Keeping your iron clean is essential for maintaining its performance and ensuring your clothes look their best.
Over time, mineral deposits, stains, and debris can accumulate on the soleplate and steam vents, affecting the iron’s effectiveness and potentially damaging your garments.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through cleaning your iron effectively to keep it in optimal condition. You can also use a soleplate cleaner to clean your Iron properly.
Materials You’ll Need:
| Materials | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Distilled water | 3 Oz (90ml) |
| White vinegar | 3-5 tablespoon |
| Baking soda | 4 Ounces (100gm) |
| Soft cloth or sponge | 2 pieces |
| Cotton swabs | Approx. 10 pieces |
| Toothpaste (optional) | As much as you like |
Keeping Your Iron Clean: Step-by-Step Process
Step 1: Prepare the Iron
- Ensure that the iron is completely cooled down and unplugged to prevent accidents.
- Empty the water reservoir of your steam iron has one.
Step 2: Clean Calcium Buildup on the Water Tank
- Mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water.
- Fill the water tank with the vinegar solution.
- Turn on the iron and allow it to steam for several minutes.
- Empty the water tank and rinse it thoroughly with clean water.
- Wipe the exterior of the water tank with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
Step 3: Clean the Soleplate
You can use soleplate cleaning solutions from Amazon. Here’s a link to the Rowenta soleplate cleaning kit from Amazon as well as a cheaper kit on Amazon that we use and recommend to others. (Affiliate link)
Here’s a DIY process to clean your Iron’s soleplate at home:
- Make a paste using equal parts baking soda and water.
- Apply the paste to the soleplate and rub gently with a soft cloth or sponge.
- For stubborn stains, apply a small amount of toothpaste directly onto the soleplate and scrub with a soft cloth.
- Wipe the soleplate clean with a damp cloth to remove any residue.
Step 4: Clean the Steam Vents
- Dip a cotton swab into the cleaning solution and carefully clean the steam vents to remove any debris or mineral buildup.
- Be cautious not to push debris further into the vents.
Step 5: Rinse and Dry
- Rinse the cloth or sponge thoroughly with clean water and wipe down the iron to remove any remaining cleaning solution.
- Allow the iron to air dry completely before storing or using it again.
Step 6: Final Touches
- Plug in your iron and set it to the highest steam setting.
- Run the iron over an old cloth or towel for a few minutes to ensure that any remaining residue or moisture is removed from the soleplate and steam vents.
Additional Tips for Maintenance
- Use distilled water to minimize mineral buildup and prolong the iron’s lifespan.
- Avoid overfilling the water reservoir to prevent leakage and mineral deposits.
- Clean your iron regularly, ideally once a month or as needed, to maintain optimal performance.
- Store your iron in a dry, cool place to prevent rust and corrosion.
DIY Process to Clean Your Iron at Home
Cleaning an Iron with Baking Soda
Baking Soda is a cleaning agent, used to clean many kitchen appliances.
Make a paste of Baking Soda and Water: Mix 1 tablespoon of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda and make a thick paste.
Apply the paste: Apply the paste to the burnt fabric area where the residue is a buildup in your iron’s soleplate. Let it stay there for three minutes.
Clean the water holes with distilled water with the help of a cotton swab.
Cleaning a Steam Iron with Vinegar and Salt
Cleaning a steam iron with vinegar and salt is an effective method to remove stubborn mineral deposits and stains from the soleplate and steam vents. Follow these simple steps:
- Prepare the Cleaning Solution: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a bowl.
- Add Salt: Add a tablespoon of salt to the vinegar and water solution and stir until dissolved.
- Apply the Solution: Pour the vinegar and salt solution into the water reservoir of the iron.
- Heat the Iron: Plug in the iron and set it to the highest steam setting. Allow it to heat up until the solution starts steaming.
- Steam Clean: Press the steam button and hold the iron over a sink or towel to release the steam and flush out the mineral deposits.
- Wipe Clean: Once the iron has cooled down, wipe the soleplate and steam vents with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
- Rinse the Reservoir: Empty the water reservoir and rinse it thoroughly with clean water to remove any vinegar and salt residue.
- Dry and Store: Allow the iron to air dry completely before storing it in a cool, dry place.
Cleaning your steam iron with vinegar and salt regularly will help maintain its performance and prolong its lifespan, ensuring smooth and wrinkle-free ironing sessions.
Cleaning Your Iron with Toothpaste
You can use toothpaste to clean burnt fabric off your Iron’s soleplate.
- Get a bit of toothpaste directly onto a cool iron’s soleplate.
- Rub the toothpaste off with a clean cloth or toothbrush.
- Then set the iron on the steam setting and steam a cloth for five minutes.
Cleaning Steam Iron with a Newspaper
- First of all, get a clean newspaper.
- Set the iron to dry ironing mode and in high-temperature mode.
- Rub the iron until all the residue comes out. This should take care of any sticky substances.
How to Clean a Teflon (Non-Stick) Iron?
The best way to remove residue from Teflon iron is to apply baking soda on the soleplate and rinse off with water. Do not use wire gauze pads that could scratch the iron’s nonstick surface.
How to Clean Burnt Fabric Off an Iron?
Use baking soda and salt warm solution if any burnt fabric remains. If the burnt fabric is polyester, acetone nail polish remover will also get rid of it. Dip a cloth in the solution and wipe the burn mark away.
Best Iron Soleplate Cleaner Kit
If you are looking for an iron soleplate cleaner then these two models can be your best buy.
Rowenta ZD110 Non-Toxic Stainless Steel Soleplate Cleaner Kit: If you get residue on iron very often then this is maybe your option to choose.
- Safe to use on all types of soleplates
- Kit contents: 11-ounce tube of soleplate cleaner; 1 application cloth; 1 polishing/finishing cloth; 1 set of instructions
- The cleaner is non-toxic
Rowenta ZD100 Soleplate Cleaning Kit: If you iron less and have a low budget then this is the optimal choice for you.
- Set includes: 1-ounce tube of soleplate cleaner; application cloth; polishing/finishing cloth; Manual
- The cleaner is non-toxic.
How to Use a Soleplate Cleaning Kit?
Here is a video showing how to use a Rowenta soleplate cleaning kit:
Conclusion
By following these step-by-step instructions and with regular maintenance of your Clothes Iron, you can ensure that your iron remains in excellent condition, providing you with crisp, wrinkle-free clothes for years to come.