There’s a Shark in my Sewing Room!

Posted on April 5, 2019 by prairiemoonquilts in Miscellaneous, Studio News

Last Wednesday, my iron died. Yesterday, I bought a new one exactly like it.

It’s a Shark . . . the most inexpensive model they make . . . and I love it.

Yes, the old one died on me, but guess what? So has every other iron I’ve ever purchased, no matter how much I paid for it!

So . . . a few years ago, I bought the $29.96 Shark iron at Wally World, and when asked at checkout if I wanted the 2-year warranty for an extra $2, I said YES.

Since it’s been my experience that I will kill it within a year, that meant that I could get a replacement for free if my iron kicked the bucket. Well, I got three irons for the price of that first one, because evidently, they aren’t meant to be used all day every day, which I do. The third one is the one that just died, and it outlasted the warranty, so yesterday, I had to start over. I paid the $2 for the warranty, and we’ll see how many times I have to make a claim with this one!

Some would ask . . . so why do you keep buying the same one over and over, then? The answer is:

Because I absolutely love it!

  • • The weight of it is perfect — it’s light enough to be easy on me, but heavy enough to do the work of pressing for me — I don’t have to push or exert extra effort to get it to do its job.
  • • It makes great steam. Yes, I put water directly in my iron (distilled water). I know there are those that say if you never put water in your iron, it will last forever, but I LOVE good steam, and I don’t want to make the extra work for myself of spraying the fabric, then pressing. I just do it all in one fell swoop!
  • • While the cord is not retractable, it’s long, so I have plenty of room to maneuver without getting anything caught up in the cord. Plus, I can plug it in, and take it over to my design wall and use the vertical steam feature if I need to.
  • • The sole plate is smooth (even tho it has steam holes) and the tip is nice, so neither one gets caught on my piecing, and the iron doesn’t shove the fabric around while I’m pressing. Only twice has it ever spit up on my project, and that can be blamed squarely on me for not using the self-cleaning feature often enough.

Shark has a couple other models, ranging from $35 up to $55, but I only need the $29 model — it works well for me, and if it gives up the ghost within the next 2 years, they’ll replace it for free.

If there’s one thing I don’t like about it, it would be that it shuts itself off too quickly, and to turn it back on, you have to tip it down AND press the button to re-select your heat level, but I’m so used to doing that now, I just live with it, because the other great things about it make it worth it.

I have a shelf full of spare irons that My Cowboy has picked up for me at thrift stores, so for almost a full day, I had to use a spare, and while I’m thankful I had a spare to use, it really, really made me appreciate all the features I love about my Shark!

Now I need a new ironing board cover!

A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about my Shark iron, so you can read more HERE, and also, I encourage you to read the comments on that post and see what other folks have to say about their irons.

I know quilters have very strong opinions about their irons and the use of steam, etc., so keep in mind, the above is just MY opinion, so take it with a grain of salt.

But . . . I’d also still like to hear what you have to say about your iron, so leave me a comment and let me know — what do you love/hate about your particular iron?

13 responses to “There’s a Shark in my Sewing Room!”

  1. Linda Kowalski says:

    Love my Shark iron, I’m on my 2nd.

  2. Shirley Guier says:

    I loved loved loved my old sunbeam iron. I know it was over 20 years old and it died last year. Thermostats had to go out because it would get really hot! I had bought another iron about 2 years after I bought the sunbeam because I knew it would die and it didn’t! It 2as a sunbeam also but I didn’t like anything about it so I bought a shark. I couldn’t use steam because it just spit and ruined my fabric. So I bought another one and didn’t like it either! I bought a third iron and I hate it too! I want my old sunbeam! Two of the irons dont get hot enough to actually iron the fabric and two don’t do steam well. I have 3 irons sitting downstairs and I like my little tiny portable iron better than any if them. I really need an iron and very frustrated at this point!

  3. Ginny says:

    A week or so ago my little iron, that I really liked quit because I forgot to turn it off overnight. I needed to replace it as I was already tired of carrying my other iron up and down stairs; as my large ironing board is down there. Long story short I now have a shark just like yours. Not planned but that is how it ended up. I am very pleased with it and it does what I want well; including using the steam.
    Interesting is that in all my years of sewing, crafting and quilting this is only the second iron that has ever needed to be replaced.

  4. Janet M Smith says:

    I had this exact same iron but when I went to replace it I couldn’t find it so I bought another. I am tempted to put my newer one away and get this one that I really love. My old inexpensive shark lasted about 5 years.

  5. Kate says:

    My latest is a Rowenta I got as a markdown at Costco. Paid around 40 dollars. My old Rowenta was lovely while it had steam feature but it bit the dust long ago. I spray with vinegar and water to remove creases. Might mention I use a plant hangar on the wall to keep the iron cord out of my way. This has worked great for me.

  6. Angela says:

    My Rowenta iron also has the auto shutoff; which dove me crazy but I tolerated it because I love the iron. A couple years ago my cat knocked the iron off the ironing board … the only damage to the iron was the auto shutoff feature no longer worked, yay!!!
    I love my fur baby 💝

  7. Paula M says:

    I love that your cowboy does “thrifting”….my husband can handle maybe once a year! And that is kicking and complaining!

  8. Tia says:

    I love my Oliso… I always leave my iron in the down position…. And have burned one too many things. So having the Oliso push itself up is a fabric-saver (and probably life-saver) for me. It’s as if I was their poster child for making their iron have that function!

  9. Wendy says:

    Well, I left my iron on last night, so I’m kinda thankful for the auto shut-off feature. I don’t usually forget, so yikes. I have a Rowenta, and I don’t add water to it because it spits and sometimes stains and who needs that in their quilting life!?! So I spray and press. I have gotten used to it.

  10. I have had a Black and Decker heavier model that I bought at Bed, Bath, & Beyond about 7 years ago. It does everything I want and I love it for daily use. I haven’t had any issues with it at all. I did buy a blue Oliso a couple years ago thinking that my iron will surely give out at some point, but so far, she acts like she is in the prime of her life! I am actually regretful that I bought the Oliso, so I just use it when hosting a retreat and set her out for people to use.

  11. Elaine says:

    I have an inexpensive Shark that is now4 years old and I like it. I have to say I use my little Steamfast iron more on a daily basis as I piece. The big one gets used for larger jobs. I absolutely Love the steamfast one. I found the first on years ago at a Tuesday Morning. It was $12. When I had to replace it the listed price was $30. They found a good market with quilters😀!

  12. Karen says:

    Mine is by Hamilton Beach. I really like it. It’s on the heavier side for me, but I don’t mind that. I don’t think I have to press as hard now, compared to other irons I’ve used. And it does have an auto shut-off, which drove me crazy at first, but now I’m used to it and think it’s a good safety feature. The only down side to it, is that after a very short time, it started spitting black stuff, so I now just use spray starch or a water bottle.
    I think this is great to hear what other’s use and find other brands to check out.

  13. Marsha Y. says:

    I have the same type iron and I love mine!!!! Good luck with yours. I did read somewhere that you need to empty the water out when not in use and I have trouble remembering to do that.

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