The most common culprit is temperature impatience. You know the drill: you set the iron to "cotton," but you start steaming before the soleplate is hot enough. The water hits the cold metal and just sits there, laughing at you.
Think of it like a pan on a stove. If you pour water on a cold pan, it doesn’t evaporate—it pools. Your iron needs a solid one to two minutes to reach the right temp. Don’t rush it, or you’ll get a shower instead of steam.
Steam Settings are a Lie
Here’s a fun fact: most irons cannot steam at low temperatures. If you set the dial to "synthetic" or "silk" and hit the steam button, you are basically asking for a leak. The tiny holes in the soleplate are designed for vapor, not liquid.
Check your manual—yes, the one you threw away—but generally, medium to high heat is the only safe zone for steam. Anything below that? Just iron dry, my friend. Or enjoy your accidental tie-dye.
