Having to dispose of irons this frequently?

[Jessica3075]

I’ve no idea what I’m doing wrong.

I gone through so many irons. Some medium cost, some quite expensive. I never leave the water in the spray container, never let it overheat. I always use the correct advised setting for the item I’m ironing and then, I end up with this sticky mess (see photo) which is impossible to clean off!

This one, I bought in April and here I am again.
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Some good suggestions there. Thank you.

Toothpaste works really well.

This works pretty well:

https://www.johnlewis.com/prym-iron-cleaner-20g/p1157438

Minimise ironing if you have a tumble drier, pop what you need ironing in with a damp cloth for 5-10 minutes till steamy, pull out and hang to dry.
I iron about twice a year if that.

If you're ironing something that doesn't like the iron too hot, put an old, damp, cotton pillowcase on top of it and iron through that. Then you won't overheat whatever you're ironing. (If you do it this way, you don't need the steam on, you can use it like an old-fashioned iron).

A damp dishwasher tablet gets it straight off

I'm not saying this is anything but a coincidence but I haven't had this problem since I gave up using fabric conditioner.

the same thing crossed my mind as a possible cause. We use powder detergent here and nothing else — fwiw, this hasn’t happened to our iron. Might be related?

Oh dear... these come off so easily with an iron cleaning stick. It's shaped like a big uhu glue stick and you can easily find them in household/diy stores.

Once you get it clean, stop using fabric conditioner. I'm sure that'll solve your problem.

I use an iron cleaner stick. It works brilliantly.

Pink stuff, use a barely damp cloth & pink stuff, then rinse the cloth & wipe off. Better still, don't iron, I haven't ironed since 2013, I just take everything straight out of the dryer & put on hangers.

I find tumble drying makes things more creased not less but if you give clothes a shake before hanging up to dry, ironing is rarely needed.

And no, I'm not a creased mess. I defy anyone to distinguish between ironed and unironed clothes after theyve been worn for a few minutes.

Plus I don't buy clothes if they look like they'd need ironing, eg linen, polo shirts.

When you buy your next one, get this:

www.philips.co.uk/c-p/DST8020_26/azur-8000-series-steam-iron

No temp control it auto senses and can iron tough cotton and gentle silk without changing.

It's the first thing I try for every problem I encounter.

I'm currenty looking at a whole packet individually sellotaped around the kitchen window to see if it keeps flies out (doesn't seem to be working yet.)

Popped a couple in the petrol tank of my car when it wouldn't start and guess what - still wouldn't start.

But it did seem to get rid of my headache.

We've got this one. It's great but how does it know 🤣

Blows my mind. If it’s hot enough for cotton and then you change to a silk item surely by the time it’s sensed it needs to cool it’s too late?

Well surely a basic of ironing is to ramp up and start with the things that need ironing on the lowest setting as it's unlikely, however clever this iron is, that it's beaten physics.

Good point 😁

Why are you ironing so much?

I've never once owned or used an iron in my life

Use a sacrificial white cloth to put over the top of your uniform before ironing.

And what @Bjorkdidit said 😉

Me too.

I would recommend getting an iron with a steam generator. Makes ironing so much easier and we were forever changing iron before I got one of these but now had this one several years

https://www.dunelm.com/product/tefal-sv6116-express-steam-generator-1000187457?defaultSkuId=30737939&branchCode=0045&utmsource=google&utmmmedium=cpc&utmcampaign=ElectricalssIrons+and+Steamers-PMax%5BGOO-LIA-ELECTRICALS-IRONS%5D&gaddsource=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwqre1BhAqEiwA7g9QhglkB9qKG-JpXRvhTF4XDIBPad34PCC6ns5pi3ooywr0ybjkrO4vhoC70oQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

No, how wasteful.
All you have to do is clean it.

Hopefully you gave them to charity (they do take electrical items and have them tested), instead of putting them in landfill.

The issue is you own an iron. I haven't had one for years 😂