Rowenta Iron Ruined? Someone tell me it isn't....
 

Ok, dumber than dumb I am. I grabbed for my bottle of water to fill my iron and instead grabbed my bottle of spray starch (StaFlow & water - 1/2 & 1/2) - not even the same color bottles. I think my mind was miles away. Never even realized it until it started bubbling out of the vents on the bottom and I saw it was brown and foamy - have you ever seen burnt starch.....I'm sure not - good for you. Needless to say I turned it off immediately and emptied out as much as I could. I filled it with vinegar more than a few times - sprayed and sprayed it - let it heat up and sprayed. Filled with water a bunch of times and did the same thing - then again with vinegar. I still get dark brown spots when I try to use the steam on the iron.

On the good side - there is always a good side, right? I can use it as a dry iron - it doesn't make any marks - I ironed for several hours with the dry iron with no problem. Only problem is - wah wah - I use my steam iron all the time. :(

Any suggestions on how to clean the iron out. I have searched the internet but no one else stupidly put starch in their irons.

Pat

scrolling down to #2 in cleaning the iron it says not to put vinegar in to clean as it will cause brown ooze to form? http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/how-to-clean-an-iron-2/

Could you try mixing about 1/8 tsp of Dawn dish detergent with a full load of water - let it heat - let it set and cool - dump it - and then rinse with plain water - and then try plain water?

I don't know if this would work - but I don't think it would make it worse.

Fill the Iron with plain water. Set it over the sink or hold it over the sink. Set it on full heat and steam and let it steam until it is empty then repeat. That will be the only way to get it cleared of the starch.

to on line to Rowenta, bet they will help you out

This is how the instruction book says to clean as well. I'm sure you'll need to repeat this process more than a few times but it should work fine. I've had to do this a couple of times when I get mineral build up (despite using distilled water as called for) and after a few repeats it finally runs clear.

Water....only water...the preferred type of water as indicated in the owners manual. For any iron.

My jaw has dropped at the suggestion of using soap!

Sandy

I would contact Rowenta. I had an invasion of ants into my Rowenta that had a removable tank. Vinegar finally clean up the mess but over many months.

That's why I but Black and Decker irons at Walmart.....they break, throw away and buy a new one!

You did not ruin it. :shock: Is that what you wanted to hear? Sorry no help on how to fix it.