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12 
Member since 11/15/07
Posts: 693
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Posted on: 11/21/08 8:42 PM ET
My iron has the auto shut-off feature. My old iron wouldn't shut off if you were actually ironing with it, but this one is stupid and shuts itself off right in mid-use. When it does, it drips rusty water on my project. This has always washed out (so far) but it is very upsetting, especially when the project is a quilt in its final stages, that has taken months to complete.

Should I just replace the sucker, or can this problem be solved by cleaning the innards, somehow? Would this happen with my next iron, too?
  
Member since 6/2/06
Posts: 389
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Posted on: 11/21/08 8:50 PM ET
That is just the biggest aggravation, isn't it?

You can run vinegar through your iron to clean out the rusty water deposits. (The rust is from iron in your water).

To clean the outside of your iron, you can wipe down with a paste of baking soda and water or lemon juice.

Once it's all clean, use distilled water instead of water from your tap.

Hope this helps.

Larri
  
Member since 1/4/08
Posts: 6167
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Posted on: 11/21/08 10:48 PM ET
In reply to dr. liz
I use leftover bottled water in my iron. We have a water conditioning system that uses salt and citric acid.

I have ruined quite a few irons -- sewing tends to do that since they have to be left on -- but have not had to replace one since I started doing this. Most bottled water is purified and seems to work fine. I am always bringing home bottles of water that are only partially emptied and forgetting to put them in the refrigerator, so I feel like they are not going to waste. I just toss them when they are emptied.

I know I should refill them, but I try not to drink too much of the conditioned water that comes through the system even though I have a filter on the kitchen faucet and also the refrigerator water dispenser. I also use the water that we bought for hurricanes when I don't have any partial bottles lying around. It has an expiration date and I don't like to use it for drinking because there is no room in the refrigerator and I worry about bacteria if it is left out too long after being opened.
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Yards sewed 2018--301 yards
Goal for 2020 - 400 yards --- Made it --sewed 400.76 yards. I have no idea about how many yards I have in my inventory.
2021 --200.125 yards
2022-- no specific number---Just redo inventory and sew more than 2021



Machines: Designer Diamond, #1+ (2), H Class 100Q, Viking 400, Baby Lock Creative Pro -- Sergers: Viking 936, Babylock Accolade, Babylock Vibrant, Singer Coverstitch
  
Member since 6/18/03
Posts: 2145
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Posted on: 11/22/08 2:29 AM ET
So frustrating! I had irons do that in the past and I got in the habit of just keeping a squirt bottle of water near by and the iron dry. Not ideal but no more rusty drips. Even now that I have a beautiful iron (a wedding gift from PR friends - y'all are the best!) I still keep the water in a squirt bottle. It's easier to fill and the habit's hard to break.
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Kit
"Never underestimate the power of the right dress!" - drsue
"Hyu gots to know how to sveet tok de costumers, dollink" - Girl Genius, 11-24-08
  
Member since 8/2/02
Posts: 2006
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Posted on: 11/22/08 4:16 PM ET
In reply to dr. liz
I have just three words of advice:

Gravity Feed Iron

....it will be a great investment...or the perfect holiday present. And you can kiss the rusty water problem good bye for ever!

Phylllis
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Sewing = Fashion
http://coudremode.com/

Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity.
  
Member since 12/15/07
Posts: 559
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Posted on: 11/22/08 5:01 PM ET
I agree with KatieW. Try the bottled water.
I lived with hard water dripping white flakes all over. I moved to better water and at least now if the iron drips -- they all seem to -- it is just water. I'm guessing the bottled water would be the same. If you still get rust -- trade in the iron.
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 11/22/08 5:18 PM ET
In reply to PhyllisC
Quote: PhyllisC
I have just three words of advice:



Gravity Feed Iron



....it will be a great investment...or the perfect holiday present. And you can kiss the rusty water problem good bye for ever!



Phylllis

My advice exactly. You can get a fabulous gravity feed for $99 which is about the same price as four spitty contrary early death regular irons. Once you use a "real" iron, you will never go back.
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 4/9/07
Posts: 201
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Posted on: 11/23/08 7:18 AM ET
In reply to dr. liz
My vote is also to replace with a gravity fed iron. I used an AllBrand coupon code and ended up paying $89 for my ConSew about a year ago. You have to change the demineralizer bag periodically and it looks like that is about $30. I haven't replaced it yet, so even if it cost $30 a year, I still feel like I'm ahead of the game for a professional, reliable iron that you don't have to worry will ruin your projects. I love the gravity fed iron.
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Topshelf Pod
  
Member since 6/22/04
Posts: 4602
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Posted on: 11/23/08 10:00 AM ET
In reply to Topshelf
Demineralizer is $17.50 at Atlanta Thread. When I replenish my stock of things like YKK zippers at 27 cents each I throw in a bag of demineralizer. One bag lasts a long time even with hard water.
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Liz

thefittinglife.blogspot.com
  
Member since 9/5/08
Posts: 709
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Posted on: 11/23/08 2:05 PM ET
In reply to dr. liz
I've taken to using my iron dry, and using a squirt bottle instead.
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My (mostly) green sewing blog: http://NapkinLady.blogspot.com/
  
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