A dirty iron may cause many problems, from grabbing textiles to leaving stains and markings on your garments. As a result, knowing how to clean a steam iron is critical. In addition, irons that are choked with gunk or have sticky remains on the bottom can make ironing more complex and possibly cause harm to your garments.
If you want to be able to use your steam iron properly and efficient it needs to be very clean. If the iron surface is dirty your clothing and bedding won’t be as smooth or finely pressed as they could be. Keep in mind that a simple external clean-up may not always be sufficient. If your iron doesn’t move smoothly or if you see a gritty film on the soleplate, you’ll have to know how to clean the base of iron as well.
With the correct method, you can repair the bottom of your iron and keep it operating just like the day you bought it. Continue reading to learn easy ways to clean an iron without using any particular cleaning chemicals.
Contents
A PSA Before You Start
We advise you to read your iron’s user manual carefully before diving into our tutorial on cleaning an iron. The manufacturers seem to be the most significant source of information for diagnosing, servicing, and cleaning an item.
It implies they may need to get managed in a certain way. For example, the three most popular techniques of descaling are as follows:
- High-pressure steam: Pressurized steam is blown out of the vents of most irons to remove the impurities or built-up residue.
- Flushing: Some irons can easily connect to your faucet, allowing you to run water through the machine to descale it.
- Chamber: Some irons include a built-in section that collects limescale residue over time. The area may be readily removed and cleaned in this scenario.
There’s a high possibility you can locate it online, so look for it. Sharp items or powerful abrasives should not get used to clean your iron, regardless of your chosen method. You certainly don’t want to inflict any harm!
Continue reading if you have your handbook and are ready to begin. You’ll discover how to clean an iron like a master so you can get back to straightening wrinkles and setting up folds.
👉🏽 Read my review of the best selling Rowenta DW5080 steam iron
How to Care for a Steam Iron
Are you seeing gurgling and spewing from your steam iron? Is brown-colored water sprayed rather than clean, hot steam? All of the particles and other residues in your tap water are to blame for blocking your iron’s steam vents.
What you’ll need to cleanse your steam iron; you will need the following items:
- Toothpick
- discarded toothbrush
- White vinegar (distilled)
- Water (distilled)
- a towel or an absorbent fabric
Before you seek a commercial cleaner to remove the build-up, consider making a DIY safe and efficient cleaning solution at home. It’s environmentally friendly, mild on your iron, and cheap.
Steps: How To Clean a Steam Iron
- Begin by placing a cold, unplugged iron on a cloth to collect any excess.
- Fill the iron with 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/2 cup distilled water.
- Examine the steam vents for powdery residue or other debris and scrub them with a toothpick or toothbrush soaked in vinegar.
- Hook in an iron, put it to steam, and wait for five minutes.
- Hold down the steam button for 30 seconds, just until the steam is at maximum force.
- This last step should get repeated five times.
- Turn the iron off, disconnect it, and set it aside to cool.
- Remove any leftover water and vinegar.
Fill your iron with distilled water, put it to steam, and after it’s hot, push the steam button a few times to get rid of the vinegar and deposits. Why is distilled water used? Distilled water, unlike normal tap water, does not include minerals that might clog your iron.
Even though your user manual indicates you can, you might not want to. So, while ironing and cleaning your iron, use distilled water to keep it clean and steamy. Then, the insides of your iron are prepared and dry to steam and press!
How to Clean an Iron’s Bottom
Crusty gunk on the soleplate can prevent it from sliding smoothly and even cause it to grab on fabrics or leave stains. If you have stubborn muck or debris on the soleplate of your iron, cleaning it will allow it to slide more efficiently and avoid harming or ruining your garments.
To clean the bottom of an iron, do the following: Set the iron to the lowest heat setting possible. Wipe it down with a gentle, moist cloth to eliminate any stickiness. Clean the area around the steam vents using a damp cotton bud. Allow it to dry before ironing altogether.
Before cleaning, always consult the user handbook, as soleplates get constructed from various materials, and specific models come with special cleaning instructions. To prevent sticking, use a soft cloth rather than a hard or abrasive cleaning pad and wipe gently. Soleplates that have been scuffed might catch and harm textiles.
Begin by ensuring that your iron is cold and disconnected and resting on a towel. If you didn’t get all of the deposits out of your iron’s steam vents when you cleaned the interior, cotton swabs soaked in vinegar could assist.
Baking Soda method
Baking soda is a tried-and-tested organic cleaner that may get used to clean the soleplate of your iron. It works well as a steam iron descaler. It’s only minimally harsh, so it won’t damage your iron while it breaks away build-up—to form a cleaning paste, use two teaspoons baking soda and one tablespoon water. Scrape the soleplate lightly with your paste, being careful not to get any paste into the steam vents. Wipe away the paste and build-up with a wet cloth.
White Vinegar method
In terms of cleaning flexibility, distilled white vinegar is right up there with baking soda as being another good steam iron descaler. White vinegar is necessary for the home since it is a natural cleanser, disinfectant, and deodorizer. Dip a clean towel in vinegar and place it face right over the top of your iron.
Wait 30 minutes before wiping the vinegar and dirt away using a wet towel. Next, use a vinegar and salt combination to remove more problematic build-up from your iron’s soleplate. In a saucepan, combine one part salt and one part water and boil the solution until the salt dissolves. Finally, wear dishwashing gloves and gently clean the bottom of your iron with a microfiber cloth to remove unwanted residue.
Steam Iron Descaler
Sometimes irons may stop operating if they’re not getting maintained in a while, so keep an eye on gunk and residue build-up to avoid surprises—especially if you iron and go at the beginning of each day.
As a rule of thumb, the longer gunk and residue build-up is allowed to accumulate, the more difficult it is to remove. Routine iron maintenance is not the most fun task on your to-do list; however, it would help you in the big run. Set a reminder for yourself regularly, and turn pressing your most straightforward task.
This article was written by a guest article contributor, Pat from vacuumbase.com. Pat is a career cleaner and home maker with handy tips and tricks to keep your home and carpets clean and tidy.
