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.