Why does my iron spit water or leave damp patches on clothes?

If your iron spits or leaves damp marks, the usual cause is steam being used before the iron is fully hot, or the garment setting being too low for steam. In the manuals, steam ironing is only intended once the iron has reached the correct temperature, otherwise water can escape instead of turning to steam.

1. Unplug the iron, let it cool briefly and empty any remaining water if the tank was overfilled.
2. Refill with clean water only, then set the thermostat to the correct fabric position for the garment.
3. Wait until the indicator light shows the iron has reached temperature before pressing any steam or burst-of-steam control.
4. Test the iron on an old cotton cloth first, then check whether the output is now a fine steam flow rather than drops of water.

The expected result is a steady steam effect with no spotting on the fabric. If the iron continues to spit after it is fully heated, stop using it and ask the retailer or store where it was purchased what the next safe step should be.

Do not use the iron on delicate fabrics until the spitting has been resolved, as damp marks can set into the material. If the appliance leaks from places other than the soleplate, stop using it straight away.