Clean your iron at home. How to clean the soleplate of an iron at home. Simple ways to clean your iron from scale and carbon deposits at home

The main enemies of any iron are burnt marks and scale. The first one forms on the sole if you accidentally overexpose the iron to synthetics, or if an adhesive material gets on the surface, which, when heated, sticks more and more to the sole. Over time, this leads to the fact that the iron begins to glide worse over the fabric and wears out, but the biggest nuisance can be a stain on your things and fabrics: the burn from the hot sole will instantly transfer to the material. As for scale, this problem affects everyone who uses unfiltered water for steam.

Method 1. Salt

Cleaning an iron with salt is very easy, so this method can safely be called one of the most economical and simplest.

Sprinkle salt on a piece of paper or a napkin (preferably sea salt). Turning the steam on to maximum temperature and turning off the steam, begin ironing until the surface of the sole is clean.

Method 2. Citric acid

If burnt fabric gets caught in the steam holes, the easiest way is to use citric acid. To do this, dilute the acid with filtered water (150 ml per 1 tsp), then pour it into the liquid compartment. Heat the iron to high, shake it well and press the steam button for about 10 seconds. Repeat several times, then rinse the tank with clean water and wipe the sole with a damp cloth.

By the way, citric acid can be replaced with carbonated mineral water.

Method 3. Vinegar

Ordinary table vinegar will also help to clean the iron at home. Dilute it with filtered water in a ratio of 1 to 2, dampen a soft cotton cloth, heat the iron and, unplugging it, place it on a damp cloth. After 15-20 minutes, wipe the sole with a sponge.

If the dirt is serious, you can easily leave the iron unplugged on a cloth soaked in vinegar for several hours.

Method 4. Toothpaste

Simply apply a layer of regular toothpaste to the sole, let it sit, and then thoroughly clean the surface with a damp cloth. Turn on the iron and iron the unwanted fabric.

Method 5. Nail polish remover

A liquid with or without acetone is suitable. But when using this option to clean the iron, be careful: the liquid may damage the plastic parts. Therefore, it is best to apply the liquid pointwise, with a cotton swab or cotton pad. Simply rub the stain until it dissolves.

Method 6. Soda

Mix 2 tsp. baking soda with a little water or 9% vinegar. Apply the resulting paste to a slightly heated sole and rub with a cloth.

1. Never try to clean the surface of the iron mechanically (with pumice, sandpaper, etc.). This way you will only damage it.

2. After ironing, while the appliance is still warm, drain the remaining water.

3. To reduce scale formation, use only filtered, bottled or settled water.

Iron deposits can ruin light-colored clothing and also make it difficult to remove wrinkles from delicate fabrics. Inexpensive ones are sold in stores cleaning crayons irons. You can use them, or you can cope on your own using improvised means. By the way, they are no less effective, so let’s look at several proven ways to clean your iron at home.

Cleaning the iron with paraffin

It is very important not to get burned, and also to prepare a container in advance, which must be placed next to the iron.

A white paraffin candle is wrapped in cotton cloth in 2-3 layers. The iron is heated and they begin to move the side of this candle along the surface of the iron.

It is very important not to get burned, and also to prepare a container in advance, which must be placed next to the iron: the melted wax will flow into it. The carbon deposits should remain on the fabric. After the procedure, the surface of the iron is thoroughly wiped to remove any remaining wax and dirt.

Method for cleaning an iron with hydrogen peroxide

This method only works with fairly fresh soot. A cotton rag is moistened in a solution of hydrogen peroxide and the surface of the iron is washed with it.

It’s better not to skimp on peroxide: the soot should be properly wet, then the peroxide will react and peel off all unnecessary plaque. For a completely advanced case, you should take not a ready-made 3% solution, but a tablet. It is diluted in water independently, after which it is used by analogy with the solution.

How to clean an iron with salt

The iron is heated to maximum temperature and begins to move across the salt “cushion”.

Sprinkle a thick layer of salt onto newspaper or any matte paper. The iron is heated to maximum temperature and begins to move across the salt “cushion”.

It will take about 5 minutes for the carbon deposits to completely disappear. To increase the effectiveness of this method, you can rub a white paraffin candle and mix the shavings with salt before starting the procedure.

Laundry soap as a means of cleaning an iron

This method helps with new spots. The iron is heated and then the surface is rubbed with laundry soap. After the iron has cooled, the deposits can be removed with a soft, damp cloth.

Cleaning method with nail polish remover

When the iron is turned off, wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover.

If synthetic fabric or a piece of polyethylene is stuck to the surface of the iron, it can be removed with nail polish remover. When the iron is turned off, wipe it with a cotton pad soaked in this product.

In order not to resort to these methods, it is better to take preventive measures. To prevent carbon deposits from eating into the surface of the iron, after each use, when the device has not yet completely cooled down, ironing wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

And do not forget that to clean the iron from carbon deposits, you cannot use brushes or powders that can scratch the surface.

Video instruction

A less expensive option is a soda solution. Teflon can be washed with window cleaner and vinegar. Use detergent to wash dishes.

Sapphire is a durable material, but using chemicals and abrasives for cleaning is not recommended; a soap solution is sufficient.

Handle the enamel coating with care. To clean the enamel soleplate of the iron, treat it with a soda-soap solution. Avoid abrasive compounds.

Cleaning methods

The type of cleaning of the iron sole is selected depending on its material. There are a number of general rules and recommendations. All actions take place with a heated iron. To clean durable surfaces such as steel or titanium, you can use abrasives, medium-hard brushes and knives. Teflon and ceramic cleaning methods are more gentle.

Salt

It is used for cleaning in different ways:

poured onto a sheet of paper in a uniform layer, over which a heated iron is passed until completely clean;
poured onto a cotton towel or foil sheet, the iron is heated to maximum and the method is repeated with the previous one;
placed in folded gauze, the iron is heated to minimum.

Paraffin candle

To combat carbon deposits, wrap it in cotton cloth and rub the heated sole to maximum. Do this over a layer of unnecessary papers; melting paraffin will flow onto them.

The raised sole or surface with steam holes is cleaned carefully. The candle can get into the grooves and ruin things when ironing.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can deal with fresh burns. Cotton fabric is wetted in a 3% solution. Use it to wash the surface of the iron. The burnt material is soaked, and unnecessary plaque falls under the destructive action of peroxide.

If the degree of soot is severe, use the tablet form, diluted in a minimum amount of water.

Laundry soap

Effective on Teflon surfaces. Preheat the iron and scrub the surface with a bar of soap. It will begin to burn like a paraffin candle and soften the carbon deposits. Use a rag to wipe off any remaining dirt from the sole. Clean the soap out of the steam vents with cotton swabs or toothpicks.

Toothpaste

Gel-like toothpaste is able to scrub dirt from the surface. To enhance the effect, it is better to warm up the iron a little.

Table vinegar

Soak a cotton swab in table vinegar and wipe the cold soleplate of the iron. This quickly removes light deposits. If the contamination is strong and long-standing, mix vinegar with ammonia in equal quantities.

If this mixture does not work, place cotton wool soaked in the solution on the contaminated area for several hours. The plaque will soften and be removed with a rag or sponge.

Nail polish remover

Sticky synthetic fabric can be easily removed with nail polish remover. Simply wipe the cold surface with a dampened cotton pad.

Matchbox

The side of the box with a solid strip of sulfur copes with dirt on the iron. Warm up the device and scrub the surface.

Lemon acid

If this is the only product on hand, it will be suitable for cleaning the surface. A packet of citric acid - 10 grams, dilute with a minimum amount of water and treat the work area.

If the stain is persistent, leave the cotton wool soaked in the solution on it for several hours. The remaining citric acid is useful for steaming scale. Pour the solution into the water tank and activate the steam boost mode, setting the iron to full power.

Special chemical pencil

Sold in any store. Designed to clean your iron at home, regardless of surface type. The pencil has a gentle effect on the structure of the material.

The compositions of such products are developed taking into account soles of all types.

This could be ammonium nitrate, highly concentrated citric acid, another natural bleach, or a combination of these. Flavored fragrances are added, but they do not help with the chemical smell that occurs when using the pencil:

open all windows first;
heat the iron to 100–150 degrees;
apply the product using vertical movements;
Leave the device until it cools down.

The chemical composition of the pencil will allow you to clean the iron. Remove any remaining residue immediately with a cotton cloth or napkin.

Preventing burns

It is easier to prevent carbon deposits from appearing than to spend time and effort cleaning it. For prevention:

observe the temperature regime for each type of fabric;
iron delicate materials through damp gauze;
To prevent scale deposits from forming in the steam holes, use filtered water;
Wipe the sole with a damp cloth after each use.

In case of fresh burning of the fabric and formation of plaque, try applying a wet cotton rag to the dirty hot surface. A sharp temperature change will rid the metal sole of burnt synthetic fabric. Avoid using iron brushes, sponges and other harsh materials to clean equipment. Massive surfaces will tolerate this, but Teflon and ceramic ones will become unsuitable.

Stubborn carbon deposits can be carefully scraped off with a sharpened wooden spatula. Use the knife in extreme cases and with caution. Carry out any actions with the device disconnected from the network.

If the sole needs to be heated, the equipment is brought to the required temperature and switched off.

Often there are such types of clothing, especially for children, that are equipped with synthetic inserts, rubberized applications, and clever designs made from combined materials. It happens that you don’t even notice how the iron slid across a surface that is not intended for ironing at such a temperature, and then a coating has already appeared on the sole of the iron. Or, after ironing a cotton item, you suddenly remembered a silk blouse, which also urgently needs to be ironed, but you forgot to change the temperature regime, and again you got a coating. If you don’t get rid of it in time, then the next time you use an electrical appliance, there is a high risk of spoiling the item with unsightly stains, the iron will stick to the fabric, and the deposit itself will turn into carbon deposits.

Another problem for iron users is scale. Typically, iron manufacturers recommend using distilled water for steaming in their instructions, but in practice, ordinary tap water often ends up in the tank. Over time, this leads to the formation of scale inside the device. As scale accumulates, it reduces heat conductivity, clogs the holes in the soleplate of the iron, and as a result, the sensors fail and the device stops working.

How to clean the inside of an iron from scale

If you pour regular water into the iron for ironing, and hard water at that, then you need to descale the device regularly and often. To do this, you can buy special products that remove scale from your iron. Mix one third of this product with two thirds of water and pour into the tank. Place the iron vertically and plug it in. When it warms up, unplug it and leave it in a horizontal position to soak for 2 hours. Then drain the water and rinse the tank. After this, pour clean water into the iron and press the “Steam” button several times. Before ironing clothes, test the steam function on unwanted fabric. If the lime deposits are not cleaned well enough, the procedure must be repeated, increasing the amount of descaling agent.

Instead of using a store-bought product, you can remove scale from the inside of the iron with a solution of citric acid, which you will need 25 grams per glass of water. Pour this solution into the water container, turn on the iron and, when it heats up, press the “Steam” button several times. Then pour it out. Rinse the tank twice with clean water.

Some iron models have a self-cleaning descaling function. It is recommended to use this function once a week for daily ironing. Follow the instructions strictly to avoid getting burned by the steam. There are also devices that contain a filter inside to prevent the appearance of scale. The filter can be removable and must be cleaned periodically. Or maybe it is replaceable, it absorbs harmful substances and after some time requires replacement.

How to clean the outside of an iron from carbon deposits

It is best to get into the habit of cleaning your iron as soon as dirt appears on the soleplate. Fresh dirt, as a rule, can be easily wiped off; sometimes it is enough to iron a coarse rag rolled into a roll, for example, an old towel. Or run the iron several times over thick paper.

When carbon deposits are not detected immediately and have already become thoroughly embedded in the surface, other cleaning methods will be needed. You should not try to scrape off the carbon deposits with sharp objects; there is a high risk of scratching the surface. Various cleansers will effectively help solve the problem.

Special pencil for cleaning irons. This product not only helps remove carbon deposits, but also dissolves lime deposits in the steam outlets. The iron must be preheated. Lubricate the entire ironing surface with a pencil. The substance will begin to melt, dissolving the plaque. Wipe off dirt with a soft cloth. When it cools down, it is recommended to wash the soleplate of the iron. The method is very simple, but during the procedure there is a strong smell, since this pencil contains ammonia.

Soap. Rub the heated iron with soap. Let cool and rinse off. Simple and effective.

Vinegar. If the soot is not very strong, then simply wipe the dirty areas on the sole with a piece of cloth soaked in a vinegar solution. In more difficult cases, leave the preheated iron in a horizontal position on a cloth soaked in vinegar for several hours. Then wipe with a clean cloth.

Soda. Prepare a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Apply this mixture to the soleplate of a cold iron that is turned off and leave to absorb. Then rinse and wipe with a dry cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide. Wet a cloth with hydrogen peroxide and rub the soot area. Instead of peroxide, you can rub the sole of a heated iron with two tablets of hydroperite and after half an hour, remove the dirt with a damp cloth. Wipe the cooled iron with a dry towel.

Salt. Pour fine salt into a thin cloth bag. Heat the iron to minimum temperature and move the bag of salt over the surface. Rub the carbon deposits thoroughly and forcefully. Then cool the iron and wipe off any remaining dirt with a damp cloth.

Toothpaste. Apply a little paste to a warm iron. Rub with a sponge or soft brush. After half an hour, wash off.

How can you clean a Teflon iron?

The iron has a Teflon soleplate and is easy to clean. If something sticks to such a surface, it can be easily washed off. Often, it is enough to simply iron the unnecessary wet fabric.

When cleaning a Teflon-coated iron, you must remember that this material is very scratch-resistant. Therefore, cleaning can only be done with a soft sponge using non-abrasive cleaning agents. The most suitable cleaning agents are a special chemical pencil and soap.

If a piece of synthetic fabric or polyethylene is stuck to the sole, do not tear it off so as not to damage the surface. Try removing it with a cotton pad soaked in acetone.

Cleaning a Ceramic Iron

The ceramic coating is quite fragile. It must be cleaned carefully, without using much effort. It is best to use a special sponge for ceramic coatings.

In addition to a pencil for cleaning irons, hydrogen peroxide, toothpaste or any dishwashing liquid are used as a cleaning agent. Apply a little cleaning agent to the sponge and wipe the soleplate of the iron. The remaining product should be rinsed off and the iron should be wiped dry.

Vinegar is also suitable for cleaning ceramic coatings. First, clean the soleplate with a soft cloth soaked in vinegar, then dip a cotton swab in the vinegar and wipe the steam holes. Run the iron on over the unwanted cotton fabric and, making sure the iron is clean, begin ironing.

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During operation, many household appliances become dirty, even those that would seem a priori protected from this. For example, an iron, it is intended for ironing clothes where there is no special contamination, but various incidents happen and the surface of the iron has to be cleaned. How to clean the ceramic soleplate of an iron, what products are most effective at home, how to do all the work quickly, this is exactly what we want to talk about.

You need to take care of all household appliances in the house, including the iron.

Iron and its problems

Regardless of the surface of the iron, carbon deposits will appear on it. In most cases, it appears from inattention and inappropriate temperatures for ironing clothes. For example, to iron woolen items, you need to place gauze between them and the iron, and set the power to the lowest setting.

However, sooner or later a burnt deposit appears on our iron, which spoils other things during further use. Let's find out together how to clean the sole of a device equipped with a Teflon coating, steel, or ceramic.

Household chemicals will help remove dirt from the iron.

Cleaning the device

To clean various irons, you can purchase a special pencil at a regular or hardware store. Its cost is insignificant, but it does its job well.

The algorithm for using a pencil is as follows:

heat the iron to operating temperature;
smear the surface of the iron with a pencil, directly over the carbon deposits;
watch the chemical reaction, as soon as the carbon deposits begin to come off, iron a regular lint-free cloth, all the dirt will transfer to it.

Since the chemical pencil is made from ammonia, when used at home, it produces a strong ammonia smell. Therefore, open the windows before you decide to clean the coating of your iron.

The pencil does not contain abrasives, so you can use it without fear. Please note that the quality of pencils varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and while some remove carbon deposits easily, others find it more difficult.

The pencil looks like a paraffin candle

A pencil is one of the most effective ways to remove carbon deposits from an iron, but its coating can be cleaned in other ways, for example, with regular anti-grease.

To remove carbon deposits from an iron using anti-grease, apply this household chemical to the device and leave it to soak in for half an hour. Then we wash the iron and iron unnecessary rags. All dirt on his soles disappears. It is permissible to use this method for devices with Teflon coating, steel, and ceramic.

But if you don’t want to go for special products, there are always methods based on ordinary substances often used at home.

Folk recipes

Traditional methods for cleaning the soleplate of an iron:

Removing dirt from an iron using salt

In order to clean the surface of our household appliance, you can use. To do this, the iron is heated to operating temperature, then its coating is rubbed with soap. We wait literally a few minutes and turn off the device. As soon as it cools down, rinse the surface with plain water, removing all carbon deposits and soap.
Despite the fact that soda is an abrasive detergent, many housewives use it to remove carbon deposits from the sole of the iron. You need to act very carefully. This time we don’t need to heat the iron; when it’s cold, we need to apply a detergent composition to it. It is made from 1 spoon of baking soda and half a spoon of dishwashing detergent. We mix this mixture and spread it on the surface of the iron. For the carbon deposits to go away, you need to wait a few minutes, and then rinse the mixture with plain water and remove any remaining dirt with a rag.
The following method is not suitable for devices with Teflon coating. Salt will be the main cleaning agent. Pour half a pack of salt onto a flat surface; it is best to place paper on it. Iron the salt using a hot iron, applying consistent pressure. In this case, carbon deposits from the surface of the iron will be transferred to the salt and it will begin to darken. If all the carbon deposits do not come off the first time, repeat the procedure.

In principle, you don’t even have to turn on the iron and iron the salt cold, you’ll just have to press harder and longer, but you can clean its surface.

The coating of the device can be treated with vinegar. To do this, apply vinegar to the surface of the iron with a cloth and wipe off the carbon deposits from it. Please note that vinegar evaporates quickly, so you will have to be proactive. Vinegar cleans a wide variety of stains, it can be used to wash floors, and it can even handle an iron. After cleaning, to remove traces of vinegar: turn on the iron, take a small piece of cloth, moisten it generously with tap water and iron it, then iron the dry cloth with the same device.

If you don't like the smell of vinegar, use citric acid, it has similar properties and smells nice

Ammonia in its natural form, not just in a pencil, will help clean the surface of the iron. First of all, let's take care of safety precautions and open the windows. Then we’ll heat up the iron and, using a rag generously soaked in ammonia, we’ll wipe the area of the sole with carbon deposits. The process will be accompanied by large fumes and a pungent odor, but the carbon deposits will be easily wiped off.
The iron coating can be cleaned at home with hydroperite tablets (made from hydrogen peroxide). To do this, lubricate the iron, heated to working condition, with hydroperite tablets. We wait a couple of minutes and remove it with a rag along with the carbon deposits.

The iron can be cleaned using ordinary hydrogen peroxide in a similar way.

One method involves the use of paraffin candles. Take a candle, wrap it in a rag, and heat the iron. Holding the device in a vertical position, we apply the bottom of the candle to it and hold it with force. The temperature will allow the candle to melt, and the hot wax, absorbing scale, will flow down the iron and drip. Anticipate this moment and place a tray in the work area. The vertical position of the device will protect its holes from paraffin. After the carbon deposits are cleaned, iron any rag several times.
Some housewives claim that carbon deposits from the sole of the iron can be cleaned with toothpaste. To do this, apply the paste to the coating of the iron, turn on the device and, after heating, iron the unnecessary fabric with it. If you apply steam from time to time, you will clean the holes of the iron from paste.

A good, clean iron makes ironing a pleasure

Choose the most suitable method for yourself and clean your iron from carbon deposits; we have collected the most well-known and working methods in our list. Handle the iron very carefully so as not to damage its working surface. Scratches on which can lead to rusting of the device and damage to clothing.

To keep the iron coating clean, after purchasing the iron, you must immediately read the instructions for its use. Decide on the temperature conditions for your things, clarify the nuances of the ironing process. It is advisable to wipe the surface of the iron with plain water after each use and keep an eye out for scale and rust in its interior.

If you work with your iron carefully, you can avoid the formation of soot on its surface for years. Maintain the temperature conditions and your iron will be in excellent shape, as will the items ironed with it.