How to clean an iron at home. How and how to clean the iron at home from burns on the sole, scale inside and burnt fabric

How and how to clean the iron at home and thereby extend its service life? Despite the fact that technology does not stand still and technology is constantly being improved, the soles of many models are still not properly protected from scale and soot. In this material, we have collected 10 of the most effective ways that will help you in this not tricky business.

The material is divided into 3 parts:

The first section tells about how to clean the iron from carbon deposits at home, we will analyze 7 useful ways, including hydrogen peroxide, table vinegar, salt, etc.
The second part provides recommendations on how to clean the iron from scale inside. Citric acid, sparkling mineral water and self-cleaning function - 3 effective ways, and how to use them correctly?
Finally, a useful information section with cleaning tips depending on the type of your product. Also given pivot tables as well as tips for proper ironing.

The iron is clean and burnt

From what and how you can clean the iron at home - the main reasons

To date, there are several reasons that make you think about how to clean the iron at home:

Scale inside the appliance. The quality of the water used directly affects the service life. For ironing, it is recommended to use distilled and ordinary water in a ratio of 1: 1 or boiled;
Nagar on the very sole. It appears due to improper ironing of fabrics (the wrong mode is set).

Mode for thin fabrics

As a result, dirt appears on the clothes, which spoils appearance fabrics. After that, the thing has to be washed again or completely thrown away.

How to clean the iron from carbon deposits at home - 7 effective methods!

How to clean the iron from soot at home, except for folk remedies? Although, as a rule, modern models have a built-in function for cleaning deposits and scale. A jet of hot steam escapes from the device, which cleans its surface.

For cotton

However, some models do not have such a function or it may not work correctly. In this case, from a burn will help:

hydrogen peroxide;
baking soda;
paraffin candle and salt;
table vinegar;
pencil for cleaning from burnt fabric.

Hydrogen peroxide or how to clean the iron from soot at home

The most effective way to clean the iron from carbon deposits at home is to use hydrogen peroxide. This is no less common element in everyday life, and therefore the process promises to be fast and quite effective.

hydrogen peroxide

	We take an unnecessary gauze cloth or towel. Wet with hydrogen peroxide.
	We turn on the device and bring it to the maximum temperature.
	We iron the cloth for 2-3 minutes.
	The soles have been cleaned. Now it remains to go through the exit holes. To do this, take a cotton swab and moisten it with peroxide. After we wipe each hole.

How to clean an iron with salt How to clean an iron at home

The most easily accessible cleaning method is ordinary kitchen salt. There are many ways to clean your iron with salt. The most effective one is:

	We take a sheet of A4 paper and salt. Spread it evenly over the entire surface.
	Turn on the iron and bring to the maximum temperature. We spend it on a sheet with salt.
	Remove salt residue with a cloth.

Nail polish remover or how to clean the iron from burnt fabric

How to clean the iron from burnt fabric using nail polish remover? Acetone, which is included in its composition, will quite easily cope with soot on any surface.

	Moisten a cloth with acetone and wipe the cold burnt sole.
	Next, turn it on at full power and iron the gauze cloth or towel. From time to time it is necessary to turn on the steam function.
	We remove the remaining dirt with a cloth and cotton swabs.

How to clean the surface of the iron with baking soda?

Our grandmothers always had this miracle remedy at hand, but today few people know how to clean the surface of an iron with baking soda from burns and rust.

baking soda

Paraffin candle

It's quite troublesome, but no less effective remedy for cleaning the iron. Let's go through the step by step process.

	Take a paraffin candle and rub it on a grater.
	Sprinkle evenly over the surface. Then sprinkle in some salt.
	I put a gauze rag on top.
	We heat the device to the maximum temperature and then put it on a rag or napkin. Hold until a wet dirty mark appears on the napkin. The remains are removed with a rag.

How to clean the iron from burn on the sole with table vinegar

How to clean the iron from burn on the sole using table vinegar? This is another fairly affordable and not laborious way. Wipe contaminated areas of cold soles with a cotton swab or cotton cloth soaked in a 9% solution of table vinegar. If the plaque is not cleaned so easily, then you can leave the iron for 7-10 hours on a rag soaked in table vinegar. After such an event, the burnt tissue softens and will easily come off when wiped with a rough cloth.

Cleaning the iron at home from soot with a special pencil

Cleaning the iron at home from soot with a special pencil is one of the wonders of household chemicals. In shape, it resembles a candle, but rather solid, crystalline. It's not difficult to use them at all. Let's look at an example.

	We heat up to the maximum temperature. After we draw a pencil over the surface. Its contents should flow down the sole.
	As a result, the burn will begin to foam and a not too good smell will appear. Therefore, it is best to do the procedure either outdoors or in a ventilated area in a mask.
	At the end, wipe everything with a cloth.

How to avoid carbon deposits on the iron?

Everyone knows that best defense- awareness. Therefore, we recommend that you follow the following tips:

read the instructions for the iron regarding its modes. As a rule, it says what maximum temperature is intended for each type of fabric;
look carefully at the label of your clothes. On it you will find the composition of the fabric, the temperature for ironing and washing.

Temperature conditions for fabrics

Delicate fabrics, such as wool, silk, are best ironed through a piece of damp gauze, and applications are ironed on the wrong side. If, nevertheless, the iron is treacherously “stuck”, then immediately attach a cotton cloth soaked in ice water to the sole. In this case, a sharp temperature drop will occur, and the burnt tissue will come off much easier.

How to clean the iron from scale at home inside - 3 exact ways!

Let's look at the question of how to clean the iron from scale at home. The quality of modern water is far from ideal: the acid-base balance is disturbed, there are many different salt impurities and even a large suspension. Accordingly, boiling in the iron, water leaves an unpleasant residue - scale, which can ruin clothes.

There are several proven folk remedies to solve this problem. So, how can you clean the iron:

use of mineral sparkling water;
self-cleaning function;
lemon acid.

Citric acid or how to descale the iron the fastest?

In this chapter, we analyze the question of how to clean the iron from scale inside with citric acid. Since scale is mainly calcium and magnesium salts, any acid is its terrible enemy, and the most accessible and safest acid in everyday life is citric acid. In order to apply this method, it is necessary to dissolve no more than 20 grams of citric acid powder in a glass of warm water.

	Take a glass of water and add 2 tablespoons of citric acid.
	Pour water into the iron (do not turn it on yet).
	We heat up to the maximum temperature. After ironing the cloth and turn on the steam function.
	Turn off the iron and pour water from the device into the container. Thus, we cleaned the structure both inside and out. Repeat the cleaning procedure 2-3 times. After that, you can repeat it every 6 months.

Mineral water with gas as a folk remedy for cleaning the iron from scale

Mineral water with gas - a source of carbon dioxide and an excellent tool for cleaning the iron from scale. She, like lemon, will be able to clean the product from the inside, but will do it more carefully.

Self-cleaning function or how to clean the iron from scale inside the easiest way?

How to clean the iron from scale inside at home, except for means not provided by the manufacturer? Modern models provided with a self-cleaning button. As a rule, it is located near the temperature controller.

self-cleaning iron

	Pour water up to the maximum mark.
	We turn on the device in the network and set the maximum mode. After we set the mode “Without steam” (if there is one).
	We bring the product to the maximum temperature and disconnect from the network.
	We hold the device over the sink and press the cleaning button (hold for about a minute). Shake the device a little to remove the dirt.
	We turn on the network. We are waiting for the evaporation of the remaining water, then turn it off from the network. After cooling, wipe the surface with a cloth.

How to avoid scale?

The described methods are easy to perform, but in our opinion it is easier to prevent the problem. It is enough to use special purified water for irons or distilled, drinking water from bottles, or even purified with a home filter, may also work. Such water does not contain heavy impurities and its salt balance will not lead to scale formation. In addition, we advise you to empty the remaining water from the tank after ironing.

Operating tips

How to clean the iron at home, depending on the type of coating

The above tips are the most versatile in the fight against soot and scale. However, depending on the types of irons, certain details and additional cleaning rules may appear. Next, we will tell you how to clean the iron from scale and soot inside, depending on their modification. There is also a summary table at the end of this section.

How to clean a steam iron

The main feature of a steam iron is the function of supplying steam through special holes on the sole, which means that the problem of scale is more relevant than ever.

Steam

All of the above products are suitable for solving problems with scale (hydrogen peroxide is best recommended.

How to clean the ceramic soleplate of the iron correctly

One of the most sliding surfaces, which is almost impossible to “burn” a thing, is ceramics. However, this type of sole is very troublesome in terms of cleaning.

How to clean ceramic sole iron without damaging it

Salt, soda, a hard sponge will not help you in this matter, but will only spoil the ceramics: even the slightest scratch can peel off the entire coating. Therefore, arm yourself with a soft cotton cloth and aqueous solution table vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. A special pencil can also save the day. And in the fight against scale, we recommend only the self-cleaning function.

Understanding how to clean a Teflon-coated iron

"Teflon" does an excellent job of ironing even at low temperatures, but at the same time it is not as capricious as ceramics. When deciding how to clean a Teflon-coated iron from burns, we note the following - you can use acids, a special pencil and even laundry soap. At the lowest temperature, rub the sole, melted soap softens the burn, and you can remove it with a damp cloth.

Teflon coated

Salt, soda, hard brushes are still dangerous for this. You can clean the iron from scale by all the methods presented in our article.

Table of compatibility of irons with different cleaning methods

For greater clarity, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the table about the features of cleaning different types of irons. So, how can you clean the iron:

	Steam	Ceramic	Steel	Teflon
NAGAR
Hydrogen peroxide	✔	✔	✔	✔
Salt	✔	✗	✔	✗
Nail polish remover	✔	✗	✔	✔
Baking soda	✔	✗	✔	✔
Paraffin candle	✔	✗	✔	✔
table vinegar	✔	✔	✔	✔
special pencil	✔	✔	✔	✔
SCALING
Lemon acid	✔	✗	✔	✔
Mineral water with gas	✔	✗	✔	✔
Self cleaning	✔	✔	✔	✔

So that you do not have the question of how to clean the iron from burns, you need to learn how to iron correctly. To do this, we recommend taking into account three parameters:

ironing types;
types of fabrics;
using a patch on new clothes.

Folk ironing methods

First, there are 3 types of ironing:

dry - for soft fabrics;
wet - when the product is sprayed with water in case of complex creases;
with steam - can be used to facilitate ironing of any fabric (except viscose).

Secondly, a different type of fabric requires its own mode (check the label):

Synthetics do not like high temperatures;
It is desirable to moisten silk by wrapping it in a wet cloth or iron it “from a typewriter”;
Satin, velvet ironed inside out;
Terry products, nylon is better not to iron at all;
The wool is ironed through a damp cloth at medium temperature;
Viscose prefers dry ironing;
Drape and velor are best steamed well and ironed on the wrong side;
Knitwear is better not to iron, but to apply the iron sequentially;
Chintz to maintain shine is ironed only on the front side;
Linen and cotton are ready for high temperatures with steam, but it is better to iron on the wrong side.

And, finally, thirdly, a little-known fact: the same “patch” attached to a new thing can be used during ironing to assess how the fabric will react to the ironing mode.

We bring to your attention the final table on ironing modes depending on the types of fabrics, using which correctly you are unlikely to wonder how and how to clean the iron at home from carbon deposits:

The following tips may also help you:

If a thing cannot be ironed at a high temperature, and the creases do not give in, hold it over a basin of boiling water, and then iron it in an acceptable mode.
From the silk, the stain from the iron will allow you to remove the mixture of baking soda and water.
Onions or boric acid can remove tan marks if applied to fabric for 15 minutes and then washed.
Never iron stained clothes! Removing such stains will be difficult.
When making arrows on trousers or smoothing them, use a “steam boost”.
Wait for things to cool down before putting them in the closet. This way they will keep their shape longer.
Dark and colored fabrics, as well as applications, are best ironed on the wrong side.

We figure out how and how to clean the iron from soot with our own hands, even if there are no special tools on the farm.

Safety

Before you start cleaning the iron from carbon deposits, make sure that your appliance is unplugged and completely cool. If any of the methods require heating the iron for cleaning, then we recommend using the lowest temperatures to avoid burns and damage to the sole of the equipment.

How to clean a ceramic coated iron

Almost every person who has been ironing is familiar with such situations when particles of fabric stick to the iron and an unpleasant soot remains. It happens mainly due to improper operation of the electrical appliance - violation of temperature standards during ironing. And even a quality iron can let you down at some point.

By the way, we wrote about how long household appliances live in.

In order to save and restore his impeccable appearance at home, there are several simple ways.

Special Cleansing Stick

One of the most common ways to clean the surface of an iron is with a soleplate cleaner. It is suitable for any type of coverage.: be it teflon, metal or ceramic. In appearance, the pencil looks like a small bar somewhat reminiscent of a paraffin candle. This bar contains two main components: some organic acid + urea.

This tool is quite inexpensive and there is a large selection on the market from different companies, because. they contain the same substances, the difference remains only in the brand.

Before use, carefully read the instructions for using the pencil.

Basic steps:

Heat the surface of the iron to a certain temperature (usually indicated in the instructions).
Neat in a circular motion apply a pencil to the places where there are pockets of pollution. Remember that you can’t press on the bar, because. broken pieces can get into the steam holes, and thus interfere with the operation of the iron.
Use a cotton cloth to remove any remaining substance. Remember that the rag must be clean before use.

Also note that you should only clean the iron in a well-ventilated area, because when interacting, the substances in the pencil begin to evaporate, and because of this, smoke is released. It can be dangerous for the mucous membranes and respiratory tract.

Acetic acid

The next common way to clean an iron is table vinegar. There are several main options for its use:

Mix ammonia with acetic acid in a ratio of one to one, and then walk this product along the sole of the iron. This method will save you if the soot on the sole is critical enough.

Dilute two tablespoons of vinegar in 300-350 ml of water (one glass). Then wet a rag or cotton wool in the resulting substance and walk along the slightly heated sole of the iron.

At night, leave the warm turned off iron on a rag soaked in concentrated vinegar. In the morning, wipe the surface of the iron with a normal soapy water, rinse and then wipe dry.

Do not forget that vinegar, when evaporated, begins to emit a rather unpleasant and pungent odor, so be careful where the procedure is performed. It is important that the room is ventilated, and air circulates in it all the time.

Soap

With laundry soap, you can clean the recently appeared soot. Unfortunately, it will not work to remove strongly frozen dirt in this way.

Such a tool is used as follows:

Dilute a tablespoon of crushed pieces of household soap in warm water.
Remove carbon deposits with a rag as far as possible, and wipe dry the sole of the iron.
Apply the mixture to a slightly heated surface of the iron and fix for 15-20 minutes.

Salt

This substance is, probably, everyone in the house. Therefore, they can be used almost immediately after the appearance of a problem. There are several common uses for this tool.

Method number 1

Pour half a cup of table salt on foil or cardboard and spread the layer evenly. Then go over the surface with a hot iron until the dirt is completely gone.

Method number 2

Wrap a few tablespoons of salt in a cotton cloth. Rub the heated sole of the iron with the resulting bundle.

Please note that Teflon is very sensitive to various types of abrasives, so the use of salt and similar substances should be done with extreme caution, and if possible, avoided altogether.

Candles

An ordinary paraffin candle can become an analogue of an iron cleaning pencil. It will help to eliminate small pollution and remove unpleasant plaque from the iron.

A candle is used in almost the same way as a pencil:

Heat the surface of the iron to high temperature. The temperature must be chosen empirically.
Wrap the edge of the candle with which you will nourish the sole with some cloth or paper and drive slowly over the surface of the iron. Remember that the electrical appliance should be held at an angle so that wax does not flow into the steam holes.
Leave the soleplate to cool and then wipe thoroughly with a cleaning cloth.

A mixture of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide

To return the former novelty to your iron will help the combination ammonia+ hydrogen.

This method can save the soleplate of the iron from a little pollution. For this you need:

Mix half a glass of water and five drops of ammonia.
In turn, wipe the sole of the iron with the resulting solution and hydrogen peroxide.
Wipe the surface with a natural cloth.

Important! Please note that this procedure can only be carried out on a cooled surface.

Soda

Baking soda combined with a hydroperite tablet can come to your rescue when you need to clean a heavily soiled surface. But remember that soda (as, by the way, and salt) is an abrasive substance.. Therefore, it is contraindicated to use it on a Teflon coating.

The main way to use soda to clean burnt dirt from the soleplate of an iron:

Heat the surface of the iron to the highest possible temperature (from 140 degrees).
Walk with hydroperite on the heated sole of the iron.
Let the iron cool down.
Apply soda paste (a mixture of soda and water) to the already cooled surface.
Wait 5-7 minutes.
Rinse off the remaining substance with warm water and wipe the surface with a dry towel.

If there is no strong soot, then it will be enough just to treat the surface with a hydroperite tablet, and all the dirt will disappear as it never happened.

Paste

As you know, toothpaste often comes to the rescue when removing this or that dirt. This is due to the fact that toothpaste contains the same abrasive substances as soda, but they are so small that the paste can be applied to almost all surfaces completely safely.

The paste is used in several stages:

Apply a certain amount of the substance to the heated surface.
Rub the sole with a soft cloth or brush until all dirt is removed.
Wipe off the remaining paste with a damp cloth.

Solvent

Solvents, including acetone, will help you if a plastic bag or any plastic object is stuck to the surface of the iron. You can use any nail polish remover with or without acetone, as well as B-47.

When using these substances, be careful and follow these simple steps:

Soak a cotton swab or natural fabric solvent.
Wipe contaminated surface.
Rinse off the residue with warm water, and then wipe the sole dry.

Important! Please note that this procedure should be carried out only when the appliance is cold.

How to clean a teflon coated iron

They are in great demand among consumers. This is connected not only with a good marketing policy, but also, indeed, with the quality of the material. Such irons are more protected from the appearance of soot and pollution. But they have one unpleasant feature - a high probability of scratches during use.

But no matter how strong the material is Teflon, someday it may also be slightly contaminated. To remove the resulting dirt, only those means are suitable that do not contain abrasive substances.

The main methods for cleaning the coating of Teflon material:

A cleaning pencil is the most harmless and effective option.
Soak all carbon deposits on a heated iron with 70% acetic acid, and then gently wipe off the residue. Or you can simply put the iron on a cloth soaked in vinegar and leave it like that for several hours. After a couple of hours, the soot can be removed with a damp cloth.

There are also special cleaners for Teflon materials, which are usually come with electrical appliance or are mentioned in the instructions, so take the time to learn what is the best way to clean your particular model, because. the manufacturer will be able to give the most comprehensive information on how best to remove carbon deposits, scale and other problems that have arisen during operation.

The space behind the opening door does not have to be idle in vain. We will talk about interesting ways to make it functional.

The iron, no matter how "advanced" it may be, needs systematic care. During operation, the sole can get dirty, and you hardly want to walk it on the silk of your favorite blouse. In order to put off going to the store for a new appliance for a long time, we offer you a list of ways to clean the iron with your own hands.

Sole cleaning, depending on the material

There are many recipes on how to clean the iron at home. Each method is applicable depending on what material the surface of the iron is made of.

The Teflon-coated device is perfectly cleaned with vinegar essence.
A ceramic-coated iron or cermet is cleaned with a special pencil or non-abrasive products.
Chrome or aluminum soles are cleaned with a wooden spatula or a plastic brush.

Ways to clean the soleplate of an iron with salt

To choose the best way to care, you need to learn the basic methods of dealing with soot. The most popular option is salt.

If your iron burns, sprinkle a handful of table salt on a thick sheet of paper or cardboard. Warm up the device strongly, drive it over the salt crystals until the soot falls off it.
In double-folded gauze or any other soft tissue Sprinkle a handful of salt and wipe the area thoroughly. Don't forget to pre-heat the iron as well.
Sprinkle salt on a slightly soiled soleplate and rub it vigorously with a rough, damp cloth until the surface is clean.

Important! Teflon electrical appliances cannot be cleaned with salt.

Alternative cleaning methods

You can quite successfully get rid of the burn on the sole in the simplest ways.

Paraffin candle. Wrap a paraffin candle in a dense cotton cloth, and wipe the device with this device. The candle will melt from heat, so the work surface should be tilted so that hot wax flows onto the tray. This is most relevant if you are cleaning a steam iron and it has holes. Paraffin, getting into them, heats up over time, leaks out and ruins clothes. After completing the procedure, wipe the sole, removing dirt and paraffin.

Vinegar. Soak a cotton swab or cloth in vinegar, and rub it on the problem areas of the iron. To combat severe pollution, you can add ammonia to vinegar in a ratio of 1/1. It is important that the iron in this case cannot be heated. Use a rough cloth to remove the remnants of the product.

Hydrogen peroxide. Moisten a cotton pad with this product and wipe the surface. There is practically no smell during processing.

Special pencil. A special pencil will help to clean the ironing appliance from burnt fabric. Turn on the appliance, warm it up well, turn it off and clean it with a pencil. After a while, a chemical reaction will begin, and after its completion, the softened soot can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

You can clean the unit with gray from a matchbox. Turn on the iron and walk the box over the surface.
Nail polish remover. How to clean the iron if a piece of polyethylene is stuck to it? Acetone will help. When processing, do not touch the plastic parts of the device, as the liquid may damage them.
Foil. The Teflon coating will clear if you iron the foil for 5-7 minutes.

Important! Never use a knife, sandpaper or other sharp objects in washing and removing burns. This mercilessly scratches the coating and will lead to its breakage.

To clean the steam outlets, soak a cotton swab in vinegar, insert it into the hole, and scroll. Thus, you will remove the dirt that interferes with the full operation of the device. After cleaning, go through the holes with already clean cotton swabs.

Some major manufacturers irons such as Tefal, Philips or Roventa produce a special non-stick pad for delicate ironing. With her quickly and painlessly stroked delicate fabrics such as silk, linen, printed designs, appliqués and others. These accessories are made of high quality steel, so they are durable and strong.

How to prevent soiling on the sole

It is easier to prevent the appearance of contaminants on the device than to deal with them.

Observe proper temperature regimes. For silk, 110 degrees is enough, cotton items - 200 degrees, and wool - no more than 140. Many people do not pay due attention to this rule, and this can affect the state of things and the iron.
Make it a rule to turn off the appliance immediately upon completion of work.
In order not to have to clean the surface from plaque, every 3-4 ironing wipe the sole with a cloth moistened with citric acid diluted with water.
If the surface is clean, but still does not slip, you can correct the situation with paraffin wax. Rub it on a grater, mix it with salt and pour everything into the newspaper. Cover with a thin napkin, and iron with a hot iron. If necessary, the manipulation is repeated, because this method does not harm the material.

How to descale an iron

If red spots appear on the clothes during ironing, and the steam supply function has begun to function poorly, then most likely scale has appeared in it. Three effective recipes will help to remove it.

Self cleaning function

Modern models of electrical appliances are equipped with a descaling system in advance. If you have not fully figured out the purpose of a particular button on the unit, then hurry up to look at the instructions. Maybe you are a happy owner of such a device. For proper cleaning, strictly follow the manufacturer's recommendations. In general, the scheme of actions is as follows.

Pour the maximum amount of water into a specially designated reservoir.
Set the temperature control to the maximum setting.
The appliance heats up, then cools down and then heats up again.
Tilt the unit over a bowl or sink.
After pressing the magic self-cleaning button, scale is removed from the steam outlets.

Rinse the tank after the procedure with clean water and wipe the device dry.

Lemon acid

Dissolve a tablespoon of citric acid (20-30g) in a glass of water.
Pour the solution into the reservoir.
Heat up the device to the maximum.
Shake the unit vigorously several times and press the button that releases steam.

It is necessary to carry out the manipulation over the container, because the scale leaves the iron with dark splashes along with the vapors. Rinse the container and wipe dry.

Mineral water with gas

The composition of mineral waters includes acids that help dissolve scale inside the unit. Just follow the steps above.

How to prevent scale formation

So that later you do not have to clean the scale deposits, monitor the quality of the liquid that you pour into the container. For ironing with steam is best suited:

Bottled water available at any grocery store.
Distilled water. Purchased at any gas station.
Water purified by a domestic household filter.
Distilled water from the tap. In just a few hours, the salts will fall out in the form of a precipitate.

Remember that timely prevention will extend the life of electrical appliances. Learn the principles of proper ironing, read the labels on your clothes, and never leave the appliance turned on unattended. In the event of an emergency situation, the simple and effective recipes proposed above will help you.

Video: Cleaning the iron with folk methods inside and out

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 vinegar solution or lemon juice until 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.

Citric acid - the most popular assistant in the fight against scale

Mineral sparkling water from scale

Pour liquid into the water tank.
Heat up the iron.
Chill out.

Removing rust with vinegar

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

Uniform heating, easy glide, non-stick properties - all these are the characteristics that work surfaces have. However, even the highest quality sole can become covered with a dark coating. This usually occurs due to the wrong choice of temperature or prolonged holding of the device on one area of the tissue. Let's figure out how to clean the iron from carbon deposits using home remedies.

Dirt on an iron comes from melted or burned fabric fibers, textile dyes and limescale particles. Before we figure out how to clean the iron from adhering fabric, let's figure out what it is made of.

Traditional materials are aluminum and stainless steel. They heat up quickly and are relatively inexpensive. However, fabric fibers, especially synthetic and wool, easily stick to them. To solve this problem, manufacturers apply various coatings to the sole.

The main ones are:

Titanium. Pros: Durable, durable mechanical damage and scratches. Cons - takes a long time to warm up, expensive.
Ceramics and glass ceramics. Pros - provide easy glide, quick cleansing, uniform heating. Cons - fragility, tendency to chips, cracks.
Teflon. Pros - do not stick to it artificial fabrics, soot is not formed. Cons - easily scratched.
Sapphire (mineral crumb). Pros - resistance to damage, can be cleaned with a metal brush. Cons - high price.
Enamel. Pros: Durable and smooth finish. Of the minuses - the high cost.

Many brands combine different types sputtering, for example, titanium with sapphire or ceramic with silicon. In addition, some models are equipped with pads for delicate materials, protecting them from burning or melting.

Important: In order not to think about how to clean the iron from burn on the sole, and to avoid its appearance, things made of synthetics, silk, wool, viscose and other “capricious” fabrics should be ironed through gauze or a cotton napkin.

How to clean the soleplate of an iron

Pencil

When figuring out how to clean the iron from burnt fabric, you should use a special pencil (chalk). They are produced by several companies (Typhoon, Dias, Ream, Cinderella), are sold in hardware stores and are inexpensive. Instructions for use are attached to the pencil, it indicates the types of soles that can be processed. As a rule, the product is suitable for all surfaces.

Application rules:

Heat up the iron, unplug it from the mains.
Carefully rub the dirt with a pencil, without pressing too hard on the surface and without touching the sole with your fingers.
After a few seconds, when the soot has dissolved, run the iron over the cotton fabric.
When cleaning the steam iron, activate the steam release option, and then clean the holes with a dry cotton swab.

Due to the heat, an unpleasant odor occurs when using the pencil. Cleaning is best done near an open window. It is advisable to wear gloves on your hands. The same rules apply when using any other chemicals (ammonia, vinegar, solvent).

Vinegar

When figuring out how to clean an iron from burnt fabric, if it is covered with Teflon or ceramics, it makes sense to resort to using 9% vinegar. If the pollution is new, then it is necessary:

Dilute the substance in water - 2 tablespoons per 1 glass.
Dip a cotton swab or cloth into the liquid and wipe the heated, but not hot, sole.

Old burns are best cleaned with a cloth soaked in concentrated vinegar. An old waffle or terry towel is optimal for this. To process holes, it is recommended to use cotton buds or toothpicks wrapped in cotton. At the end, you need to run a hot iron on a damp cloth.

ammonium chloride

Thinking about how else to clean the iron from carbon deposits, and not damage its surface, ammonia should be used. Recipes:

table vinegar and ammonia in a ratio of 50/50;
juice of one lemon and 2-3 drops of ammonia;
ammonia in its purest form.

The scheme for such cleaning the iron from carbon deposits at home is the same: you should treat the hot sole with a cloth dipped in liquid. With ingrained pollution, you can leave a cold iron overnight on a rag soaked in a solution, and wipe it with a dry cloth in the morning.

Hydrogen peroxide

In search of a solution to the problem of how to clean the iron from carbon deposits at home, it is worth resorting to the help of hydrogen peroxide or its dry analogue - hydroperite tablets. Action algorithm:

Heat up the iron.
Wipe the work surface with cotton wool soaked in peroxide, or treat it with a tablet. When using hydroperite, remove residues with a rag.
Iron unwanted fabric.

Other means

Faced with the problem of how to clean the iron from carbon deposits, you can resort to one of the following methods:

Rub hot iron laundry soap. After cooling, clean it with a damp cloth. The method is suitable for fresh contamination.
Treat soot on a cold iron with cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover or paint thinner.
Heat the iron and clean the dirt with a box of matches - a plane on which sulfur is applied.
Rub a warm work surface with a paraffin candle. The device should be placed vertically on a tray so that the melted paraffin flows into it. Iron the rag.
Apply a special glass-ceramic cleaner to the ceramic soleplate. Remove it with a soft damp cloth.