How to clean your iron from carbon deposits and scale: 5 simple ways

The iron needs to be cleaned periodically to remove dirt on the sole and inside. This can be done in several ways.

Boiling water

You will need 200 ml of boiling water and a couple of teaspoons of citric acid, which we mix together. Plug the iron into the socket so that it warms up, and before adding the solution, unplug it. Pour the mixture into the water hole in the tank. Plug the device back into the socket, setting it to the maximum temperature, and wait until the iron heats up.

Hold the iron over a basin or sink and periodically press the steam button and the sprayer, if available. The water evaporates, and along with it, the scale and dirt that formed during the use of the device comes out.

After this, we repeat the procedure, having done the same manipulations according to the previous instructions. Then we pour in clean water without citric acid and in the same way we carry out cleaning twice more. We iron the unnecessary fabric and get rid of the remaining dirt.

We clean the sole with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide, then “go over” the surface with a damp cloth and wipe the iron dry.

Toothpaste

Apply regular toothpaste (not gel) to the surface of the sole of the heated iron; while it is hot, rub the surface with a toothbrush, then carefully wash off all dirt with water over a basin using a rag.

Iron the fabric, activating the steam supply. This will clean the holes from the remaining product.

Soda

Take a spoonful of soda, pour a small amount of boiling water over it until it dissolves completely, stir and rub the stains on the sole of the heated iron with a cotton cloth soaked in this solution.

Vinegar

Table 9% vinegar is suitable for removing scale and carbon deposits. Dilute it with water in equal proportions (1:1), wipe the cold surface with a damp sponge, then clean the holes in the sole with a cotton swab.

Towel

This method is suitable if the carbon deposits are not too strong or if synthetic fibers have stuck to the coating. You need to take an unnecessary fabric, for example, an old towel that you don’t mind ruining. Place it on the edge of the ironing board or table, heat the iron and clean the dirty areas on the corner of the board, holding it vertically and making scraping movements.

Lifehack. To prevent scale from forming inside the tank for a long time, use boiled or filtered clean water. After finishing work, drain the remaining water, leaving the iron in a vertical position.

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