While steaming clothing, a white flaky residue is being left on the clothing. Sole plate is clean. Residue seems to be coming from steam vents. What do I do to continue using this great iron? Evelyn Roll

Try cleaning the iron with vinegar. Here is a link to show you how.
Cleaning Clogged Steam Iron

The iron needs to be taken apart and cleaned,the thermostat switch contacts need resurfacing for better contact and the sole plate needs unblocking and a good clean out,at this time any deteriorated seals can be replaced and the spray pump can be checked for blockages,any loose sole plate screws can be tightened and that should do it,good as new all that's left is to reassemble''

Len

Self-Cleaning and Maintaining Sole Plate

Use the self-cleaning feature once a month by moving the steam lever back and forth from the "dry" setting several times. This will remove any residue from the steam valve and ensure that the steam system works properly.

Wipe the sole plate with a soft, damp cloth while the iron is cool and unplugged.

Run the iron over a cotton cloth several times to remove any residue from the sole plate.

Cleaning Anti-Calcium Feature

Fill the water cup that came with your iron. Use enough water to reach the Sunbeam logo in the top corner of the cup.

Add a teaspoon of salt to the cup and stir.

Empty the salt solution into the water reservoir in your iron.

Allow the iron to stand for 15 minutes, then empty out the water reservoir.Repeat this cycle with a second cupful of salt water.

Rinse out the reservoir with clean water. You should perform this cleaning once a month.

Tell us what water you have been adding to the iron over the years?
Often times our household drinking water is 'hard' or has iron in trace amounts in it- While it may not be toxic to our bodies-- when you boil it off in the steaming process, the minerals remain behind, and make a brown or dirty residue in the chamber. That residue will often 'bleed' out into the passages of the steam holes.
Have you ever used Vinegar to try to clean out the chamber?
Tho this might helb get rid of the residue-- it does tend to move the debris into the steam passageway-
So-- unless you have some way of spending considerable time and effort cleaning it out-- It may ruin more white shirts in the process than it is worth.
Note: Using distilled water will extend the life of a steaming iron-- but eventually, even the best treated Steam iron will need to be replaced!
Mack B

Hi,

Here is a tip that will help you with cleaning the sole plate of your iron...

Cleaning a Steam Iron Soleplate

heatman101


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Hi,

If the iron doesn't heat, make sure power is on to the outlet, check the electrical chord, and check the thermostat and replace if necessary.

If the iron heats but steams improperly, inspect the soleplate and clean the vents and flush sediment out of the steam chamber .
If the iron produces too much or too little heat, test the electrical chord . Also test and, if needed, adjust calibration of the thermostat.
If the iron does not spray properly, inspect and clean the nozzle.
If the iron leaks or spits, clean the steam vents, nozzle, and tank.
If the iron sticks to fabric, clean or repair the sole plate. If the iron stains fabric, clean the sole plate, clean the tank with a commercial cleaner, and use distilled or filtered water.

The tools you will need are

• Screwdrivers
• Toothpicks or pipe cleaners
• Sewing needle
• Commercial electric iron cleaning solution or vinegar and water
• Commercial sole plate cleaner or baking soda and water
• Steel wool
• Emery cloth

Please rate my solution.

Hi,

Here is a tip that will help you see why you are getting dirty water from your steam iron...

Cleaning a Steam Iron White Scale and Brown Water
http://www.fixya.com/support/r5300985-cleaning_steam_iron_white_scale_brown

heatman101

Your iron may be due for a cleaning. After awhile the ports inside the iron become clogged with mineral deposits.

Try using a mix of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 water. place the mix in the reservoir and allow the iron to heat up for steam until the reservoir is empty. Then do a second round with plain distilled water. Clean the the iron plate of residue after it cools.
If the vinegar mix does not work (and you can do the mix a few times) try using a product such as "Lime Away" or "CLR" to dissolve the deposits. Hope this helps.

white residue is caused by lime in your tap water.perfectly safe to drink,but when boiled [as in making steam] the lime is left behind. over timeit builds up in the 'tank' buy a gallon of distilled water from the grocerery-about $1 mix water with white vinegar,50/50 and 'steam it out' once or twice to remove deposits in the resevior.steam it out again w/pure distilled water.try it out on your husbands clothes before you iron your delicates again!!

Hi, two problems:

DIA' s problem - the brown water is due to poor water quality and debris in the boiler and iron sytem. Rowenta is clear that they do not want anyone to cleaning solutions - only clear filtered drinking water to rinse out the boiler (via the water inlet screw hole) and I have found running the system dry, letting it cool, rinsing and draining the boiler several times before putting unit away works fine.

Guest' problem with brown/black tar substance is likely caused by too hot and iron setting (steam setting may also be too high) for ironing man-made synthetics (like Nylon, Rayon, Polyester or blends are basically petroleum based fabrics) that breakdown or melt, leaving deposits on the iron's stainless steel soleplate. A secondary cause could be bad water or debris in the boiler/iron in which the solution for DIA's problem might provide relief. Cleaning the soleplate is tricky, I use nothing stronger than an old fashioned wooden orange stick to gently scrap of all traces of the "stuff" and dry "Dutch" cleanser w/ a terry cloth or old cotton sock to polish without scratching the soft stainless soleplate...