STEAM IRON
Electric steam iron comprising an electrically heated soleplate (2), said soleplate (2) having at least one steam vent (20); a controllable steam generator (6) for supplying steam to the at least one steam vent (20), and control means (16) for controlling the steam generator (6); wherein the steam iron further comprises a temperature sensor means (24) for sensing the temperature of the soleplate (2), said temperature sensor means (24) in use supplying a temperature dependent signal to the control means (16) and the control means (16) being adapted to activate the steam generator (6) in accordance with a predetermined steam pattern comprising at least a first phase of a first predetermined duration, in which steam is supplied at a substantially constant peak steam rate, and at least a second phase, in which steam is supplied at a substantially constant lower steam rate, wherein at least said peak steam rate depends upon the temperature of the soleplate (2).