If there’s one appliance at home that rarely gets cleaning action, it would have to be the clothing iron. This small but essential appliance is responsible for making your clothes look extra crisp and snazzy — making you look neat and presentable wherever you go.
Cleaning an iron may seem like an unnecessary task but it’s actually recommended to keep your clothes clean and prevent them from acquiring different stains. In this article, we will show you the 10 easy and simple ways of how to clean an iron — from simple DIY tips to clever hacks you never knew existed.
Got burnt residue on your clothing iron? The answer is hidden somewhere in your bathroom or medicine cabinet: Tylenol.
Simply turn the iron on and set it to the highest setting possible. Get a single tablet and press it directly onto the stained area. This will cause the medicine to melt and disintegrate into a gel, coming into contact with the stain and helping it to dissolve.
Once the stain has fully come off, use a clean and damp cloth or paper towel to clean the entire surface. Make sure that there’s not a single trace left to avoid staining your clothes.
Baking soda is a highly versatile cleaning ingredient capable of cleaning different surfaces and fabrics. When it comes to an iron, this powder is just as effective and powerful.
Just create a paste from two tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of water. With the iron turned off, gently rub it around on the surface of the iron plate. Be careful not to let any of the paste enter the steam holes.
Once the dirt has come off, wipe it with a clean and slightly dampened cloth.
Once the steam holes have gone dirty, you will need to clean it with cotton swabs. These gentle cotton rods are a great way to get any dirt stuck inside because they don’t damage the holes.
Simply dip them in distilled white vinegar and slowly insert them into the holes to get rid of the dirt. You can use as many swabs as you can until everything’s fully cleaned. Rinse away any vinegar scent by wiping the entire surface with a clean damp cloth.
Another way to clean an iron using natural ingredients is by making vinegar as your main cleaning solution. Simply soak a towel in any vinegar solution and place it on a clean and dry surface. Press the cool iron down into the towel and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes. Once done, wipe the iron with a clean cloth to remove any scent and vinegar residue.
If you want to clean your steam iron from the inside, simply fill the water container with a solution of half distilled white vinegar and half water. Turn the iron on and press it on any clean towel or rag to release the cleaning solution. This will cause the iron vents to blow out steams of vinegar and water, a very effective combination capable of wiping out residues and deep-seeded dirt.
How to clean an iron with a magic eraser? Simply get the eraser wet and rub the cool iron on it until all of the stains have come off. This method is particularly helpful when removing hardened water stains.
Newspaper and salt as a cleaning duo? You’re not hallucinating. This combination is a powerful way to get rid of tough spots on any iron.
Simply turn your iron on to the highest setting and place a newspaper below it. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the newspaper and press the iron on it like you’re smoothing out your clothes! Do this repeatedly until you’re satisfied with the results.
Made the mistake of running your iron over something plastic? You’re not alone. This is a common issue that keeps plaguing people due to very unusual fabrics and materials on a piece of clothing.
But not to worry! As soon as this happens, just turn off the iron and let it cool down. Fill a container with ice cubes and place the iron plate inside to harden the melted plastic.
Get a plastic knife and begin chafing away the plastic from the iron plate. Do this carefully to avoid making cut marks or streaks on the surface.
How to clean an iron using dryer sheets? Simple. Turn the iron to its lowest setting and rub it with dryer sheets. To do this effectively, you will need to use as many dryer sheets as you can until you’re satisfied with the results.
Nail polish as an iron plate cleaner? You best believe it!
Simply pour a nail polish solution into a cotton ball and swipe it along the surface of the dirty area. This will cause a reaction that will enable the iron to shed off the stain or residue marks from the surface.
But in order to do this, you need to wear a protective glove or a mitten to make sure you won’t get burn marks as you do the cleaning.
Cleaning your iron is one of the most important and effective ways you can do to protect your clothes. By keeping this small and essential appliance free from any stain or residue, you are always guaranteed to smoothen and snap up your clothes with comfort and ease.
