Ironing can be tricky. There's usually a cord to work around, and the darn thing stays hot! Setting it down to answer the phone, for example, can mean leaving a dangerously hot appliance in a precarious position. The Maytag ML17500A cordless iron takes care of a lot of ironing-related hassles. First of all, it's cordless for freedom of movement. (There's a retractable cord in the base that is used only for recharging the iron.) The heatproof recharging stand provides a stable resting place for the iron; it's also a base for the convenient domed storage caddy (the iron can be put away while it's still hot!). It's a nice-looking appliance, too, not only the body of the iron--white, with off-white and taupe accents and a gold-toned titanium soleplate--but also the clean-lined dome of the white plastic storage and carrying caddy. A quick-release removable water reservoir with a 120-milliliter capacity makes for easy refilling. To adjust to the needs of various fabrics, the moisture controls allow for steam burst, steam spray, continuous steam, or a cool mist. And there are three heat settings: linen/cotton, wool/silk, and synthetics. The scratch-resistant titanium soleplate is designed to glide smoothly over fabric for even ironing pressure with no bunching up.
To clean the iron, wipe the housing with a soft, damp cloth; do not use scrub brushes, scouring pads, or any harsh, abrasive cleansers. Use a dry cloth on the charging pins in the back of the iron. To avoid scratching the titanium soleplate, avoid running it over rough or abrasive surfaces such as zippers or metal clothes fasteners. The Maytag cordless iron measures 4-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches, or 6-1/4 by 11 by 9 inches when stored in its case. Maytag guarantees this iron with a one-year limited warranty. The iron comes with a detailed instruction booklet. --Garland Withers
