The best iron--I found it.
10-25-2018, 10:12 AM
#21
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Farmington Hills, Michigan
Posts: 266
Try this: empty all water, fill with vinegar and let it sit for a couple of days. Empty the vinegar, fill with water and turn on. When it's hot, set it to steam and hold it vertical over the sink. Let it actively steam for a few minutes. Dump the rest out and you should be good to go. If the build-up is really bad, you might soak it longer, or repeat the process. You can also try heating the vinegar in the iron, steam it out, then rinse with water.
Now why didn't I think of that before I got rid of it?! I've cleaned coffee makers out with vinegar, I don't know why it didn't occur to me that it would work with the iron too. Oh, well...too late now. But I will file that tip away for future use! Though I finally started emptying the water out when I'm done, or just use a spray bottle of water.
10-25-2018, 10:56 AM
#22
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North-Central Indiana
Posts: 4,909
I've had the B&D Digital Advantage for years and I'm still very happy with it. Despite being used at least 10x more often, it has outlasted my barely-used Rowenta travel iron. My Rowenta still works but the spot where the cord meets the iron broke.
10-25-2018, 10:58 AM
#23
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North-Central Indiana
Posts: 4,909
I have been using a Panasonic cordless iron for over 5 years now. I absolutely love it! I will never buy an iron with a cord again. It is so much easier to use a cordless iron for your fabrics. The only thing I don't like about it is the auto-off feature, but I realize that is a safety issue, so I don't complain.
I've been tempted by that one because of it being cordless! But when I get my next iron I am really hoping to find one with a solid bottom. I don't use steam anyway.
10-25-2018, 11:14 AM
#24
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Michigan
Posts: 412
For those of you that don't like resetting the temperature on the B&D Advantage I have good news for you. Once it shuts off due to not being used--all you have to do is tip it down and it heats up again. You don't have to press the button numerous times. Mine reheats in less than a minute--I've timed it. I really like this feature because I don't like the auto shut off and I wouldn't like having to press the button all the time.
Last edited by Grammahunt; 10-25-2018 at 11:15 AM. Reason: additional info
10-25-2018, 01:03 PM
#25
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Arlington, TX
Posts: 231
I have a cordless Panasonic which has never reheated automatically when placed on the base. Panasonic was not helpful since I had the iron 31 days when I contacted them. Said I could ship it to them at my expense and they would try to repair it or send me a refurbished one. I wanted them to replace it with a new one. That didn’t end well. I still would like a cordless if I could be sure it would work.
10-25-2018, 04:53 PM
#27
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: New Hampshire & Maine
Posts: 3,459
I bought this same iron from the VT Country Store. Lasted about a year, then the internal wiring shorted out and my DH (electrical engineer) told me to throw it away. Couldn't be fixed and for the price we paid (around $50 if I remember), not worth it at all. Back to a Walmart iron for under $30. I never use water and spritz fabric with spray bottle when needed.
10-25-2018, 11:20 PM
#29
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
Your method is how I learned to iron. Grandma said only use purified or distilled water to iron, no tap water. I have a small spray bottle that I refill as needed (grandma had a coke bottle with a tin shaker top with holes in it). I have had the same iron for many years and still works perfect. Black and Decker Advantage.
Last edited by madamekelly; 10-25-2018 at 11:23 PM.
10-26-2018, 01:59 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Mission, TX
Posts: 390
This is the iron I use...I love it! I have 2, one on my ironing station in my sewing shack and one packed up to take when I sew with my friends at the clubhouse...
