Rediscover Everyday Products: You've Been Using Them All Wrong

4. Iron

Best Place to Buy: Home Depot, Lowe's, and Bed Bath & Beyond Average Product Price: $40–$80*
Obviously, only those without dry irons are affected by this. Make sure the water tank on your iron is empty before storing it, if you have filled it. This is especially crucial if the iron is kept on its soleplate for storage. Never presume that the water will evaporate by itself.

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If you leave water in your iron, the internal components will get damaged. There's a chance that the water will seep through and discolour the soleplate. This holds true regardless of the brand of iron you own—a $2,000 Williams-Sonoma iron or a $9.97 Black + Decker iron from Walmart. Draining the water is an absolute necessity.

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