Smooth things over – How to maintain irons and what type you need

Best Iron For Sewing

Whether you love or loathe ironing, in sewing it is a must have to get that professional finish. A good iron can be the difference between perfectly crisp hems and a wrinkled mess despite ages of pressing. Knowing what is the best iron for sewing can be a minefield so we’ve put together a selection of recommendations plus top tips to look out for when on the hunt for a new iron.

Irons come in all price brackets so there’s sure to be one to suit your budget but more expensive doesn’t necessarily mean better performance. There are key features to look for that are more important than budget if you want a quality long lasting iron.

Steam or no steam?

Steam is the key difference in irons, some have it included, some are dry. Steam is fabulous for removing wrinkles and keeping them crease free.

When you compare steam irons, look for the limescale cleaning properties of the iron. Water and in turn steam can create limescale which can leave unsightly marks on your fabric. The limescale cleaning process of your iron will keep that in check and avoid ruining your garments.

Steam irons come in 2 forms – the water tank in the iron or the water tank in the stand. The stand is preferred by many due making for a lighter iron but if storage is an issue for you then the tank in the iron itself may be preferred.

Key things to consider:

Auto switch off – Having an iron with an auto switch off feature is a real bonus for sewists. If you’re constructing a garment and frequently moving from the iron to the sewing machine, it is a fantastic safety feature and will speed up your ironing.
Dedicated iron – Having a specific iron for sewing reduces the risk of ordinary ironing damaging your iron and leaving marks that transfer to your fabric.
Cleaning – What built in cleaning processes does your iron have? A clean iron means improved performance and less chance of damage to your garments from residue or marks.

How to clean your iron

As mentioned above, having a clean iron is key to stress free ironing. Dirty irons can transfer marks to your fabric and reduce the performance of your iron.

We love Vliseline’s Iron Cleaning Stick for removing any marks from your iron. Click here to see a video of it in action! The video is in our Facebook group so you may need to join to watch it.

It’s the perfect tool for cleaning all of the gunk from your iron – whether you’ve accidentally ironed the wrong side of interfacing or gunk has appeared randomly.

Remove those burn and starch marks from your iron with this easy to use stick.

Simply rub the stick gently onto the sole of your iron whilst warm. Wipe iron with a clean, dry absorbent cloth immediately and clear out steam vents with a few spurts and wipe dry.

Whichever iron you choose, we hope we’ve made the selection process easier and wish you stress free sewing!

Team Caboodle