hot it gets. I use dry heat and keep a spray bottle handy. Seems to solve all my problems with my leaky iron.

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Well, although I do not “officially” iron these days, I always did empty the iron of water when I did use it. Unless you are going to be using it a few hours later, it can’t be good for the iron to have water sitting in it -however purified it may be.

I learned the hard way to use a spray bottle to dampen my fabric, so never add water to the iron. I have never purchased an expensive iron...my expectations for it would be too high.

Rownta
 

Love my steam generator and regular rowenta? Would not buy anything else

It sounds like a Rowenta is fine if you use a spray bottle rather than putting water in the iron. That's been my experience. My mom had a Rowenta for many years and I got it when she died five years ago. It's still doing a great job.