FirstCry Parenting

We use iron on a daily basis because the crisp ironed clothes help us look better turned out. However, sometimes the iron gets dirty or certain deposits sits on the iron that hampers the iron from sliding smoothly over the clothes. Does that mean that you will have to buy a new iron? Well, before you do so, try some of our simple iron cleaning techniques that can help you in cleaning the iron. Read this article to learn some effective ways of cleaning iron at home!

Simple Methods to Clean an Iron at Home

If you have a big pile of laundry to iron, you have to iron clothes for a meeting or it is your child’s school uniform, etc and your iron is causing trouble because it may have water deposits or other stains that may be making ironing difficult. If you are thinking about how to clean an iron press, well, here are some simple methods that you can use to clean the iron:

1. Salt And Vinegar

Have you ever thought of trying cleaning an iron with salt and vinegar, if not, then you must give it a try because it works like magic, especially for cleaning burnt iron.

How to Use It 

• Take one part salt and two parts vinegar and heat it on medium heat until the salt dissolves. Do not boil the mixture.
• Remove the mixture from the fire and let it cool down.
• Dip a soft cloth in the mixture and gently scrub the surface of the iron.
• You may use a soft brush too if the iron does not have a Teflon coating.
• Clean the iron surface by dipping another washcloth in some white vinegar and rubbing the surface with it. Pat dry.
• Switch on the iron and once it is hot, run it on a piece of old clean cloth to get rid of any residue.

2. Newspaper

Is your iron sticky and is not able to iron the clothes, well, to clean the iron surface you can try newspaper cleaning technique to get rid of the stickiness.

How to Use It 

• Turn the power on and let the iron heat up to the maximum level. Keep the steam mode turned off.
• Spread a towel and place a newspaper on it.
• Once the iron is hot, slide it over the newspaper until the iron is cleaned.
• In case the stain remains, sprinkle some salt on the newspaper and run the iron on it.
• You can repeat this process a few times until the stickiness goes away.

3. Toothpaste

If you are wondering how to clean an Iron with toothpaste, well, it is a super easy method and also a great way of cleaning a steam iron.

How to Use It 

• Take a small amount of toothpaste and rub it gently on the soleplate. Make sure you use the toothpaste only to target the stained areas and refrain from spreading it on other parts of the iron.
• Keep the setting of the iron on steam mode and then steam the iron for 5 minutes.
• If you are thinking how to clean rust from iron, you can mix two teaspoons of baking powder and three teaspoons of vinegar in a teaspoon of toothpaste and use the mixture to clean the soleplate.

4. Baking Powder

One of the most effective remedies for cleaning iron box or steam irons is by using baking powder.

How to Use

• Mix two parts of baking powder in one part of water and make a smooth paste.
• Using a wooden spatula spread the baking powder mixture on the areas that are affected with the mineral deposits.
• Scrub the area gently then wipe it off with a clean cloth.
• Cotton swabs can be used to clean the steam iron vents and to absorb excess water.

5. Nail Polish Remover Or Acetone

Nail polish remover may sound a bit weird but this remedy may actually work wonders in clearing off stains from the iron.

How to Use It 

• Heat the iron on the maximum level.
• Soak a cotton ball in some acetone solution.
• Gently scrub the gunk off the soleplate of the iron, cleaning small area at a single go because acetone evaporates quickly. Do not forget to wear oven mittens or any such hand gear to protect your hands from the hot surface of the iron.
• Once the stain wears off, clean the iron with a soft cloth dipped in some water.

6. Dryer Sheet

Dryer sheets are also effective in cleaning of marks from the iron. This cleaning method works well to clean off dirt and starch build up on the iron.

How to Use It 

• Turn on the iron and let it heat on a low setting. Make sure there is no water in the steamer.
• Place a dryer sheet on top of a towel.
• Once the iron gets heated, run it over the dryer sheet. The stains will come off on the dryer sheet.
• Once you are done with the stains, do not forget to clean the soleplate with a damp cloth to get off any oil residue from the dryer sheet.

7. Kitchen Sponge Pads Or Scrubbers

You can use your usual kitchen scrubbers or sponge pads, which are not abrasive in nature to clean the tough marks from the soleplate of the iron.

How to Use It 

• Dip the scrub pad in a baking powder and water solution or you can use your regular dish soap too.
• Carefully scrub off the gunk from the surface without damaging the soleplate.
• Wipe off with a damp cloth and repeat if necessary.

These are some easy and simple ways of removing various kinds of marks and stains from the soleplate of the iron. Refrain from using too much water as it may get into the electrical parts of the iron and may damage the device.

FAQs

Here is one of the most frequently asked question:

How to Clean Plastic Off an Iron?

If plastic sticks on the soleplate of the iron, you can easily take it out. Heat up the iron on low mode and once it heats up to scrape off the melted plastic with a plastic spoon. You can use tweezers to take the plastic bits from the holes. You can finish by ironing on any scrap fabric to remove the residue of the plastic.

So, next time you wish to clean the iron, use any of the above methods to do so!

Also Read:

Easy Ways to Remove Ink Stain from Clothes
Ways to Clean Wooden Furniture at Home
How to Clean Leather Bag at Home