Steam causing spots?

[tulloch]

It's a common misconception that distilled water is better than ordinary water. You are correct that distilled H2O does not contain minerals but because of that distilled water acts like an acid when in contact with metals. It will leach minerals out of the metal. I would never use distilled water in any iron as it will shorten the life of the iron. In fact, Rowenta issues a warning against using distilled water in their irons.

Ordinary bottled water low in calcium, manganese, iron, etc. is best.

Again, it is amazing what I learn here on this forum. Thanks for that info.

[Tobus]

Wow - I had never heard that about distilled water in irons before either. I have always used distilled water in my iron, thinking that it was the best. If I use tap water or even filtered water around here where I live (which is chock-full of minerals, being "hard water" from our limestone aquifer), the iron will scale up immediately and ruin both my clothes and the iron. I guess I'll start using bottled water that's been through reverse-osmosis, which is better than simply "filtered", but not as harsh as distilled water.

By the way, on that subject, drinking distilled water can be dangerous too. It leeches important minerals and other compounds from your cells. Y'all can Google that subject for more info.

[creagdhubh]

It's a common misconception that distilled water is better than ordinary water. You are correct that distilled H2O does not contain minerals but because of that distilled water acts like an acid when in contact with metals. It will leach minerals out of the metal. I would never use distilled water in any iron as it will shorten the life of the iron. In fact, Rowenta issues a warning against using distilled water in their irons.

Ordinary bottled water low in calcium, manganese, iron, etc. is best.

Exactly! I just purchased the Rowenta Professional iron, and I used it for the first time a few days okay when pressing the pleats in one of my kilts - it worked brilliantly with great ease! Rowenta's instructions were quite simple and straightforward and included the point of not using distilled water in their irons, as they are designed to be used with tap water. If Rowenta (Rowenta offers the best irons in my opinion!) is saying this, then it must be quite alright to use tap water - not sure if bottled water would be okay to use with my new iron?

Oh, and I always use a pressing cloth - a lightweight, white version made of cotton.

Cheers,

[Riverkilt]

Distilled water will leach minerals out of your body too - don't drink it. A lady thought it must be healthier and drank distilled instead of tap or bottled water. Almost killed her as she got sicker and sicker and drank more and more distilled water to "treat" her sickness. Body needs minerals to work.

Not sure how well made the economy kilt is but using a portable steamer instead of an iron is an option too.

You can have any two of price, quality, or service.

[mookien]

Distilled water by definition is neutral - ph 7.0, neither acidic, nor basic.

During bottling and handling it can, and often does, get "contaminated" with CO2 from the air. That exposure forms a very mild carbonic acid, which is largely harmless - even to wool.

That exact same contamination occurs in mineral water, as well. So, with mineral water you get two kinds of contaminants - minerals and carbonic acid.

Rowenta recommends against distilled water, because their heating element is coated with some substance that enhances steam production. Distilled water in some way unknown to me, and also to the representative with whom I spoke, interferes with that process. Perhaps someone from Rowenta will weigh in and inform us about the chemistry involved.

Most iron manufacturers, today, state that it is unnecessary to use distilled water, but only because their irons filter the minerals out of the tap water.

[hkjrb623]

A couple of people on here have mentioned washing the kilt? I thought you couldn't safely wash a wool kilt. I think a good cleaning would fix the problem. Is wash even a real option? I've only dry cleaned wool kilts.

[Bugbear]

Yes, you can safely wash a wool kilt by hand in cool water, usually in a bath tub.

[hkjrb623]

I thought that would be the best method. I'd imagine a very mild soap of some kind also.

[Bugbear]

I thought that would be the best method. I'd imagine a very mild soap of some kind also.

Yes, but someone else should go into the details; i'm not very good at explaining things.
Good luck.

[Dale Seago]

Yes, but someone else should go into the details; i'm not very good at explaining things.
Good luck.

While this article deals with hand-washing wool sweaters rather than kilts, the concepts and concerns involved are the same:

http://www.fuzzygalore.biz/articles/wash_sweater.shtml