The present application relates to a steam iron comprising a steam generator and a sealed chamber having an inlet positioned so that calcified deposits formed in the steam generator fall under the influence of gravity through said inlet and into the chamber when the iron is moved from an ironing position into a non-ironing position. The chamber includes an inlet conduit that extends from the inlet and leads into a collection reservoir. The inlet conduit is configured so that water which flows from the steam generator into the collection reservoir through the inlet conduit when the iron is placed in said non-ironing position is trapped in the chamber when the iron is moved back into said ironing position. This occurs due to a balance of pressures between water in the collection reservoir, which acts against water that fills the inlet conduit, and atmospheric pressure that acts against water that fills the inlet conduit across the inlet.