If your iron feels sticky, leaves marks on your clothes, or has burn stains and mineral buildup, it is probably time for a proper cleaning. There are many simple ways to make your iron look and work like new again using household products you may already have at home. Below are easy and effective methods to clean the iron’s soleplate (the hot metal plate underneath), as well as the water tank and steam vents.
Baking Soda Paste
Baking soda is a mild abrasive and can be used to clean many surfaces and household tools. Apply baking soda paste to remove residue from the iron’s soleplate by following these steps:
Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of distilled water with 2 tablespoons (34 g) of baking soda in a small bowl to create a thick paste that sticks to the iron.
Turn off the iron and let it cool completely.
Spread the paste over the stained or dirty areas (or over the entire soleplate for general cleaning).
Leave it for a few minutes, then wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth.
If any baking soda gets into the steam holes, use a cotton swab dipped in distilled water or white vinegar to remove the blockage.
White Vinegar for Cleaning the Soleplate
Wipe the iron’s soleplate with a cloth dampened with diluted white vinegar by following these steps:
First, unplug the iron and allow it to cool completely.
Prepare a solution of equal parts distilled water and white vinegar.
Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and gently scrub the soleplate, focusing on burned, sticky, or dirty areas.
Once the soleplate is clean, wipe away any vinegar residue with a clean damp cloth.
For heavily stained soleplates, you can also use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and salt:
Heat the mixture in a pan until the salt dissolves.
Let it cool before applying it to the iron.
Alternatively, to avoid scrubbing:
Soak a cloth in the vinegar and water mixture.
Wrap it around the soleplate for 30 minutes.
Remove the cloth and dry the soleplate.
Cotton Swabs
Use cotton swabs dipped in vinegar to clean clogged steam holes.
If you notice that your iron no longer produces steam as it used to, mineral deposits may be blocking the steam vents. Simply dip the tip of a cotton swab in distilled white vinegar and rub inside each steam hole until the buildup dissolves. This may take a few minutes if the deposits are thick or stubborn.
Dryer Sheets
Rub dryer sheets over the warm soleplate to remove residue.
For safety and to protect your fingers, wear heat-resistant gloves before trying this method:
Plug in the iron and set it to the lowest heat setting.
Let it warm up for a few minutes.
Take a new dryer sheet and gently rub it over the soleplate like a sponge.
Continue until all dirt and residue are removed.
After that:
Increase the heat to the highest setting.
Iron over an old towel to remove any fibers or leftover residue from the dryer sheet.
Newspaper or Parchment Paper
If your iron feels sticky while using it, sprinkle a generous amount of salt over newspaper or parchment paper and follow these steps:
Set the iron to a warm temperature and allow it to heat for a few minutes.
Iron over the salted paper in all directions until the soleplate becomes clean.
Once the stickiness disappears:
Shake off the extra salt.
Use a damp cotton swab to remove any salt trapped inside the steam holes.
Ice Cubes
Freeze melted plastic residue using ice, then scrape it away:
Fill a shallow bowl, tray, or pan with ice cubes.
Place the iron soleplate face down on the ice to harden the melted plastic stuck to it.
This usually takes around 10 minutes if the plastic is fresh.
Once the plastic becomes fully hard:
Use a plastic knife or other non-sharp plastic tool to gently scrape the plastic off the soleplate.
Do not use a metal knife or any sharp metal object, as this may scratch or damage the iron.
Aluminum Foil
To remove hard water stains:
Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on the ironing board.
Heat the iron to a high temperature.
Then:
Iron directly over the aluminum foil until the mineral deposits caused by hard water disappear from the soleplate.
The minerals in the aluminum foil help pull the mineral buildup away from the iron, making it look like new again.
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