We clean the iron at home from scale, soot and other contaminants. How to clean your iron at home How to dry your iron's water tank

An iron is available in every home. Without it, it is difficult to imagine a complete care for clothes. For the first six months after buying an iron, you have nothing to worry about, because its steam system is still clean and does not require maintenance. But as soon as you notice that the iron starts to steam with yellow spots with flakes of limescale, then the system is clogged and it's time for you to start cleaning the iron.

A separate case will be external cleaning if you accidentally burned something while ironing. Therefore, we will give some tips for quick and high-quality cleaning of the iron, both from the inside and outside of the soleplate.

Cleaning the soleplate of the iron

1. Pencil for cleaning the soleplate of the iron

This is a well-known way to clean the soleplate of an iron - with a soleplate pencil. You can buy it at any supermarket or hardware store. The method of cleaning with a pencil is very simple - you need to turn on the iron, warm it up to the maximum temperature, then peel the pencil from the cover and rub the sole with it. Next, leave the iron for 15-20 minutes, during which time the pencil will soften the stain on the sole, and later you can easily remove it with a rough cloth.

At the end, you can polish the sole with a towel, at the same time removing any remaining dirt. During this procedure, a pungent unpleasant odor will evaporate, but do not worry, as this is just ammonia.

2. Vinegar

This method is best for dealing with fresh stains on the sole. But if you try, you will be able to wipe out the obsolete ones. To do this, you will need vinegar and a coarse, rough fabric like burlap. If the stain is fresh, then immediately take a piece of cloth, fold it several times and wet it with vinegar. Then apply to the sole and intensively erase the dirt. Be careful, as a fabric that is too rough can scratch the surface of the iron, after which it can make hooks and puffs on delicate fabrics.

The vinegar will actively evaporate during the cleaning process, thereby exuding a pungent suffocating smell, so it is best to clean with a regular gauze bandage. After cleaning the soleplate, wipe the iron with a damp cloth to remove vinegar residue.

3. Hydroperite

Hydroperite can be taken in its pure form or as part of sole cleaners. It removes burns and rust from the iron well. But there is one significant “but” - during cleaning, under the influence of temperature, hydroperite evaporates and exudes a pungent unpleasant odor. Which later can be absorbed into the fabrics that are in the apartment. Therefore, it is best to clean the sole with hydroperite in the utility room or on the street. So, it is most convenient to do this to residents of their own private homes.

4. Soda and dishwashing detergent

This method does not require heating the iron, and therefore eliminates the formation of fetid steam. Take a teaspoon of baking soda and detergent, add a little water so that you get a paste. Then apply it on the soleplate of the iron and leave to act for ten minutes. Later, thoroughly rinse the sole with a wet rag, first carefully tearing off the remaining dirt.

5. Wax and coarse salt

This is an old folk recipe that our grandmothers used. It is only suitable for irons without Teflon coating, as it can damage it. You need to grind the wax, and mix it with salt. Then pour this mixture in a thick layer on thick paper and start ironing. During this cleaning, you can simultaneously clean the dirt and wax the sole, which will hide minor damage and scratches.

Steam system cleaning

1. Self cleaning

Almost every modern iron has a self-cleaning system that is easy to turn on. As a rule, you need to turn the steam control to the most extreme position, after which you can remove it from the iron. Next, pour water into the tank and stock up on dry rags or towels. The iron will begin to steam intensively and evaporate water. Along with the steam, scale and limescale will come out. Steaming will last about 15-20 minutes, enough to push all the dirt out through the steam holes.

2. Acid solution

Various acidic solutions are suitable for dissolving plaque in an iron - vinegar, citric acid. According to the principle of removing scale from the kettle, acids dissolve salt deposits, and therefore the same recipes are suitable for the iron. You can dilute the vinegar with water and pour it inside the iron, then turn on the steam and actively rinse the system.

After cleaning, repeat the same, but with water. Let the steam wash all the holes thoroughly, while you can tilt the iron in different directions, due to which all the lime flakes inside the steam channels will be removed. Do the same with citric acid.

3. Antinakipin

A very popular tool that can be conveniently and quickly cleaned. But do not forget that when cleaning with this solution, there will be a pungent unpleasant odor that does not disappear for a long time. Before work, be sure to open the windows, and it is best to do such cleaning somewhere closer to fresh air. You will need to get the steam switch selector from the iron, and pour "Antinakipin" into the opened hole. After that, the iron will begin to steam strongly. After all the dirt has come out, rinse the insides thoroughly with water.

4. Bathroom cleaner

Bathroom and kitchen detergent (Cilit, Vanish, etc.) is perfect for cleaning the iron. To do this, turn the iron upside down and pour Cilit into each steam hole. Leave the iron in this position for 15-20 minutes so that the product can eat away the plaque inside the iron. Then take the iron to the bathroom and rinse it under running water for 5-7 minutes. In this way, you can thoroughly wash the scale and deposits from the steam system of the iron.

In conclusion, we want to say that the key to long-term and high-quality work of the iron is proper care and operation. Therefore, do not start the steam system with scale, otherwise it will be more difficult to dissolve a thicker layer of plaque. Similarly, with dirt on the sole - the older the stain, the more difficult it will be to dissolve.

It will be useful for every housewife to know how to clean the iron on their own. There are a large number of methods, the effectiveness of which has already been tested by a huge number of people. For them, either special tools are used, or what is at hand in every home.

How to clean the soleplate of an iron at home?

When choosing a method for cleaning the device, it is imperative to take into account the material from which the coating is made. For those who are wondering if the sole is made of Teflon, ceramic, or a combination of both, you should know that in this case it is forbidden to use products with hard particles, as they can damage the surface and cause scratches. If the sole is steel, titanium or covered with enamel or sapphire, then more “hard” methods can be used without fear.

How to clean the soleplate of a Teflon coated iron?

If the sole of the iron has a Teflon coating, then it should be borne in mind that mechanical methods cannot be used to clean it. There are several methods to clean a Teflon-coated iron:

First, heat the device, and then rub its platform with laundry soap. After it has cooled, remove everything with a damp sponge.
An easy way to quickly clean a Teflon-coated iron is to use ammonia, which should be moistened with a cloth. Treat the platform of the heated device with it.

How to clean a ceramic coated iron?

To remove dirt from the ceramic surface, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid, soap, toothpaste and other methods can be used, which will be discussed below. An effective way to clean the ceramic soleplate of an iron is to use a special pencil. The procedure is very simple:

Preheat the iron and turn off the appliance. The iron cleaning pen should be applied to soiled areas. Please note that during this it will melt and an unpleasant odor will begin to be released, since ammonia is in the composition, so carry out the procedure by opening the window.
Cleaning the iron ends by removing the remnants of the product with a regular cloth. It is important during processing to try to avoid getting a pencil into the slots on the sole, otherwise the iron may deteriorate.

How to clean the water tank in the iron?

Modern irons have a self-cleaning function, so there should be no problems with descaling. In addition, there are other cleaning methods. There is a list of actions on how to clean the iron inside using self-cleaning:

Pour a full tank of boiled water. Set the appliance to maximum heat.
The iron must be heated and then allowed to cool. Repeat the manipulations several times.
After that, hold the device over a wide container and press the self-cleaning button. It is recommended to repeat the procedure several times.

How to clean the iron from mold inside?

The methods for cleaning the "insides" of the device from mold are identical with the options used for descaling. Many will be surprised by the fact that ordinary mineral water effectively copes with pollution. To make sure of this, use the rules on how to clean the iron at home:

Pour mineral water into the tank, turn on the device to maximum and wait for it to warm up.
Hold the iron over a sink or basin and press the steam release button several times.
To complete the procedure and make sure that the cleaning was successful, fill the tank with plain water, but boiled, and do the procedure again.

How to clean the steam iron from scale?

Since the water that is poured into the tank contains magnesium and calcium salts, after a while scale begins to form inside. It clogs the holes, which makes it difficult for steam to escape and leads to stains on clothes. If nothing is done, then after a while the equipment may fail. There are simple instructions on how to descale the inside of an iron using citric acid:

First, prepare a solution for which take a small spoonful of citric acid in a glass of boiling water. Stir until completely dissolved.
Pour the finished iron cleaner into a special container. Turn on the device in the network, setting the maximum temperature.
After that, turn it off and, holding it over any large container, press the button several times to release steam. Different models have different names for it.
Be sure to pour out the remaining solution, and then pour in clean water and repeat all the steps from the beginning. At the end of the procedure, wipe the surface with a natural cloth.
If the scale remains in the holes of the working surface, then make another portion of the solution, soak gauze in it and put the iron on it for 5-10 minutes. After that, heat the device and iron the napkin with it.

The iron spits rust - how to clean it?

For internal cleaning of rust, you can use the methods presented above, but there is another option - the use of a special agent (decalcifier). A popular drug is Antinakipin. Use the following rules to clean your iron at home:

First, dilute the product with water, given the proportion of 2 tbsp. spoons for 200 ml of water. Pour the prepared solution into the iron tank.
Heat up the iron, unplug it and leave it for half an hour. After that, heat it up again and press the button responsible for the release of steam several times.
To give your perforated iron a final clean, fill the tank with water to rinse it out. It remains only to wipe the sole.

How can you clean an iron?

If you use the device without following the rules, then various contaminants may appear. More often they occur when the temperature regime for different materials is chosen incorrectly, which leads to tissue sticking, scale, mold, and so on can still form. Sooner or later, everyone faces such problems. There are many ways to clean the iron from scale and other contaminants, and here are some of them:

Ammonia fights well with pollution, in which you should moisten a cloth and walk it over the surface. To enhance the effect, you can mix ammonia with vinegar.
For many years, a paraffin candle has been used for cleaning. Wrap it in a thick cloth and rub the heated iron well. It is important to hold the device at an angle above the container so that the molten paraffin flows into it. Make sure that paraffin does not get into the steam holes, otherwise serious problems will arise.
Another simple method involves treating a heated iron with a hydroperite tablet. As a result, the dirt will peel off, and it will be very easy to remove them with a regular rag. Please note that an unpleasant odor will be emitted during the procedure, so open the window.

How to clean an iron with salt?

It should be said right away that this method cannot be used to clean irons with a sensitive coating. There is a simple instruction on how to clean the iron with salt:

Spread a cotton cloth or towel on the board, which you will not be sorry to throw away. Sprinkle a large spoonful of salt in a thin layer on the fabric. It is best to use sea salt.
Turn the iron on to maximum. Be sure to turn off the steam. Iron the towel, avoiding strong pressure. As a result, the salt will darken as it absorbs dirt.
If the procedure is effective, then the surface will become shiny and all impurities will go away. When figuring out how to clean the iron with salt, it is worth noting that paper or newspaper can be used instead of cloth, but just do not hold the iron on it for a long time.

How to clean an iron with toothpaste?

Thinking about how else to clean the sole of the iron, the craftsmen decided to use toothpaste, which perfectly removes plaque, and they were not mistaken. It is better to choose the cheapest paste, because it contains the most different chemicals that can cope with pollution. If you are interested in how to clean the sole of the iron with folk remedies, then be guided by the following instructions:

Turn on the iron and set the heat to minimum. Please note that the surface of the platform should be warm, not hot.
Unplug the appliance and using an old toothbrush, apply the paste to the stains and rub vigorously. When the main contaminants are removed, it is recommended to treat the entire surface as a preventive measure.
Leave everything for half an hour, and then remove the remaining paste with a napkin and warm water.

How to clean an iron with baking soda?

In the kitchen, one of the main helpers is soda, which will help remove dirt not only from dishes, but also from the sole of the iron. There are two ways to clean an iron with baking soda:

The easiest option is to take a handful of soda and wrap it in a piece of gauze. The resulting bag must be carefully rubbed with a heated iron. According to reviews, carbon deposits are removed in a matter of minutes. This option is best not to use for Teflon coatings.
The next way, how to easily clean the iron, will take more time. Combine the baking soda with your existing dishwashing detergent to make a slurry. She needs to smear the pollution and leave for 40 minutes. It remains only to wash everything well.

How to clean an iron with vinegar?

Acetic acid is good at removing dirt and can be used to clean the soleplate of an iron. Cleaning the iron with vinegar can be done as follows:

Take a hard rag and lightly soak it in vinegar, and then rub it vigorously on the soiled areas. Do not forget that vinegar tends to evaporate, so you need to periodically re-wet. When the result is achieved, heat the iron and iron it with an unnecessary piece of fabric dipped in plain water. Finish off by wiping the sole with a dry cloth.
Cleaning the iron from scale can be done with a solution of vinegar and salt. Heat the vinegar, but do not bring it to a boil. Then add salt in equal proportions. Stir until completely dissolved, and when the solution has cooled, take a cloth and wipe the contaminated areas with it. It remains only to iron the fabric with an iron, which it will not be a pity to throw away. You can use a ready-made solution to work out the holes from which steam comes out with cotton swabs.

How to clean an iron with hydrogen peroxide?

One of the most affordable household helpers is hydrogen peroxide. There are several rules on how to clean the iron at home:

It is important to clean with the window open as an unpleasant odor will be emitted. Plug the appliance into the mains so that the soleplate heats up, but does not become hot.
Take a 3% product and soak a cotton pad in it, and then treat problem areas with it.
When all dirt is gone, wipe the iron with a damp cloth.

Irons with a steam extraction function have one drawback - they require the use of distilled water. Even a one-time filling of the tank with tap water can lead to scale or mold. If this happens, then you can clean the iron from the greens in the tank at home in several ways.

How bleach works - a proven folk remedy

The presence of mold in the water tank is indicated by spots on the surface of the fabric of a characteristic brown, gray or green color. If this is the case, then you can try to get rid of it with the help of bleach. The tool tends to react with mold spores, cleaning and protecting the surface from further formations.

It should be noted that the use of bleach will only be effective at the initial stage of infection, before the neoplasm spores penetrate deep into the surface of the tank. Bleach is an aggressive substance with a specific odor, therefore, in no case should the stage of finishing the tank with clean water be ignored (ammonia should not be used due to the formation of toxic gases).

Before you clean the water container in the iron from mold, open the windows and vents in the room, protect your hands with gloves.

To prepare the solution, bleach is mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10. The resulting product is poured into the tank and left for a while, after which the steam function is turned on and mold particles are released along with the solution through the holes. The final step is to rinse the tank with distilled water.

How to get rid of mold with borax

To clean the iron from algae - the result of stagnant tap water, a borax will do. 100% natural, no chemicals, no toxin, suitable for cleaning drains and toilets, can be used as an insecticide, against mold.

To remove mold from the iron tank, you must:

mix borax with water (a glass of funds for 2.5 liters of water);
prepare a hard brush;
fill the tank with a solution, clean it with a brush;
Rinse off any residue with clean distilled water.

One rinse will be enough to remove excess solution. Residues of the product on the surface of the tank must be left, they can inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Vinegar against mold - how effective

When water bloomed in the iron, vinegar essence can also help. Both pure and diluted, vinegar can get rid of 80% of bacterial species. For processing, natural distilled vinegar is suitable. The advantages of the tool include:

efficiency;
naturalness;
affordable cost;
ease of use.

The cleaning process is not difficult. Vinegar in concentrated form or diluted is poured into a water container, left for an hour or two, depending on the degree of contamination. After this time, the steam function is turned on, releasing the solution along with mold residues. After treatment, the tank is washed again with clean water.

Mold and ammonia - how they interact

Just like the bleach described above, ammonia helps to remove mold on surfaces. Being a chemical substance, after treatment, alcohol is washed off with distilled water, in no case adding bleach.

You can achieve the effect if you mix alcohol with water and fill the iron tank with it for several hours. The steam extraction function will allow you to get rid of the solution. With its help, it will be possible to additionally clean the holes on the sole.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda - Easy Mold Control Methods

When you need to clean a container of water from mold, remove green deposits from the bottom and walls, providing protection from new formations for the future, hydrogen peroxide will help. The antifungal agent copes well with mold, is safe, does not contain toxins.

Removing mold with peroxide is easy. To do this, it is poured into a container for no more than 10 minutes, the process is accelerated with a narrow hard brush.

A simple and safe remedy is baking soda. The product is safe, does not emit toxins, gently acts on the walls of the tank, delicately removing traces of mold. The advantage of this method is the ability of soda to absorb moisture, which prevents the formation of bacteria in the future. For cleaning, soda is mixed with water at the rate of ¼ tablespoon per glass of distilled water.

Tea tree oil is a safe method for removing mold

A non-standard option that allows you to get rid of mold in the iron tank is tea tree oil. Unlike all the means described above, oil will be expensive. A few drops are enough to remove mold. Antifungal and antibacterial, the oil is mixed with water (a teaspoon per glass of water), added to the capacity of the iron. The final step is to remove the liquid through the steam holes.

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We clean the iron at home from scale, soot and other contaminants

We have to iron shirts, T-shirts, trousers, skirts and other things regularly. Unfortunately, no matter how modern the iron is, it is not immune from the appearance of various contaminants: soot, scale, rusty deposits, etc. Then the quality of ironing deteriorates sharply and the likelihood of inadvertently spoiling some thing increases. Let's learn about the main causes of pollution, their types, as well as methods that allow you to clean the sole itself (ironing surface), steam holes and the internal water tank at home.

Scale, carbon deposits and other types of dirt can form for many reasons. We list the most common of them:

lack of preventive care for the iron;
wrong choice of temperature regime in the process of ironing things;
the use of tap water in irons with a steam function;
stagnation of liquid in the tank (it must be drained after the end of the ironing process).

We clean the bottom from soot

The formation of soot on the sole is the most common problem

The formation of soot on the iron is a problem well known to every housewife. It is enough to make a little mistake with the temperature, as the fibers of the fabric begin to stick to the sole, which is why a dark coating forms on it. Fortunately, there are effective ways to clean the iron from carbon deposits. For this purpose, you can use both chemical and home remedies that can be found in every home.

We note right away that products such as a pencil (chalk), vinegar, lemon juice, ammonia, nail polish remover and hydrogen peroxide can be used to remove carbon deposits from a sole made of any material (steel, aluminum, Teflon, ceramic, metal-ceramic and glass-ceramic). Toothpaste, soda and salt are allowed to be used only for metal coating. These are not the best options for cleaning expensive modern irons from carbon deposits. After all, if even defects that are invisible to your eye appear on their soles, the device will deteriorate. The fabric will increasingly stick to the iron or even melt.

With a pencil

A universal pencil is suitable for removing any dirt

A relatively cheap and convenient tool for cleaning the soleplate of an iron is a pencil (also known as "chalk"). In the process of its use, a strong specific smell appears. Therefore, cleaning should be carried out in a well-ventilated area. Now we will tell you how to use the chalk:

First, turn on the iron at maximum power and wait until it heats up well.
Take a pencil and run it over the soiled areas of the sole. If the soleplate is hot, the chalk will melt on contact. Try not to press too hard on the pencil, otherwise pieces of the product may break off and fall into the holes.
Run the iron over the unwanted rough fabric. This will help to remove the remaining product from the surface of the sole.

The advantage of this cleaning method is that the pencil can be used on any type of coating. You should pay attention to the recommendations, since different crayons are suitable for different coatings (metal, Teflon or ceramics).

Vinegar cleaning

A solution of vinegar and water will help remove carbon deposits from a smooth surface.

Cleaning soles with a smooth surface can also be done using ordinary table vinegar. Let's describe the sequence of actions:

Dilute 2 tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water.
Turn on the iron, wait until it heats up a little (not to the maximum temperature).
Soak a cloth, sponge or cotton swab in the resulting solution.
Wipe the soot until it disappears.
If the holes-holes in the sole are clogged with soot, clean them with a toothpick dipped in vinegar solution, wrapped in a small piece of cotton wool.

Good to know: Keep in mind that the vinegar will heat up during cleaning and you will have to breathe in the fumes. Therefore, do not bring the included iron close to your face. Ideally, you should wear a gauze bandage that will protect the organs of the respiratory system.

Lemon juice and ammonia

Another popular home remedy for descaling is a mixture of lemon juice and ammonia. When preparing it, it is important to observe the correct proportions.

40 milliliters of freshly squeezed lemon juice must be mixed with 10 drops of ammonia. Having done this, moisten a swab in the resulting solution and wipe off the carbon deposits from the slightly warm sole. These ingredients work very effectively, allowing you to remove traces of burnt fabric from the surface of the iron in a matter of seconds.

Laundry soap

Laundry soap will help remove fresh dirt

To eliminate fresh pollution, you can use ordinary laundry soap. Moisten the bar, rub the sole well with it, then remove the foam and soot with a damp cloth. Unfortunately, it will not be possible to get rid of old stains in this way.

Nail polish remover

If you accidentally ironed polyethylene (for example, a bag) with an iron and the material stuck to the sole, use the most accessible chemical solvent to remove it - nail polish remover. This tool can be found in the house of every woman.

It is enough just to moisten a cotton swab or a small piece of cloth in a solvent and wipe the remnants of adhering polyethylene with it. After that, no traces will remain on the surface.

Hydrogen peroxide

To remove carbon deposits in everyday life, hydrogen peroxide is also used (or its solid analogue - hydroperite tablets).

Useful information: If the contamination is significant, slightly heat the soleplate of the iron and run hydroperite over it. Then remove the burn residue with a damp cloth. Minor dirt can be removed with a cotton swab dipped in hydrogen peroxide.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is an effective cleaning agent

It is known that toothpaste can be used to eliminate a huge range of contaminants. It is also suitable for cleaning the soleplate of the iron from burnt fabric.

Squeeze a small amount of paste onto a slightly heated sole and rub it with a soft brush. After 3-4 minutes, wipe off the remnants of the product from the surface with a sponge dipped in warm water.

Soda

To eliminate the most old and stubborn traces of soot, you can use a gruel of soda mixed with water or dishwashing detergent. This method does not require heating of the sole, so the possibility of formation of fetid steam is excluded.

Unfortunately, baking soda can damage delicate finishes. In other words, after cleaning, micro-scratches will remain on it, invisible to the naked eye. In the future, this may lead to damage to the device. Therefore, baking soda is not recommended for removing carbon deposits from ceramic or Teflon soles.

Salt

Salt should be used only as a last resort, when other methods have proven to be ineffective. The fact is that it leaves micro-scratches on the sole.

Prepare 2 cups of finely ground salt.
Sprinkle them on a newspaper or on an unnecessary piece of clean cloth.
With a heated iron, run over the surface several times, as if ironing it. Do not put too much pressure on the iron, which has a steam function. Otherwise, small holes in the sole may become clogged with salt.
Wipe the sole with a damp sponge. Repeat the cleaning procedure again if necessary.

Video: How to clean a burnt iron soleplate

Calcification

Soot is visible from above, traces of scale from below

Although consumers who use irons with a steam function or a steam generator know that only distilled (or at least boiled) water should be poured into the internal tank, not everyone follows this recommendation. Yes, and a person who tries to do everything according to the instructions can, at least once, simply by inattention, pour ordinary tap water into a container. Unfortunately, it leads to the formation of scale.

It is rather difficult to use an iron in which scale has appeared. When ironed, it can leave reddish stains and ruin things. What to do in such a situation, because you don’t want to throw away a serviceable (and often very expensive) device at all? Do not worry, you can remove scale using both special tools and folk methods.

All of the following methods are suitable for removing scale from any coating (steel, aluminum, Teflon and ceramics). But it is important to observe the precautions and working conditions: do not allow chemicals (if you use them) to get on the plastic surface of the device. And, of course, do not forget about personal safety. Descaling is preferably carried out in a gauze bandage. It will protect you from inhaling fumes.

Good to know: Keep in mind that hard deposits form not only on the soleplate, but also in the steam holes and in the water tank. Therefore, you will have to take care to remove scale from everywhere.

Self cleaning function

The self-cleaning function is a useful thing

Most modern models of irons with a steam function have a self-cleaning function. Its presence greatly facilitates the process of dealing with scale. If your iron has a self-cleaning function, fill the water tank and turn on the device at full power. Next, you need to perform the following steps:

Heat up the iron as much as possible and turn it off. After a while, turn it on again at full power.
When the soleplate has reached its maximum temperature, unplug the appliance from the mains (outlet). Then press the cleaning button (usually located at the top of the device).
At this point, the device should not be held over clean things, but over a previously prepared container. The fact is that after activating the self-cleaning function, steam will begin to come out of the iron along with all the contaminants. You can hold the device over the sink, however, in this case, you will need to clean it from plaque in the future.
Together with the steam, all the scale that has managed to form in the holes and the water tank since the previous cleaning will come out of the device. To make the process more intense, you can shake the iron while it is being cleaned.
If necessary, repeat all steps again.
At the end, you will need to rinse the sole of the device and rinse the container with clean water.

When cleaning, remember: the device is as hot as possible, so it will cool down for at least half an hour, or even an hour. At this time, do not touch the sole, so as not to get burned.

Useful information: In the first 10-15 minutes after performing self-cleaning, it is undesirable to start ironing things. Wait for the iron to cool down, fill it with clean distilled water and turn it on again.

Unfortunately, not all irons have such a convenient self-cleaning function (especially older models). Therefore, their owners have to remove scale in other ways. Well, let's talk about them.

Pencil

The pencil effectively removes not only soot, but also scale

Of course, the pencil will not be able to eliminate contamination inside the device. But he will cope with the tasks of dissolving scale from the sole and cleaning the steam holes. Fill the iron reservoir with distilled water, heat the iron to maximum, and then rub the soleplate with a pencil. Use steam to clean holes. Remember that the procedure must be carried out in a well-ventilated room.

Can Cillit be used to clean holes in the bottom of an iron?

A few drops of Cillit will clear the steam holes

Many housewives remove scale with the help of Cillit cleaner, designed to remove rust and plaque from metal surfaces. It is enough to do the following:

First you need to heat up the iron (but not to the maximum temperature), unplug the appliance from the outlet and turn it upside down.
Pour a few drops into each clogged hole.
Leave the iron upside down for 15 minutes.
After this time, carefully remove the dirt that has come out with a soft sponge.
Wipe the sole with a damp cloth, remove the liquid container, rinse it and place it in place.

Special funds

Special means for cleaning irons will help to effectively eliminate scale. Manufacturers of such "chemistry" are well aware of how to clean the iron without damaging the delicate surface of the sole. The range of such funds is unusually wide, you can buy them in specialized stores. Be sure to follow the instructions.

How to clean with citric acid

Citric acid will help get rid of not only carbon deposits (this is written above), but also scale. The method below is recommended if your iron does not have a self-cleaning function. So, let's move on to the step-by-step instructions:

Pour 25 grams of citric acid with a glass of warm water, mix well.
Pour the resulting solution into the iron tank.
Turn on the device, wait for it to fully heat up.
Unplug the iron and press the steam button.
Citric acid under pressure will enter into a chemical reaction with the scale formed inside the device and gradually dissolve it.
Please note that during cleaning, hot liquid splashes of a dirty yellow color will fly out of the steam holes. And the smell will not be very pleasant.
After finishing the cleaning process, wait for the iron to cool down.
Then clean the sole with a sponge dipped in a solution of vinegar and water (in a ratio of 1:10).
Remove the tank, wash it and reinstall.
Turn on the iron again and try out the “updated device” in action on an unnecessary piece of fabric.

This is interesting: Instead of citric acid, some people use ordinary soda to remove solid sediment. The acids that make up the drink help dissolve scale. But the effectiveness of citric acid is still higher.

Hot water + descaler

When lowering the iron, make sure that the liquid covers no more than 1 centimeter of the soleplate.

Finally, the last method is to immerse the device in hot water with the addition of chemicals. It should be used only in extreme cases, because it cannot be called absolutely safe for an iron:

Lay a pair of wooden slats parallel to each other on the bottom of a regular flat-bottomed baking sheet. It would be more convenient to use a small bath, but not everyone can find it. Another option is a large frying pan. In the last two cases, rails are not needed.
Put the iron on top of them.
Pour into a baking sheet (bath, lower sector of the pressure cooker, frying pan) a descaling agent (sold in any household store). Determine the quantity according to the instructions. You can also use citric acid (60 grams per 1 liter).
Boil water in a kettle and pour it into a baking sheet so that the bottom edge of the sole is lowered into the liquid to a depth of no more than 10 millimeters (about half the thickness).
After 50 minutes, remove the iron and drain the water from the pan.
To achieve the maximum degree of cleaning, the baking sheet (or pan) can be carefully placed on low heat and the liquid in it is constantly heated (but not to a boil).

What to do if the iron bloomed inside

If you leave liquid in the water tank (this applies to appliances with a steam function and a steam generator) and do not use the iron for a long time, it may bloom. The likelihood of such a development of events is especially high if the device is located in a warm room. Fortunately, solving this problem is not difficult. The following method is suitable for irons with any soleplate coating:

Remove the tank (this may require dismantling the iron) or open the lid of the steam generator.
Pour out the rest of the liquid.
Pour 1 tablespoon of coarse salt into the tank, pour in 2 tablespoons of water.
Shake the closed container vigorously. The salt acts as a mild abrasive so the plastic won't get damaged.
After one and a half to two minutes, the container will be clean.
Rinse the tank 3-4 times with warm water (but not boiling water). Salt residue will dissolve and wash away.
Replace the clean tank.

Rust removal at home

"Antinakipin" will help get rid of rusty plaque

It happens that when ironing, a rusty coating appears on things. Most often, its formation is caused by the fact that cold tap water containing iron and other harmful impurities is poured into the liquid tank. When using distilled water, rust does not form. But what if she did show up?

Mix half a teaspoon of Antinakipin with 200 milliliters of water.
Pour the solution into the water container in the iron.
Leave for approximately 40 minutes.
After this time, rinse the tank. Rusty spots will no longer bother you.

This method is suitable for irons with any type of coating.

If fabric is stuck to the Teflon or other coating

If a piece of synthetic fabric is stuck to the soleplate of the appliance, heat the iron to the maximum and wait until the fibers have melted. Then remove them with a wooden spatula and iron a terry cloth (for example, an old towel) with an iron.

If, after removing the remnants of the fabric, traces remain on the sole, they can be removed with the help of a “slurry” of dishwashing detergent and soda. Apply it to a cloth and wipe the cooled surface with it. Remove the remaining mixture with a damp swab, then wipe the sole with a dry cloth.

To remove old dirty plaque, soak a piece of medical bandage folded several times with ammonia and iron it with a hot iron.

Burnt fabric can also be removed from aluminum and steel soles with a conventional wooden spatula or a plastic brush. Simply heat up the iron to about +70°C. Don't worry, the coating won't be damaged.

If a button is melted

If you accidentally left the iron on top of a plastic button and it melted, leaving marks on the surface, heat the appliance to maximum temperature. Melted plastic from a metal sole can be removed with the same wooden spatula. And wipe the place of contamination with hydrogen peroxide or a swab dipped in ammonia.

Cleaning steam irons

Irons with a steam generator are designed for ironing a large number of things.

There is an important nuance that needs to be noted: the soles of irons with a steam generator (a separate external water tank with a capacity of several liters) are cleaned in the same way as conventional models. There is only one significant difference: when descaling the external tank, you do not have to take it out from inside the appliance. When cleaning the sole from carbon deposits, do not forget to take into account the characteristics of the surface material.

Prevention of soot and scale formation

The best way to avoid the appearance of pollution is to follow the rules of prevention.

Important information: Never use knives, sandpaper or metal scrapers to clean the soleplate. They can ruin the sole.

If you managed to use the listed “forbidden methods” of cleaning, as a result of which the surface became rough, you can try to fix it. Grate an ordinary candle with a fine grater. Then mix paraffin shavings with finely ground salt and pour the resulting mixture onto a newspaper sheet. Cover the newspaper with a napkin and iron it with an iron heated to the maximum temperature. The sole of the device after the described procedure will again become smooth. If the result does not satisfy you, repeat all the steps again.

This overlay is used for ironing delicate materials.

After ironing and cooling the iron, do not forget to wipe its soleplate with a slightly damp cloth or sponge.
Always follow the recommended temperature indicated on the labels of things in the form of a pictogram.
Do not leave the device plugged in unattended.
For some models of irons, for example, Philips or Tefal, you can buy special non-stick pads (sometimes they are even included). Use them to iron the most delicate fabrics.

Fill the iron tank with distilled water, not tap water.

To prevent the appearance of scale, remember three basic rules:

Fill the tank only with distilled (in extreme cases, boiled) water.
After finishing the ironing process, drain the remaining liquid from the inner tank.
Place the appliance on the ironing board with the “nose up” only.

Following a few simple preventive measures will help keep your iron clean and free of all sorts of contaminants. But if soot, scale or rusty deposits have already appeared, use any of the methods listed in this article to remove them. Do not forget to take into account the characteristics of the sole material. The effectiveness of the methods we have proposed has been tested by thousands of consumers!

www.comfortclub.ru

How to clean an iron: 9 proven methods and prevention

How to clean a burnt iron

Before you start cleaning the iron, determine which method is right for your technique. Ceramic or Teflon soles, for example, must not be rubbed with abrasives. Use the more gentle methods below.

Method 1. Salt

Pour salt onto a piece of paper in an even layer and run a hot iron over it until the blackness comes off.

Method 2. Paraffin candle

Wrap the candle with a cotton cloth and rub the hot soleplate in a circular motion. Hold the device over a pallet or a layer of newspapers: in the process, the candle will melt, the paraffin will flow down.

Be careful if the work surface of your iron is embossed or has steam holes. Paraffin can get into the recesses and stain your clothes during subsequent ironing.

After defeating the burn, carefully remove the remnants of dirt and the melted candle.

Often used during ironing, steaming water is hard, which leads to the formation of scale on the iron - a solid residue that consists of insoluble salts. It collects on the heating elements of the iron and over time makes the appliance unusable. Therefore, it is important to remove scale in time.

If scale has appeared on the iron, you should first consult the manufacturer's instructions and do not ignore the instructions for caring for the appliance. Perhaps the iron is equipped with an anti-limestone rod that protects against scale. Then it will be much easier to take care of it. But protection is not available in all models on the market.

Lime scale often forms on the soleplate and inside the iron

If you have hard water, dilute it with distilled water in a ratio of 1: 1 (only distilled water is allowed for Vitek irons).
Do not use only distilled water for ironing (it boils at a higher temperature, less steam is produced and the inner coating of the iron may be damaged).
Always empty the water from the ironing tank after finishing work.
Remove deposits from the outside of the iron in time, for example, using a water-vinegar essence (not vinegar!).

Cleaning the safety valve or anti-lime rod

It is very important to regularly care for the lime rod or the safety valve in the devices of the German brands Bosch, Braun, Tefal.

Before removing and cleaning the valve, turn off the iron and pour out the water.
Press the "steam" button so that it rises to the top position.
Gently pull the button without touching the bottom of the valve with your hands.
Dip the valve in a vinegar solution or lemon juice until the scale softens.
Use a non-metallic brush to remove the remaining scale and rinse the rod with water.

Some brands of irons are protected from scale with a special rod

Cleaning the steam chamber

If scale particles appear on the soleplate of the iron, it is necessary to clean the steam chamber with an increased steam jet.

Pour in water and turn on the iron at maximum power.
Wait until the appliance heats up.
Turn it off.
Hold the iron over a bowl or sink and press the "steam" button: the scale will begin to come out along with hot steam and water. Shake the device constantly while doing this.
Wait until the sole has cooled down, clean it.

Cleaning steam generators equipped with scale filters

Manufacturers of steam generators also advise using a mixture of distilled water and tap water and do not add vinegar, starch, perfumes, or reagents to the water. The filter in steam generators is washed with water mixed with a special liquid for descaling. It can be purchased from the after-sales service departments.

How to clean an iron at home

At home, you can remove scale from the outer surface and internal elements of the iron using:

special chemicals;
citric acid;
vinegar;
mineral sparkling water.

How to use chemical cleaners

The most common German products, which include organic acid, water and anti-corrosion agents (Topperr, Bosch, Filtero 605).

We prepare a solution of water and funds in a ratio of 3: 1.
The iron is heated to the highest temperature.
Turn off.
We put the device horizontally and leave it for 2 hours.
Pour out the product, and rinse the iron with water 1-2 times.
Before ironing, we check the cleanliness of the iron with the help of steam emission.

Special anti-calc liquids do an excellent job of removing it from the surface of the iron.

The most affordable cleaning method is citric acid

2 tsp pour citric acid into half a glass of hot water.
Soak a soft cloth in this solution.
Attach it to the holes on the iron.
After a few minutes, remove the cloth and turn on the device, and later clean the holes with ordinary cotton swabs.

To clean the iron inside with citric acid, make a solution of 25 g of powder and 200 ml of water.

Pour the solution into the water container and turn the iron on to the highest temperature.
Wait for it to switch on again, and when the appliance switches off for the second time, release the steam. The heated solution in the form of steam will enter the channels and soften the scale.

Removing rust with vinegar

This method perfectly removes rust from the soleplate of the iron, but has several disadvantages:

vinegar is not recommended by the manufacturers themselves, as it can damage the device;
bad smell.

With a heated sole, lightly iron a cloth soaked in a solution of acetic acid. It is important to take care of the ventilation of the room.

How to clean a steam iron - video

For the iron to work perfectly, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. Clean it often, observe the temperature regime when ironing. If scale has appeared, use the described tips to quickly remove it.

How to clean a burnt iron

Before you start cleaning the iron, determine which method is right for your technique. Ceramic or Teflon soles, for example, must not be rubbed with abrasives. Use the more gentle methods below.

Method 1. Salt

Pour salt onto a piece of paper in an even layer and run a hot iron over it until the blackness comes off.

Method 2. Paraffin candle

Be careful if the work surface of your iron is embossed or has steam holes. Paraffin can get into the recesses and stain your clothes during subsequent ironing.

After defeating the burn, carefully remove the remnants of dirt and the melted candle.

Method 3. Hydrogen peroxide

Soak a cotton swab or piece of cloth in 3% hydrogen peroxide. Carefully and forcefully scrub dark spots from the surface of a cold iron. The peroxide will help dissolve the plaque and make it easier to remove.

Method 4. Table vinegar

Soak a cotton swab in vinegar and wipe the soleplate of a cold iron. If the burn is strong, add ammonia to the vinegar in a 1: 1 ratio.

If this does not help, soak a cloth with vinegar and cover the working surface of the device with it for several hours. During this time, the plaque will soften. Remove it with a sponge or soft brush.

Method 5. Baking soda

Dissolve a few tablespoons of soda in a glass of water, soak a piece of cloth in this solution and wipe the cold surface of the iron with it. When finished, clean the iron from stains with a damp sponge.

Method 6. Nail polish remover

If a piece of polyethylene sticks to the soleplate of the iron, it can be removed with nail polish remover. When cleaning, try not to touch the plastic parts of the iron: the substances in the liquid can damage them.

How to prevent burn formation

To prevent burns from ever occurring again, follow these simple tips:

Observe the temperature regime for each type of fabric.

Particularly delicate items, such as wool, iron through wet gauze.

After each ironing, wipe the working surface of the iron with a soft cloth.

How to descale an iron

If the steam function began to work poorly, and the iron leaves red spots on the clothes, most likely, scale has formed in it. Three win-win recipes will help to remove it without a trace.

Method 1. Self-cleaning function

In many modern models, the manufacturer has taken care of the scale problem. If you are not sure about the purpose of some buttons on your machine, check the instructions: you may be the lucky owner of an iron with a self-cleaning function. To carry it out, carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions. In short, the algorithm is as follows:

The maximum possible amount of water is poured into the tank.

The temperature controller is set to maximum.

The appliance heats up, cools down, heats up again.

The iron leans over a bowl or sink.

After pressing the self-cleaning button, the scale is removed from the steam holes on the soleplate.

After the procedure, rinse the tank with clean water several times and wipe the iron dry.

Method 2. Citric acid

Dissolve a tablespoon (20-30 grams) of citric acid in a glass of water and pour into the tank. Heat up the iron to its maximum, give it a good shake a few times and press the steam release button. Carry out this procedure over a sink or container: the scale will come out with steam in hot dark sprays. Then rinse the tank with clean water and wipe the soleplate of the iron from any remaining dirt.

Method 3. Carbonated mineral water

Carbonated drinks contain acids that will help dissolve the residue inside the iron. Just pour the mineral water into the tank and follow the instructions in the previous paragraph.

How to prevent scale formation

To avoid having to descale in the future, control the quality of the water that you pour into the iron. This is best suited for:

Distilled water: available at any gas station.

Bottled water from the nearest supermarket.

Water purified with a home filter.

Settled tap water: in a few hours, the salts will precipitate.

Do you have your own cleaning secrets for household appliances? Share them in the comments!

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