Find out how to clean the iron yourself and quickly at home, what products can be used, and which ones are better to refuse. Over time, even if you use the iron very carefully and carefully, brown spots appear on its sole. When heated, these contaminants begin to smell unpleasant, while they can stick to the fabric and leave unsightly marks. In order not to spoil your favorite thing, you need to regularly clean the iron. For this purpose, you can use both modern cleaning products and more affordable folk methods.
How to remove carbon deposits from the iron?
The most popular, effective, safe and quite affordable means for cleaning the iron is simple table salt, which is in every home and its use does not require any special knowledge or skills.
If it was decided to clean the sole of the iron from carbon deposits with salt, you can use the following methods:
- Coarse salt is taken and poured onto paper, which must be placed on a hard surface (you can use an ironing board). The iron heats up, at the same time the maximum temperature is set and the salt is wiped off with the sole. This manipulation is performed several times. Finally, wipe off the iron with a clean and damp cloth.
- The salt is poured directly onto the soleplate of the iron. A damp and clean cloth is taken, the surface is intensively wiped. You need to rub hard to remove carbon deposits. This method is recommended if the contaminated area is relatively small or a specific area needs to be treated.
- You can use a mixture of vinegar and salt to clean your iron. In this case, table salt (2 tablespoons) and vinegar (2 tablespoons) are taken, then the composition is heated until the salt crystals are completely dissolved. In a warm solution, a clean cloth is moistened and dirt is wiped off. This solution is one of the most effective, but you need to work with rubber gloves so as not to ruin the skin.
To clean the iron from traces of carbon deposits, you can use other methods that are no less effective:
- It is recommended to use a mixture of ammonia and vinegar to clean the soleplate. The components are mixed in equal quantities. In the resulting composition, a clean cloth is soaked, and dirt is wiped off. At the end of the cleaning procedure, the soleplate of the iron is wiped with a cloth soaked in cold water. If the carbon is old and not rubbed off, you can soak the fabric well in a solution of ammonia and vinegar, and then iron it with a hot iron. During cleaning in this way, not the most pleasant aroma will appear, so you need to perform all the manipulations in a room with an open window.
- A dry hydroperite tablet will help to clean the iron. The iron should be slightly warmed up to keep it warm but not hot. Then the areas of contamination are treated with a tablet of hydroperite. Finally, wipe the surface of the iron with a clean, dry cloth.
- To clean the iron, a simple toothpaste can also be used, which is applied to the warm surface of the sole and the dirt is wiped off. Then the toothpaste is left on for about 12-16 minutes. You can use a toothbrush for cleaning, after which the surface is rinsed with plenty of cold water. However, this method is prohibited for teflon coated surfaces.
- An equally effective tool is a special pencil, which can be purchased at a hardware store. First, the iron heats up well, after which the contaminated surface is rubbed with a pencil. Then you need to wipe off the carbon deposits with a clean and soft cloth. If necessary, this procedure can be repeated. Such a pencil is not only effective, but also completely safe cleaning agent designed to remove carbon deposits from the surface of the iron. During cleaning, make sure that the pencil does not fall into the steam holes.
- In some cases, if carbon deposits are recent, dishwashing detergent can help remove them. In this case, take a detergent and mix it with baking soda until a thick enough paste is obtained. Then the gruel is applied directly to the contaminated areas and a cleaning procedure is performed. The composition is left on for 8-12 minutes and washed off with plenty of cold water.
- To remove carbon deposits from the surface of the iron, you can use the soaking method. For this, a not too deep container is taken, into which the iron can easily fit, so that its sole does not reach the bottom. If necessary, you can put toothpicks. Then a cleaning solution is prepared - citric acid (1 tbsp) is diluted in water (100 g). The hot solution is poured into a previously prepared container, after which an iron is placed in it. In this case, you need to make sure that the liquid covers the sole of the iron by about 1 cm. You need to wait a few hours, after which the remaining dirt is removed with a clean and soft cloth. The surface of the iron is rinsed with cold water and wiped dry.
In the event that carbon deposits have appeared from a synthetic melted cloth, it is recommended to use a wooden spatula for cleaning, which gently separates the remaining material. Any of the above coke removal methods can then be applied.
If you need to clean the surface of the iron from the remnants of adhered polyethylene, you can use a simple nail polish remover or acetone. These products are applied directly to the area of contamination.
It is important to remember that after cleaning the iron, no matter what method was used, it cannot be turned on until it dries completely, so as not to damage the device.
How to descale my iron?
It is imperative to periodically clean the iron from accumulated scale, otherwise limestone deposits can damage the device.
Most modern irons are equipped with a self descaling function. To do this, clear water is poured into the reservoir and the maximum heating of the iron is set. As soon as the appliance warms up well, you need to turn on the self-cleaning function. Scale is removed at the same time as the steam.
Even in the case when there is no urgent need to carry out cleaning, this procedure should be used as a prevention of scale formation.
If the iron does not have a self-cleaning function, then other effective methods can be used for limescale.
Lemon acid
You can use citric acid to descale your iron. To prepare the solution, boiled water (200 g) and citric acid (20 g) are mixed. The resulting composition is poured into a water container and the maximum heating mode is set. Then the iron turns on and heats up. Then the steam mode is set, along with which the remaining scale is gradually removed. For a complete cleansing, you will need to carry out several such procedures. As soon as the scale is completely removed, it is necessary to rinse the tank with clean water.
Vinegar
To clean the iron, you need to mix water and vinegar - all components are taken in equal amounts (100 g each). The resulting composition is poured into a water tank and the iron is heated. Then the steam function is activated, along with which the scale is removed. It is important to remember that this method should be used in a room with open windows, since a pungent and unpleasant odor appears during evaporation.
Cleaning agent
To clean the iron from the inside of scale, you can use a special cleaning agent for household chemicals "Silit". To do this, turn the iron upside down, after which a few drops of cleaning agent are poured into the holes intended for the steam outlet.
Now you need to wait 12-15 minutes. After the specified time has elapsed, the iron is taken by the handle and all liquid is removed from it. Both outside and inside, the iron is thoroughly rinsed with plenty of cold water.
Sometimes there are cases when the steam outlet holes are heavily clogged, and even household chemicals do not help to clean them. Therefore, you need to take a simple cotton swab, which is moistened in advance in a cleaning agent or citric acid solution and all holes are carefully worked through.
How do I clean my Teflon iron?
Recently, teflon-coated irons have become more and more popular, as they are very convenient to use and have a long service life, while there is no need for any special care. To keep the iron in perfect condition, it is enough to follow the main recommendations given in the instructions:
- the temperature regime must be observed while working with different types of fabrics;
- ironing of woolen fabrics and materials that have very small fibers is performed through gauze or thin fabric;
- after the iron has cooled down, the surface of the sole is wiped with a soft and clean cloth;
- do not fill the tank with untreated and hard water.
If carbon deposits appear on the Teflon sole, use a soft cloth or foam sponge to remove it. It is strictly forbidden to use harsh and aggressive cleaning agents and steel wool.
A special pencil can be used to clean the non-stick iron. To remove stubborn dirt, it is recommended to use a soft cloth soaked in a solution of detergent and baking soda.
A mixture of vinegar and water can be used to clean the Teflon coating - the ingredients are taken in equal amounts. The resulting composition is applied to a cotton pad, and the contaminated areas are wiped.
To remove fresh dirt, wipe the warm iron with laundry soap. The iron is now left on for a while until it cools down, after which it is rinsed with plenty of warm water.
In some cases, after the cleaning procedure, small scratches may appear on the surface of the iron. They need to be rubbed with wax or paraffin, after which a clean napkin is ironed, on which excess funds will remain. As a result, the surface of the iron becomes shiny and smooth.
How do I clean my ceramic iron?
Ceramic coated irons are very convenient and practical to use, as they have a sliding surface. But there may be slight difficulties when cleaning ceramic surfaces, since small scratches appear on them very quickly. Therefore, it is forbidden to use abrasive products, coarse scourers and salt for cleaning.
If you need to clean the ceramic surface of the iron, you can use soft sponges or cloths and liquid detergents. We recommend using the self-cleaning functions for descaling. However, if limestone deposits build up in the steam vents, this function may not be useful. That is why you first need to do manual cleaning with citric acid and water or vinegar.
Almost all types of dirt can be easily removed from the ceramic surface if it is wiped with a detergent and a soft washcloth. You can also use lemon juice mixed with a few drops of ammonia. Hydrogen peroxide 3% will quickly remove yellow stains from the soleplate.
The cleaning method for the iron is selected according to the type of surface. It is worth abandoning abrasive products, as they can provoke the appearance of small scratches. In order not to have to look for ways to clean the irons, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures aimed at preventing the appearance of scale or carbon deposits.
For more informative information on how to clean your iron, see this video:
