an electric smoothing iron is provided which has a soleplate which has a low heat capacity and which is heatable by means of light energy produced by lamps , reflectors being provided to reflect the light to the soleplate , and the temperature of the soleplate being monitored by means of a sensor , which iron comprises a microprocessor which receives the measurement values from the sensor and compares said measurement values with presettable nominal values of a temperature control device , which microprocessor is connected to a power control unit which acts as a half - wave control and operates the lamps separately , in series or in parallel .