Steam iron

An 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 operation supplying a temperature dependent signal to the control means (16), and wherein the control means (16) is 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).