I have a Rowenta Professional iron and it is leaving brown or rusty water on clothing. We keep the bottom of the iron clean, but it still leaks this brown water. What could be the cause.

Hi, Brown water and whitescale are often the result of the water you use in the iron... If you have scale, white vinegar will clean that... For brown water, empty the iron, rinse out the insides with bottled water, and then use the bottled water instead...

Also check out this tip...

Cleaninga Steam Iron White Scale and Brown Water

heatman101

Hi,

I would try the white vinegar...
Also check out this tip...

Cleaning a Steam Iron White Scale and Brown Water

heatman101

Hi,
I would try the white vinegar...but yes it will take awhile...

Also check out this tip...

Cleaning a Steam Iron White Scale and Brown Water

heatman101

Use a white vinegar and distilled water solution in the iron, but don't do any clothes with it. Let it soak for a while, then heat the iron and let it blow out any debris. Fill again with distilled water, shake well, and let it steam out. Do this again until there is no vinegar smell coming out. If you use only distilled water, you should have no further problems like this.

if its a light brown appering on the whites, its just to hot, lower setting. also make sure the plate is clean. the stainless changes colour from heat after a while, this is normal

either the water has sat in the iron too long between uses

or its the iron in the water you use.
you will have to flush out the old water.

try distilled water

Have you tried descaling it? It may well be blocked up with limescale. Personally I only ever buy cheap irons and bin them when they go wrong! As you say-they are generally too expensive to repair.

Hi,
Try using different water...

Here is a tip that will help you with that problem...

My Steam Iron is Leaking Water
http://www.fixya.com/support/r5301301-steam_iron_leaking_water

heatman101

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...

TO CLEAN THE BOTTOM OF THE IRON, MY NAN USED TO ALWAYS IRON BROWN PAPER, IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, USE A RAG DIPPED IN THINNERS, OR LIGHTER PETROL AND RUB GENTLY.

NORMALLY THE SELF CLEAN SYSTEM IS JUST A BUTTON NEAR OR ON THE TANK THAT YOU PRESS WHILE THE IRON IS ON AND HAS WATER IN, PRESSING THE BUTTON WILL FORCE WATER THROUGH THE STEAM JETS (SO KEEP IRON FACING DOWN) ALSO EMPTY THE IRON AFTER EVERY USE