plate 12 with an ironing surface is formed in a bottom region of the die cast body the sole plate 12 may be fastened as a sheet metal part in a composite arrangement on the cast body 8 or may be formed directly by the underside of the cast body 8 the sole plate 12 defines a plurality of steam outlet openings 13 which are in steam connection with the steam chamber 10 the steam iron 1 also has a drip valve 14 which may be designed for example as a recessed channel in a longitudinal rod through the lateral recessed channel in the rod water from the liquid reservoir 4 passes drop by drop into the steam chamber 10 the water droplets come into contact with the hot inner side of the steam chamber and evaporate at the other end of the rod like drip valve 14 a steam regulator 15 is provided on the top outer side of the housing the steam regulator 15 allows adjustment of the quantity of water let into the steam chamber 10 and or the quantity of steam generated also provided is a pressure equalizing device 16 which is designed as a tube the first opening 16 a of the pressure equalizing device 16 projects into the steam chamber 10 the second opening 16 b or the other end of the tube of the pressure equalizing device 16 projects into the higher region 4 b of the liquid reservoir 4 the second opening 16 b thus terminates in a region of the liquid reservoir 4 which is not wetted by the watch.