The present invention relates to a steam iron having a low temperature pressing surface. The common steam iron of today's market utilizes an aluminum soleplate which provides the pressing surface and also includes a boiler, generally of the flash boiler type. It is necessary to heat this aluminum mass to a sufficiently high temperature, generally over 300.degree. F., when the iron is used as a steam iron in order to assure that the water that enters the flash boiler reaches a sufficiently high temperature to be turned into steam and maintain this state so that it does not leave the iron in water droplets and thus water stain the clothes. The pressing surface which is also a part of this aluminum mass is thus maintained at a relatively high temperature which would be damaging to the low temperature fabrics of today's market. Therefore, in irons of this type steam ironing of low temperature fabrics is not possible and thus the iron must be used as a dry iron when low temperature fabrics are ironed.
Prior art has also attempted to solve this problem by utilizing a plastic add-on shoe disposed beneath the plate of the iron. Such shoes, however, have not found general acceptance. Furthermore, the irons upon which they are used are not designed with this intent in mind and thus are not calibrated with respect thereto thus making the temperature settings for use with the shoe purely guesswork.