Abstract: An electric steam iron includes a sole plate maintained at a temperature of about 200.degree. C. by an about 800 watt electric heating element and provided with apertures for conveying steam to a surface to be ironed from a single flooded steam chamber on the iron maintained at about 100.degree. C. by an about 1200 watt electric heating element through a steam tube connecting the chamber to the apertures. The article being ironed is heated continuously by the the condensation of the steam to water in the article thereby increasing heat transfer to the article, with the article being subsequently dried by the heat produced by the sole plate, which heat is at least equal to the heat of evaporation of the condensed water. The sole plate and chamber may be thermally connected to compensate for heat losses from the chamber to the environment.