How to Clean an Iron

When we hang clothes in the closet sometimes they get wrinkled.

Clothes folded in the drawer develop creases. Clothes left in the dryer regain the wrinkles that the heat pulled out. How do all of these problems get fixed? Pull out your trusty iron.

But, when you pull out your iron, you notice brown stains on the soleplate and white residue around the steam holes. If you use that iron on your clean white shirt, it won’t be clean any longer.

The key to a long life for your iron is regular cleaning. If you own a steam iron, the reservoir must be cleaned on a regular basis. After each use, the water should be emptied out of the reservoir. Leaving it in can cause mineral deposits to build up around the steam holes in the soleplate. This white residue can be transferred to your clothes.

Plug in the iron and turn it to a steam setting. Add a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water, to the reservoir. Once the iron is hot, let the mixture vent through the steam holes.

The vinegar will help dissolve the mineral deposits. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area in case the vinegar smell is too strong for you. Empty the reservoir carefully, refill with fresh water, and repeat the process until the deposits are gone. Turn the iron off and unplug it to cool. To avoid the mineral deposits in the future, use bottled water to fill the reservoir instead of water from the tap.

Those stains on your soleplate are probably due to starch buildup. They keep the iron from sliding frictionless over your fabrics. The iron will stick to your nice clothing and ruin them.

Make sure that the iron is completely cool and unplugged. Use straight white vinegar or use a baking soda paste. The paste is just baking soda with enough water added to create a thick paste. Again, using bottled water instead of tap water will provide a better clean. 

Rub the paste or vinegar on the soleplate with a clean cloth. If the starch buildup has been on your iron for a while then you will need to use some serious elbow grease to remove it. When all the stains are gone, take a wet cloth and clean the steam holes.

Gently rinse the soleplate with a bottle of water to remove any residue left behind. Do not immerse the iron in water. Use a clean cloth to dry the soleplate.

If you use a lot of starch, you may need to clean your iron once every two weeks to prevent buildup. A clean iron is a friend for life. Your clothing will thank you.

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