I'm having a problem with my iron. Using an iron on a daily basis is an absolute necessity in my profession (sewing). The thing is, about a year ago, my iron started dripping some kind of oil or grease onto my fabrics! It isn't water, because it doesn't evaporate when I iron over it. It leaves a permanent stain. It ruined several pieces of nice satin, as well as an expensive doll costume, before I realized what was going on. The stains are definitely coming from the iron--I checked the ceiling and even the ironing board, they're clean and dry. I don't know where else it could be coming from. It has to be my iron! But I'm perplexed.
I decided my expensive Panasonic iron must be defective, so I bought a new, cheap iron. I deliberately didn't fill the water tank, so there would be no chance of it dripping anything on my fabric. Well, it worked fine until a couple weeks ago, and then, lo and behold, an oil spot appeared on my fabric while I was pressing it! It ruined a nice piece of silk, which ticked me off. A few days later, it ruined some rayon knit jersey. It never seems to happen when I'm pressing cheap quilting cotton, only expensive fabrics, like taffeta and satin. Which is kinda weird.
I'm truly at my wits' end. I don't know why my iron is dripping oil, I can't find anything on the subject when I Google it, and I have no idea how to fix it. But this is a problem, not only because it's ruining my fabrics, and because it's ruining my couture doll clothes, but also because I have students who use my iron while they're working on their projects. If my iron ruins something they're sewing, I'll be held responsible. I can't afford to replace their fabric, or reimburse them for the time they've spent sewing!
Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this problem? Is there any way to prevent it from happening? I'd go out and buy a new iron, but this is the second iron I've had that's done this! What guarantee do I have that a new iron won't do the same thing? I'm truly bewildered . . . and pulling my hair out!
I decided my expensive Panasonic iron must be defective, so I bought a new, cheap iron. I deliberately didn't fill the water tank, so there would be no chance of it dripping anything on my fabric. Well, it worked fine until a couple weeks ago, and then, lo and behold, an oil spot appeared on my fabric while I was pressing it! It ruined a nice piece of silk, which ticked me off. A few days later, it ruined some rayon knit jersey. It never seems to happen when I'm pressing cheap quilting cotton, only expensive fabrics, like taffeta and satin. Which is kinda weird.
I'm truly at my wits' end. I don't know why my iron is dripping oil, I can't find anything on the subject when I Google it, and I have no idea how to fix it. But this is a problem, not only because it's ruining my fabrics, and because it's ruining my couture doll clothes, but also because I have students who use my iron while they're working on their projects. If my iron ruins something they're sewing, I'll be held responsible. I can't afford to replace their fabric, or reimburse them for the time they've spent sewing!
Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this problem? Is there any way to prevent it from happening? I'd go out and buy a new iron, but this is the second iron I've had that's done this! What guarantee do I have that a new iron won't do the same thing? I'm truly bewildered . . . and pulling my hair out!