Last week when I whined about my iron refusing to heat up, a blog reader wrote me that she had the same iron that she didn’t like and she would be happy to send it to me. I was thrilled. She sent it on Monday and sent me all the info and told me it would be here on Wednesday. It did arrive on Wednesday and I didn’t even realize Vince had gotten it til Wednesday night. Last night I opened the box, set it all up and started ironing. The iron steams so much but I’m no longer recommending it due to mine failing 18 months after purchase, especially since at least 6 months of that time, it wasn’t being used due to the move. Enough blog readers have written me that they had the exact same problem that I will not buy another one of these.
But, thanks to the generosity of a blog reader, I have another one.
The one sitting in the back corner is my broken iron. I’ll keep it for parts .. I guess.
This morning I grabbed the box in which the iron arrived so I could toss it out and it seemed heavy. On further inspection, there was a second iron in there!
I wonder if I could get more accomplished if I ironed with both hands at the same time! : ) Oh, my . . I am happy! I have a backup and I feel very blessed to have been the recipient of these two irons. Thank you so much!!
Sandy says
I had to laugh when I saw that the irons say “Reliable”! Good luck with the gift irons!
Karin says
WOW! so generous of her! Now I guess the ‘broken’ one can go in the trash?! 🙂
Jan W. says
I’ve been through four irons in the past year & a half and I’m disgusted with every single one of them! The two Black & Deckers I had used for years finally gave out and I bought a pricey/leaky Rowenta (the German-made variety) which lasted just past the warranty time limit. Next came a Shark which didn’t steam to suit me–and by ‘suit me’ I mean ‘at all.’ That was followed by a Black & Decker ‘Classic’ which lasted one month…it was fine until it just plain shut itself off permanently! The Hamilton Beach which is currently on my ironing board is a bit ‘drippy’ and I can see this isn’t going to end well, either. I’m really leery of buying ANY brand right now!
Gale says
I must report that on your recommendation I purchased this iron and have been very happy with it. It is still working great and I’ve used it continuouslysince I got it right after you recommended it. My only complaint is that it steams too much! Also, Judy, how do you override the automatic shutoff? I haven’t figured that out yet.
Subee says
to override the auto shut off you hold down on the right steam button until it beeps…I love mine too!
XOXOXO Subee
Gale says
Thank you!!
Lee Ann L. says
Reliable irons are not so… reliable? Isn’t that (the name) ironic? By the way, most people are very generous at heart. 🙂
Doreen says
I agree, it seems there is no iron out there that is consistently usable! 20+ years ago I got a Rowenta when I purchased my Bernina machines for my sewing shop (bridal & formal wear). It wasn’t long, however, that it couldn’t be trusted to be non-drippy (which is critical when working on satins, etc). Even after removing the water reservoir, there always was that 1 drop that lurked somewhere ready to spit! When I closed my shop I started using it again, sans reservoir. I must say, it presses so nicely, has nice weight and is accurate in its settings. Don’t know what would be its replacement, though, at this point after reading about what’s “out there” now. I still have my OLD Black & Decker (a wedding gift 45 yrs ago!!!!) and it still heats up wonderfully, has ‘heft’ but I don’t use the steam feature at this point!
CathyH says
I think there might be a chemistry answer to the problem – although I cannot explain the chemistry. My iron stopped making steam and I was suspicious of the water from my tap that I use. I added a little salt to the water before I put it in the iron (took the salt shaker and shook it once into about a cup of water and stirred well). The iron began to steam! You may have to fiddle with the amount of salt needed with your water. You might actually have a handful of really good irons there!!
Lisa says
Dang Judy! Jackpot. Those irons are expensive. My husband got me one for xmas 2 years ago. I am very hard on irons (maybe cux I’m always knocking them onto the floor and we have hard water too). I am very very careful with this one (only once has it hit the floor) and I have been using distilled water even though it has a filter. I LOVE it and so far it is working great. I really love steam, all wonky seams can be conquered with steam I think. Hopefully you just had a lemon and we will be steaming away Reliably for years!
Sarah says
I have had nothing but bad luck with irons for years. Finally I got sick and tired of spending so much on something that didn’t last or didn’t steam properly. I said no more spending and went straight to the local, around the corner from my house dollar store and bought a 10.00 steam iron. It is in it’s 4th year of use and still steams better than any of the big name brands. So think I will stick with the cheap ones from now on.
Marilyn says
We always test irons that come into our thrift shop to see if they heat and sell them for $2-$4. I have bought a few over the years and they work just as well as the fancier ones. Had one – Rowenta, I think, and all that was wrong was the cord was shorting. Problem was that the screws to undo the iron to change the cord needed a very specialized screwdriver so that iron became garbage.
BC Marilyn
Lori-Lyn Dunn says
Judy, I tried all kinds of irons, actually found a Shark in 2005 that I really loved till the soleplate fell off!
Then it was buy, try and hate… all kinds of irons.
Then a year ago, at a quilt retreat, a friend brought his Black & Decker Digital Advantage with him. It was LOVE at first use! He said it was his travel iron and had like 2 or 3 more at home, this one was a few yrs old.
He gave me this iron- well we bartered- I made pickled beets and he got 4 quarts for it. I have been a happy camper for over a year.
That was until Jan- it went pop and became so hot it scorched my ironing board with the first slight touch. I set it outside on the steps and it melted the ice on the cement steps. I was bummed. I contacted George
and he said they were off the market… dang!
When I went to buy something else- low and behold they had a new Black & Decker Digital Advantage almost exactly like I had. I LOVE this iron… I am going to buy a back up- just in case.
I think it is a southern thing- I love to iron my clothes, I have the old sprinkle top for a Dr. Pepper bottle for the water… and I love to iron my fabric.