During operation, the iron is often covered with burn-on, and scale may form inside. If you pay attention to the cleaning in time, there is a chance to return the previous appearance to the household appliance. Otherwise, you will need a new iron soon.
Timely cleaning allows you to return to the former radiant appearance of household appliances. For this, different recipes are used. How to clean the iron at home, we will tell you further.
Iron Terms
Before considering how to clean the iron at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for caring for the named device. This will avoid the need to thoroughly clean household appliances.
- In the process of ironing you need to set the correct temperature. Otherwise, it will harm not only the iron, but also the fabric. Thin silk, synthetic fabrics cannot be ironed at high temperature, otherwise traces of tan marks will remain on the sole of even the most expensive model.
- After completing the ironing, wipe the sole of the iron with a soft, lint-free cloth every time.
- Do not pour liquid from the tap into the water compartment. In this case, scale is formed. Only distilled or filtered water is suitable, which does not leave limescale. By the way, when steaming, it will fly out of the nozzles of the sole, leaving white traces on the fabric.
Salt and paraffin
There are many ways that you can clean the iron at home from carbon deposits. So, on sale there are special pencils with which you can achieve high results. However, such tools are not always at hand, so they use special recipes that allow you to quickly cope with soot.
One of the most popular cleaners for iron soles is salt. Pour it evenly on a sheet of paper or cloth. Next, the iron is plugged in and driven over salt for several minutes. The action continues until the surface shines.
Another popular way is to use a paraffin candle. It is wrapped in natural fabric (preferably cotton) and rubbed onto the surface of the iron (it must be heated). Under the candle you need to put a pallet. Melted paraffin will drain into it.
After carrying out such a procedure, it is necessary to clean all the pores, unevenness of the relief from the remnants of the candle material.
Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
It is very important to determine what material the sole of the iron is made of. Abrasive products are not suitable for Teflon and ceramic devices.
It is important to choose gentle compounds. In this case, considering how to clean a Teflon iron at home, you should take a few simple recipes into service:
- It is necessary to prepare hydrogen peroxide. A cotton swab is moistened in this substance and burned spots are wiped with it. The iron should be unplugged at this time. Such processing is carried out only for a cold surface. Peroxide softens a layer of a burnout, and it can be easily washed off.
- Vinegar will also allow you to quickly deal with a dark spot. If the burn is very strong, ammonia in equal proportions is added to vinegar. In this solution, a cotton swab is moistened with which the surface is wiped. If this does not help, you can wet a tissue in this solution. It is placed on the sole and left for several hours. During this time, the burn will soften under the influence of vinegar.
Features of cleaning aluminum surface
When considering how to clean a burnt iron at home, you need to consider the type of material of its sole. The most moody of them is aluminum. This surface cannot be cleaned with salt, as it is easy to scratch. And in this case, your ironing device will not work correctly.
Experts suggest using a simple recipe:
- If carbon deposits appeared on an aluminum sole, you need to make a thick solution of soda and detergent for dishes.
- It is applied to the surface of a cold iron and left on the sole for several hours. During this time, it will soften the pollution.
- Rinse off such a composition with a damp cloth. This is done carefully so that no traces of detergent remain.
- Then the surface is wiped dry, trying not to leave stains or lint on the surface. To do this, use special napkins.
Such a method will help to clean even a surface unstable to mechanical damage.
Ceramic iron
There are many ways to solve the problem if the iron burns. How to clean a ceramic sole at home? This is also quite moody material. It, as already mentioned, cannot be cleaned with abrasive compounds, so we will use one of the simple recipes:
- You will need to prepare a solution of water and citric acid. In this tool, the fabric is wetted.
- It is squeezed and laid on a ceramic surface. Here the fabric remains for several hours.
- Then the same solution is used to clean the surface. Rubbing with a soft towel is allowed. However, you can not use brushes, hard washcloths, etc.
If the ceramic iron is very dirty, you need to mix vinegar with ammonia:
- The fabric is impregnated with this composition.
- Next, the iron is plugged in and heated very much.
- They iron the prepared fabric until the surface becomes clean.
- Next, turn off the iron and wipe it with a clean, dry cloth.
Teflon iron
Considering how to clean the sole of the iron at home, you need to pay attention to Teflon varieties. They also need certain care, which should be as soft and gentle as possible:
- For such a coating, recipes with salt and paraffin are suitable. These two tools can be combined.
- Paraffin is ground. To do this, grate the candle. It is better if the baby is small.
- Next, paraffin is mixed with salt.
- Prepare a thick natural fabric. A mixture of paraffin with salt is laid out on it.
- It is covered from above with a thin cloth.
- The iron needs to be heated. It is optimal if the temperature is set at about 110 º.
- The prepared composition is ironed.
- When the sole is clean, the iron is turned off and allowed to cool, and the surface is wiped with a dry, clean cloth.
Steel outsole
Previously, all irons had steel soles. They were not afraid of mechanical influences and other adverse factors. Considering how to clean the iron coating at home, if it has a steel sole, different methods can be used.
Such material can be cleaned with an old toothbrush:
- To do this, prepare a soap solution. It is mixed with baking soda.
- Further, the surface is rubbed until it becomes clean.
Various detergents can be used. Also, a steel iron can be brought into proper shape using almost all of the above recipes. The choice depends on the degree of contamination of its surface. For a strong burn, you need to use a mixture of vinegar with ammonia. With their help, the surface is soaked for several hours. Then you can clean with soda.
Some more recipes
There are several more recipes for cleaning your iron at home. They are quite simple, so they are often used. If the stain has just appeared, rub it immediately with a bar of soap. Then the iron is unplugged. When its surface cools, you need to wipe the soot with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
In the event that polyethylene or other artificial material accidentally adheres to the sole, it can be easily removed. For this, acetone is used. With a nail polish remover, a cotton swab is moistened with which a contaminated surface is treated.
You can get rid of carbon deposits with alcohol. But this method only works in the case of moderate surface contamination. It should be remembered that a knife, sandpaper or other abrasive products are not used to clean the sole of the iron from any material. This can significantly damage the technique.
Descaling
Often there is a need to clean the iron from scale at home. If this is not done, the nozzles will clog with limescale. At the same time, dirty stains will remain on the clothes. In order not to spoil things when using the iron, you need to properly clean the inner water tank.
Many models of technology have a built-in self-cleaning function. Whether it is or not, you need to clarify in the instructions, which describes the cleaning algorithm in detail:
- As a rule, you should first pour as much water as possible inside the iron chamber.
- Next, set the temperature control to the highest position. And plug the iron into a power outlet. It will heat up and then cool.
- Then it is tilted over the sink or prepared container and the self-cleaning button is pressed.
- The scale together with the steam will be removed from the tank, after which the iron is turned off and wiped dry.
Lemon acid
There are other ways to clean the iron inside at home. Not every model has a self-cleaning function. If the manufacturer did not foresee its availability, then you need to use simple recipes. They will help to quickly solve the problem of scale that has appeared in the tank:
- You need to take two teaspoons of citric acid.
- It is dissolved in a glass of water. This solution is poured into the iron.
- After that, the device is plugged into a power outlet. It must be heated to the maximum.
- Shake the iron several times and press the steam release button.
Please note that this procedure must be carried out on a previously prepared bowl, since the scum will fly out of the nozzles of the sole. It may have a dark shade or be yellowish. Color depends on the composition of the water in the area.
After cleaning, rinse the tank with distilled water and wipe the sole dry.
Sparkling water
You can also clean your iron from limescale at home using ordinary carbonated water. It consists of acids that act on the calcareous sediment. After this treatment, deposits are destroyed and brought out.
It is necessary to pour mineral water into the tank. And then do the same as in the recipe with citric acid. The iron is heated and the steam button is pressed. When the procedure is complete, rinse the device inside with distilled water.
After scale passes through nozzles, it may remain in small quantities in these holes. They can be removed with cotton buds to clean the ears. With their help, dirt is removed from the nozzles. If necessary, they can be moistened with vinegar.
How to prevent the appearance of scale?
There are many ways to clean your iron at home. However, it is better to carry out a number of preventive actions. This will help prevent frequent clogging of the inner tank. The quality of the water determines how often it will be necessary to clean the iron from scale.
As already mentioned, distilled water is best for refueling a tank. It can be purchased at gas stations and bus stations. This is not the only option. Suitable for iron and drinking water, which is sold in bottles in almost any supermarket. It undergoes high-quality cleaning, which allows the use of such a liquid during ironing.
If there is a filter at home, water from it can also be poured into the tank. The main thing is to monitor the frequency of cartridge replacement. Otherwise, hardness salts will still settle on the walls of the tank. You can also simply infuse tap water for several hours. Hardness salts will precipitate overnight.
Having considered how to clean the iron at home, you can perform proper care yourself. And your household appliance will regain its former shine and retain its functionality for a long time.