Hi, my iron has started to steam continuously and lime scale is seeping through the holes in the iron. I have cleaned it with a hose, some limescale did come out of the machine. The button on the handle that regulates the steam isn't having any effect. Is it safe to use a descaler does anyone know? Any ideas please?

Alison, March 2010

I had exactly the same issue with my Tefal Pro Express Turbo 2931 steam generator. Pressing the reset button made no difference - the steam kept coming out.

So I used a 50:50 mix of water and distilled white vinegar to fill up the tank and then let it sit for an hour. Then I turned on the iron and steam started to come out again. After a while though the steam release button started to work and lots more brown gunge came out of the sole plate. I then turned it off, left it to cool and then repeated it once more. Finally I flushed it out with plain water.

I know the manufacturers warn against descaling like this and say that only tap water should be used to fill and rinse out the iron. But evidently water alone doesn't clean it out properly and filling with tap water still leaves deposits. I may try out deionised water to refill it this time round.

Plus of course I'm sure the manufacturers would much rather you just went out and bought a new iron every few years!

Mr B, March 2010

My husband has just been looking on the internet and you have to remove the steam plug which is under the cable tidy on the side of the genetator. Keep flushing the tank out with 250mls water and hopefully that should do the trick.

Sue Evans, March 2010

I also have the same problem. This morning I was ironing when suddenly loads of brown limescale shot out all over my clean clothes. I held it over the sink and held the steam button in and loads of gunge spurted out and it now looks a lot better but it will not stop steaming regardless of where the dial is.

Sue Evans, March 2010