We're NOT talkin' golf boys, but IRONS. Review on Maintaining an Iron

In a 'wash and wear' world, it is amazing that irons are still on the market. They are upgraded for modern materials. I still get 'it' out now and then. Like I always say, {or was that my mother} ''give your problems to a woman, she will eventually IRON them out.'' I actually still like 100% cotton for somethings.

Irons are a 'clothing tool' that still impresses me. They are functional. They are more than just steam. They crease, heat sewing tape, and are beneficial in some crafts. So, we do want to maintain our irons. If not taken care of properly, they can rust and unravel around the cords. This makes them unsafe and unproductive. Sure, you can get the new sprays out to 'un'wrinkle your kid's school shirt. But, to me, ironing is a personal effort.

TIPS

~If you live in an area where your water is high content in minerals, they can clog up the 'steam pores' {vents} of your iron. I think it is agreed, you are not going to move just for your iron, but you can prevent the clogs or discoloration around those pores. Once in awhile, use a mixture of vinegar mixed with water to clean out the pores. Mix 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water to do this. Just like your coffee pot, it cleans out the deposits left behind by minerals.

~Never use a scouring pad to clean the metal ironing plate. {the part that presses the clothing} To clean this area, as spray starches build up on that surface, use hot dish liquid to dissolve and clean the build up. Dry immediately.

~To keep the cord from raveling or unraveling, you can purchase little gadgets that 'hold' the cord up and away from the ironing board. These gadgets fasten onto the board and keep the area 'trip' free for you or any little one entering into the area.

~Oops. The phone rings. What do you do? Well, you can't just leave the iron laying on the clothing you are ironing. And you can't just stand it up on an 'unstable' board where a small child can bump into it. There are iron cradles you can buy to hold it secure. OR, keep a square aluminum pan near, to lay the iron in. Never leave it ON. But, it is still HOT, and you need to attend to it to leave it.

Won't steam any more? Well, if you cleaned the pores and it still won't steam, buy a new one. Irons are very reasonable at cost. Same goes for the dial selection, if it doesn't 'dial' right. Just buy a new iron. The stress isn't worth the effort of trying to keep an uncooperative iron, now is it?

Storing the iron:

Even the new lightweight irons can be dangerous, if stored improperly. Just loosely on a shelf is not sufficient. They can be jarred to fall when a door is open. If you are lucky enough that it didn't fall on a child or your foot, you could still break it. Storage IS. I use a wire basket secured to my hall closet. My granddaughter can slam the door until she is blue in the face and that iron won't jar. Another safe storage area would be the bottom shelf of a storage unit. If it falls, it does not have the power to do much damage.

Warranties:

Warranties usually always have suggestions to keeping that new iron new. My daughter-in-law {bless her heart} throws everything away once the item is removed from its package. Keep those warranties. You can go back to them for trouble shooting. {Those are ideas why your iron may/could quit working.

There is not a lot to maintaining an iron. But, common sense is basically what works. Using common sense prevents any dangerous condition when you are ironing. I hope these tips are useful. Enjoy. :-)