An electric steam iron having a standard steam spray mode for spraying a standard quantity of steam and an enhanced steam spray mode for spraying an increased quantity of steam as compared with that afforded during the standard steam spray mode. This electric steam iron includes a soleplate having a heater mounted thereon for heating the soleplate and a vaporizing chamber defined therein, a handle disposed above the soleplate, a water tank unit for supplying water to the vaporizing chamber, and a nozzle disposed at a bottom of the water tank unit. The electric steam iron also includes a valving mechanism for selectively opening and closing the nozzle for controlling supply of water to the vaporizing chamber, and a pumping mechanism for supplying an increased quantity of water within the water tank unit towards the vaporizing chamber to accomplish the enhanced steam spray mode. A cover plate is secured to a bottom wall member of the water tank unit so as to define a water passage beneath the water tank unit and covering the pumping mechanism and an exit side of the nozzle. This cover plate has an opening defined therein in communication with the vaporizing chamber.
