How to clean an iron of scale and carbon deposits quickly and effectively at home
Now in the goods market there are a lot of irons for every taste, but no matter how modern a household appliance may seem, sooner or later its sole will get dirty and its further use will be questionable. Naturally, in such a case, no one is going to buy a new one, but think about what to do in the current situation. Therefore, we will tell you how to clean your iron at home.
Content
- 1 Basic Cleaning Methods for Iron Soles
- 2 Professional products for irons
- 3 Emergency methods for cleaning a burn
- 4 What are the ways to clean the ceramic type coating?
- 5 Clean your iron with a Teflon soleplate
- 6 How to Clean a Burnt Iron
- 7 How and what can you clean your steam iron
- 8 How to avoid carbon deposits
Basic Cleaning Methods for Iron Soles
There are many options for cleaning the iron at home, and for most of them you will need the tools that everyone has at home. Here are some basic methods for cleaning a dirty iron soleplate.
paraffin candle
Every housewife has an ordinary paraffin candle, which will come in handy if the iron soleplate is dirty.To do this, wrap the candle in a thick cotton cloth and start rubbing the heating soleplate. Gradually, the paraffin wax begins to melt, so make sure hot wax doesn't get on the soleplate, especially if the iron has steam holes.
If the wax penetrates and hardens when you use the iron, it will stain your clothes. After cleaning, it is necessary to remove the remnants of dirt and paraffin.
Baking soda
Soda washing is considered the most popular way to restore the shine to your iron. For this method, baking soda is mixed with water until a paste-like consistency is formed. The finished product is applied to the fabric, and the sole of the home appliance is wiped with it. Afterwards the rest of the soda mixture is removed with a clean cloth.
lemon acid
This method requires a small bag of citric acid, which must be dissolved in 250 milliliters of warm water. The resulting solution is poured into an iron heated to the maximum temperature and left in this form for 5-10 minutes.
Then the steam is released from the iron so that all the scale and rust comes out of the holes. It is best to do this in the bathroom, over a sink, or directly in the bathtub. After the dirt has stopped flowing, all the liquid is poured out and the device is filled with clean water to remove the remaining scale. After about 7 minutes you will need to release the steam again and wipe the soleplate with a clean, dry cloth.
laundry soap
For this option, the household appliance is heated to the maximum, and its sole is gently rubbed with ordinary laundry soap, which everyone has in the house. Gradually, the soap will melt and soften the carbon deposits.Thus, it will be possible to wash off all the dirt from the iron. Then all that remains is to wipe the soleplate and clean the steam holes.
hydroperite tablet
The hydroperite tablet will perfectly withstand dirt on the soleplate of the iron, so for cleaning it is necessary to heat the iron to the maximum, take something, but not with your hands (you can, for example, with tweezers ) a tablet and clean the sole with it. Such manipulations are best carried out in a well-ventilated room or even on the balcony, since hydroperite has a pungent smell. After cleaning, wipe the device with a clean cloth.
Toothpaste
If someone in the house does not have citric acid or laundry soap, and even more hydroperitis tablets, then everyone, without exception, has toothpaste. It is also used as a cleaning agent for household appliances. To do this, a small amount of paste is applied to the sole, special attention should be paid to the most polluted places.
After wiping the mixture with a clean cloth. Then you need to heat the iron and iron all unnecessary things with it.
Sparkling mineral water
Sparkling mineral water will also do an excellent cleaning job. The fact is that it contains acids that help dissolve sediment inside the appliance. Therefore, it is enough to pour mineral water into the liquid tank, and then perform the same manipulations as indicated in the "citric acid" section.
Professional products for irons
In addition to improvised cleaners, there are professional cleaners that are more likely to help you deal with the problem quickly and easily. Next, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a few of these methods.
We clean with "Shumanite"
Many housewives prefer to use a product called "Shumanit" because it removes dirt quickly and easily. Thus, to clean the iron, simply spray the product on the soleplate of the iron, then wipe it with a clean cloth.
chemical pencil
A special pencil also helps to remove carbon deposits from the sole of the device. So, for this you need to warm up the iron, unplug it and immediately rub it with a pencil. This must be done carefully so as not to burn your hands, it is worth wearing gloves. As soon as the carbon deposits disappear, wipe the surface with a clean cloth.
Emergency methods for cleaning a burn
There are several other methods that will quickly and effectively get rid of burns on the iron. In addition, we propose to consider each of them in detail.
Remover
Sometimes polyethylene sticks to the heating surface of the device. You can get rid of it with regular nail polish remover. The main thing is to try not to touch the plastic parts of the device with the solution.
table vinegar
To clean the iron with table vinegar, mix it in equal parts with salt and cook over medium heat until the latter is completely dissolved. In this case, you need to make sure that the vinegar does not boil. The resulting mixture is cooled and the surface of the sole of the household appliance is wiped with a cloth soaked in the solution.
After removing the dirt, wipe the iron with a clean cloth and iron any unnecessary cloth to complete the cleaning.
Salt
You need to take a cotton cloth, sprinkle a tablespoon of coarse salt on it (sea salt is perfect for this role).Then the iron is turned on to the maximum temperature (steam mode is turned off) and the fabric is ironed with salt. Pressure on the device should be minimal. As a result, the carbon deposits will stick to the salt, and the surface of the device will be cleaned and shiny.
What are the ways to clean the ceramic type coating?
Ceramic coated irons are popular. This outsole is reliable and durable. In addition, it retains temperature very well. However, when it comes to cleaning such a device, it is not so simple. Ceramics are afraid of mechanical stress and should be handled carefully. Many models with this coating have a self-cleaning system, but the plate can adversely affect performance. Use only liquid products for cleaning.
To defeat carbon deposits, scale and lime will help: lemon juice, peroxide, ammonia.
Clean your iron with a Teflon soleplate
If carbon deposits appear on the non-stick Teflon coating, it is solely your fault. This happens due to the incorrectly selected temperature regime. Such problems are simply eliminated thanks to conventional cleaners. So, this task will be taken care of by: citric acid, acetone nail polish remover, vinegar, pencil, peroxide. Avoid using products containing abrasive particles, which can easily damage the coating of the device.
How to Clean a Burnt Iron
Irons with an aluminum or stainless steel soleplate are not often used today. These are basically old models that have faithfully served their owners for more than a dozen years. These materials tend to burn fabrics.
As for cleaning these household appliances, the procedure is not much different from the previous methods. The only thing to note is that it is forbidden to treat aluminum with all kinds of acids, because over time the surface will become covered with dark spots and may even deform.
How and what can you clean your steam iron
If we are talking about an iron with a steamer, then it will have to be saved from scale, so it is worth looking at the condition of the water tank more often. Sometimes even mold grows there. To prevent this from happening, use a carefully filtered or distilled liquid for ironing.
It is easy to understand that scale has appeared in the water tank: when ironing clothes or laundry, you will see that the fabrics are covered with stains with a yellow tint.
How to avoid carbon deposits
To avoid the formation of carbon deposits, you must observe the following rules:
- Carefully study the instructions of the household appliance. As a rule, the manufacturer offers comprehensive information on the rules of operation.
- Use purified water when ironing.
- The sole of the device must be wiped with a damp cloth made of natural material after each procedure of use.
- Do not leave the device with a full water tank. Over time, this will lead to plaque inside.
- Carbon deposits may occur due to inattention when selecting the temperature mode. To avoid such problems, it is best to carefully study the labels of the clothes you intend to iron. You should be especially careful with clothes made of synthetic fabrics, which can be burned most easily.
- Some delicate items should be ironed on damp gauze.The wool is ironed through a cotton cloth. It is best to spray the floss without contact of the sole of the device with the fabric itself.