Abstract: A steam iron having a removable water tank from which water is supplied to a steam generating chamber disposed in the soleplate of the iron, with steam generated thereby being ejected through apertures in the lower face of the soleplate, has a plurality of operating modes. In steam ironing mode, water is supplied continuously at a specific limited flow rate to the steam generating chamber through a water passage from the water tank. A pump mechanism communicating with the water passage is actuatable for supplying a momentary surge of water into the steam generating chamber for generating a surge of steam, and includes a reverse flow prevention valve which operates during each surge generation. Selection of the steam ironing mode, steam surge generation, or a dry ironing mode, is performed by actuation of a single operating pushbutton which is disposed at the front end of the handle of the iron.