Re: Ironing Board & Pad Dilemma

In article <3K9ag.32795$mh.9339@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"John Gregory" <jaygreg90@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

What started as a simple inquiry for iron soleplate cleaner and ironing
board cover/pad has turned into a research project. At 63, I just discovered
I knew nearly nothing about the importance of the pad. Here's the dilemma:

Just bought a Rowena SM6200 and used it twice. Best pressing I've ever had
from a household iron. But as I emptied the water this last time I noticed
some stains on the soleplate; starch build up from the old ironing board
pad.

Instructions on the iron tell me to use an iron soleplate cleaner. Should be
simple enough to find; maybe Target or Wal-Mart. Right? Then comes the pad.
Trouble! Those puppies are all over the lot in price. I'll be here for two
days trying to discern the differences. Right out of the shoot I see some
are called pads. some covers. Difference? Or perhaps (as I noticed on my
board) there's a pad under the cover and they're sold separately? (Been
awhile since I bought that thing.)

I notice that someone (Bo Nash) has a material that reflects heat back
through the cloth.
http://www.joann.com/catalog.jhtml?CATID=96024&PRODID=84631&source=search .

I don't know it that's good or bad. It does seem to make sense that it
would do a better job by bouncing back steam, but them. that's a new iron I
just bought. Does Rowena have that factored into its design?

I could use some advice on what I need to buy in the way of a pad and/or
cover. My need for an iron is moderate; lots of casual shirts and pants.
Ironing board is a metal mesh of diamond-shaped cells about ½ " wide and
nearly 1" long; a couple of hundred of them.

I posted here not long ago that I had problems with leaking irons for 2
years--- two of them Rowentas--- due to an ironing board that would not
let the steam pass through. The steam went back up the holes in the
iron, condensed, and then leaked out onto whatever I was ironing. In
addition, it was very difficult to get garments dry. I did not discover
the source of the problem until I switched ironing boards. Then, all my
irons stopped leaking. Just something to keep in mind with modern steam
irons. It's obviously not the same with dry ironing. Personally, given
my own experience, I suspect that the "iron both sides at once" deal is
more hype than actual performance based on real data. YMMV. Good
sewists use a clapper to pound in steam to make it penetrate better.

Phae

--
I fear me you but warm the starved snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts. (Henry VI, Shakespeare)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ironing Board & Pad Dilemma
    ... into the iron making it drip. ... to allow steam to escape from the bottom. ... I knew nearly nothing about the importance of the pad. ... starch build up from the old ironing board ...
    (alt.sewing)
  • Re: Ironing Board & Pad Dilemma
    ... I knew nearly nothing about the importance of the pad. ... starch build up from the old ironing board ... Instructions on the iron tell me to use an iron soleplate cleaner. ... would do a better job by bouncing back steam, ...
    (alt.sewing)
  • Re: Ironing Board & Pad Dilemma
    ... If I just get another felt pad (the one that's there is about ... If I throw too much steam into the pad with the Rowenta (it ... to dry iron something till it's dry ....which I'll probably never do. ...
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  • Re: Pressing matters was long arm quilting stitch in the ditch question
    ... my small ironing board, ... I do not 'plonk' the iron on the seam. ... Second, I always use steam. ... Setting the seam (do we all know what I mean by this? ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.quilting)
  • Re: Ironing Board & Pad Dilemma
    ... I knew nearly nothing about the importance of the pad. ... starch build up from the old ironing board ... Instructions on the iron tell me to use an iron soleplate cleaner. ... When starching things I tend to cover the board with another cloth so that there is no starch on the board. ...
    (alt.sewing)