I've been taught not to use steam. I have two irons. One for steam and one for dry.

I starch the crap out of my fabric, then iron with steam, before cutting. I use a dry iron on completed blocks.

Depends if you are using stabilisers or not. Some stabilisers require dry iron and others steam. Others need to be used at different stages of the preparation, on both. I would just make sure you were not distorting the shape with excessive ironing and handling. Light setting and pressing of seams is all that is needed.

Same here...

Although, with steamed pieces, wait a second or two for it to cool a bit.

This is all really good advice. I've used the vinegar to clean my irons. Rowenta Irons tell you not to use distilled water. You can also use dryer fabric softener sheets to clean the bottom of your iron. Just use an old towel or a thickness of rags under the dryer sheet or it will stain your ironing board cover. Run the hot iron over the dryer sheet till the iron is clean. Then clean with a clean rag. It will clean the bottom of the iron.

We have iron in our water also, a community well, and we have to filter water but still it will rust in the irons. I keep a spray bottle near and spritz water on whatever I'm pressing. I use spray starch and clean the iron with a product made for that (can't remember the name) but you can get it at Wal-Mart. After I clean the iron I heat it and run it over a piece of wax paper several times.

In North Carolina we do have rust in private wells, especially if the water sits in the older irons for a few days. When I was using well water, I used a spray bottle and dry iron when I pressed. That saved a lot of problems.

The instructions that came with my Rowenta say to use tap water unless you have extremely hard water and then use half distilled, half tap water. That's what I've been doing and so far so good.

If you are going to forget, just buy the inexpensive irons at Walmart, etc. If it rusts, 'chuck it'! I live with almost no short term memory, so I have to use these tricks quite often.

What's the brand name of your iron? I need a non-fancy one that won't keep turning itself off so quickly. Thanks.

If you have a metal trivet or the equivalent, you can set the iron on it in your kitchen sink and let it steam until the iron is almost empty. That will take almost everything built up out of the iron.

I lucked out at a resale place and found a big bunch of Black and Dekker irons (new in box but older models) for $7 and I bought 4 of them. I'm still using the first of them and it's been over a year.

I agree, ditch the iron. One should only use distilled water in the iron if you must steam. It doesn't leave any hard water residue to clog the iron. If you are not doing a lot of steaming, only put a little bit of water in the iron so it will be used up and not be left in the iron to rust. Or just mist it! I don't steam I mist. When the square is completely done and ready to get squared, I lightly mist and "press". This means not sliding the iron over the fabric but lifting it up and pressing the fabric all over. It makes it nice and flat so it can be squared before sewing the rows together. My board cover had a grid on it which makes squaring a breeze. This also helps if one seam is not exact and needs a little adjustment. Find a system that works best for your needs and enjoy the process.

I agree, ditch the iron. One should only use distilled water in the iron if you must steam. It doesn't leave any hard water residue to clog the iron. If you are not doing a lot of steaming, only put a little bit of water in the iron so it will be used up and not be left in the iron to rust. Or just mist it! I don't steam I mist. When the square is completely done and ready to get squared, I lightly mist and "press". This means not sliding the iron over the fabric but lifting it up and pressing the fabric all over. It makes it nice and flat so it can be squared before sewing the rows together. My board cover had a grid on it which makes squaring a breeze. This also helps if one seam is not exact and needs a little adjustment. Find a system that works best for your needs and enjoy the process.

I would try to replace the iron. Otherwise, run a tank of vinegar through it to clean, then a couple of tanks of clear water. Good luck

I think if your iron wasn't too expensive, I'd go for just pitching it. It's a great feeling to cut the cord off and toss it just before trash pickup, if you have trash pickup, because then you know it's out of your hands and won't worry you any more. Then get a cheapie one--I'm envious of the quilter who found four new irons at a resale shop!

I agree, Magic Eraser (the sponge with white on one side and blue on the other) does a great job of getting dried starch, etc. off iron soleplates. Astonishingly simple!

Dana

Thank you everyone for all your tips. I have an expensive brand new iron still in the box and I will keep it for clothes touch ups. I am going to take your advice and throw this rusty one out then buy a 'cheapie' at Wal-mart and keep it just for piecing. Thanks to everyone again, Carol

Do you have hard water (well water) that makes rust really fast I have gone to distiled water, non expensive to buy and save an iron.