I too have an iron with the holes but don't use water in it either. It does like to spit sometimes and it always seemed to happen on white/light fabric so I stopped putting water in it and like others use a spay bottle. When I am doing fusible applique, I use an old iron I picked up at a "junque" shop that does not have the steam holes. Much better for fusing. I too always turn my iron off if I am not going to use it for a while and always, always unplug it when I leave my studio (not attached to the house) for any reason. I know I would forget it sometime otherwise. It's a habit I want to keep going.