An often used but overlooked household appliance, the iron is crucial to keeping clothes looking neat. However, with time and use, the iron can become dirty or even harmful to your clothes. From water residue to limescale build-up, there are many reasons for cleaning, and proper maintenance is key to the longevity and performance of your iron.
Regular cleaning of the iron it not only improves its performance and prolongs its life, but also ensures that your clothes remain stain- and damage-free during ironing. Using simple household products such as baking soda, vinegar and toothpaste, you can effectively clean your iron and ensure that it is always ready to use.
Photo. Cottonbro/PexelsWhy does the iron get dirty?
Irons get dirty over time due to several factors. Using hard water can causes scale build-up in the water tank and on the heating elements, which affects the efficiency of the steam release. Also, fabric residue, powdered detergent and even burnt clothing residue can accumulate on the soleplate, which makes it difficult for the iron to glide smoothly over the fabric and can cause stains on clothes.
How to keep the iron clean?
Regular cleaning and maintenance of your iron is key to preventing these problems. It is recommended to iron after each use clean and regularly carry out deep cleaning, to remove accumulated limescale. It also makes sense to use distilled or demineralized water, which reduces the likelihood of limescale build-up.
Photo: Cottonbro/PexelsHow to clean a steam iron
The steam iron requires special attention when cleaning. To begin, empty the tank and fill it with equal parts of distilled water and vinegar. Then heat the iron and let the steam run for a few minutes, then empty the tank and rinse it several times with clean water to remove any vinegar residue.
How to clean it with baking soda
bicarbonate of soda is an excellent cleaning agent for the ironing board. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to a cold ironing board. Gently rub with a clean cloth to remove residue and stains. After cleaning, wipe the panel with a clean, damp cloth.
How to clean it with vinegar
Vinegar can be used to remove limescale. Fill the iron tank with diluted vinegar and let it run for a few minutes. Next, heat up the iron and release steam to allow the vinegar to penetrate the system. Finally, rinse the iron several times with distilled water.
How to clean an iron with toothpaste
Toothpaste jis another effective option for cleaning the ironing board. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to the plate and gently polish the surface with a soft cloth. After cleaning, remove the toothpaste residue with a clean and damp cloth.
