Cleaning the iron from scale, carbon deposits and burnt fabrics. We return the shine and smoothness of the sole of the device, or how to clean the iron from scale using various methods. Is it possible to clean the iron with sandpaper

01.08.2020

How to clean your iron at home

Cleaning the iron from carbon deposits at home is a simple matter. The main thing is to choose a product that is suitable for the material from which the sole of the iron is made. There are some nuances in this matter:

For appliances with ceramic coating... To avoid damaging the surface, you can use a special cleaning pencil or crayon.
For metal surfaces... It is best to use baking soda or toothpaste.
For teflon... You can care for your iron with Teflon or ceramic soleplate using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or soap.

Now let's take a closer look at these cleaning methods.

6 folk recipes

To clean the iron from carbon deposits, it is not at all necessary to resort to expensive substances, it is quite possible to do with budget components:

Picture	Instructions
	Method 1. Vinegar Wondering how to clean the soleplate of your Teflon iron? Use regular table vinegar: Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water. Soak a clean cloth in the resulting solution. Heat the iron (but not to the maximum temperature). Wipe the sole of the appliance with a damp cloth. Be careful not to burn your fingers. The heated vinegar will give off an unpleasant odor during the cleaning process. To work without unnecessary discomfort, put on a gauze bandage and open a window indoors.
	Method 2. Lemon juice and ammonia By simply adding a few drops of ammonia to lemon juice, you will get an effective remedy that will not only rid the soles of carbon deposits, but also remove the remains of fabric adhered to the surface. In addition, alcohol will also disinfect the surface and prevent fungus from forming on it.
	Method 3. Soap This option is great if you're looking for something to remove fresh carbon from your Teflon iron. Simply rub the soleplate with a bar of soap and then wipe off any residue with a damp cloth.
	Method 4. Liquid for nail polish remover It's very easy to use. Soak a cotton pad in the liquid and wipe the dirty areas with it. Then you just have to treat the surface with a clean, damp cloth.
	Method 5. Hydrogen peroxide To clean the surface of the iron, you do not need the liquid itself, but hydroperite tablets, which include hydrogen peroxide. Rub the work surface with them (you do not need to crush the tablet), and then walk over it with a damp sponge.
	Method 6. Toothpaste Cleaning the sole of the iron with toothpaste is as follows: warm up the device a little; apply a paste to the sole; rub it with a medium-hard brush; rinse the surface. To avoid scratching the iron as a result of this cleaning, use a toothpaste without abrasive additives.

Iron pencil

You can also clean the iron with a special pencil (price - from about 75 rubles), which is sold in stores with household chemicals. It's very easy to use.

Turn on the device and wait until it warms up.
Start running the pencil over the sole to start melting. Do not press down on the pencil, otherwise it will break and small pieces will fall into the holes on the surface of the device.
Remove any remaining dirt with an unnecessary cotton cloth.

This option is good for how to clean a Teflon iron or how to restore the metal or ceramic surface of the device.

How to prevent carbon deposits

So that the problem of carbon formation no longer bothers me, I recommend following simple but important tips.

Carbon deposits can appear on the surface of the iron (with any coating, even Teflon) at the most inopportune moment, for example, from adhered and burnt fabric, or even just after a long period of use. In this case, it must be cleaned immediately so as not to spoil other things.

We have found a huge number of different methods to solve this problem. Further - 40 effective ways clean the iron from the burn on the sole, which can be used at home.

1.Using fine salt (hot method)

Burn-in from the soleplate can be very easily cleaned with fine salt. This method is not suitable for Teflon coated irons.

Take a newspaper and put some salt on it.
Turn on the iron and heat it to the optimum temperature.
Use a hot iron to iron the salt. Gradually, the sole of the iron will be cleaned, and the salt will acquire a brown tint from carbon deposits.
Keep doing this until the sole is completely clean.
Throw away the dirty salt, and wipe the working surface of the iron after cooling with a clean, damp cloth.

After that, dry the appliance well and continue using it.

2.Using fine salt (cold method)

Here's another way to clean it with salt. The method is also not suitable for teflon-coated irons. The iron does not need to be heated before cleaning.

Take a damp cloth and some fine salt.
Using a rag, gently rub salt over the areas where the burn has accumulated on the sole.
After the procedure, clean the surface from salt and burn residues.
Then rinse the soleplate with clean water and wipe dry with a napkin.

After a while, the iron will dry out and can be used.

3. Chalk

This burn-off method is suitable for irons with Teflon-coated soles.

Take a piece of chalk and crush it to make a fine powder without hard lumps.
Plug in the appliance and heat it to the optimum temperature.
Switch off the iron before cleaning.
Place a small amount of chalk on the burned areas and scrub with a soft cloth. The burn-on will come off the ironing surface together with the chalk.
After that, wipe the soleplate of the iron first with a dry, clean cloth so that no chalk particles are left on it mixed with pieces of burn-in, and then with a damp cloth.

4. Acetone

Acetone is a fairly effective remedy. The process of cleaning the working surface of an electrical appliance is not difficult.

There is no need to preheat the iron.
It is recommended to open the window before cleaning, as acetone has a strong odor.

Soak a waste cotton rag in acetone and carefully and vigorously wipe off any dirt from the soleplate of the appliance. The burn should remain on the rag. After cleaning with acetone, wipe the surface of the iron with a damp cloth.

5. Cleansing pencil

A cleansing pencil can be purchased from your nearest specialist store. Take a pencil, cut through the packaging and free one end.

Preheat the iron to the optimum temperature, and then unplug it.
With a cleaning pencil, "paint" the work surface of the iron. Foam should form on the surface of the hot sole from the traces of the cleaning pencil. It should eat away any burn from the work surface.
Foaming soft mass with a stuck away must be wiped off with a rag. Do not allow foam to harden.

After removing any dirt, wipe the working surface of the iron with a clean, damp cloth.

6. Table vinegar

This method is suitable if the surface of the soleplate is not very dirty. You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning. Before using the vinegar, it is advisable to open the window and wear rubber gloves.

Take a cotton pad or rag, moisten it with vinegar and carefully scrub the surface of the sole from the burn. After cleaning, wipe the working surface of the appliance with a damp cloth.

The iron cannot be turned on immediately after the procedure. You can use the iron only after two hours, when it dries out.

7. Baby cream

It turns out that the sole of the iron can be cleaned with baby cream. The product is suitable for all irons, including those with a Teflon-coated soleplate.

Turn on the iron and heat it to get the soleplate hot. Turn off the appliance before cleaning the soleplate.
Use a cotton pad to spread baby cream on the ironing surface.
Wait a while and begin to gently peel off the dirt.
Clean the steam holes with a cotton swab.

After cleaning, wash and dry the sole.

8. Ammonia

Ammonia is also an effective burner remover.

Plug in the appliance and wait for it to warm up. Dip a cotton rag in ammonia and wring out. Then spread it on an ironing board and iron it with a hot iron - the burn will come off, remaining on the rag.

Repeat the steps until the sole of the appliance is perfectly clean. After the procedure, unplug the iron from the mains, wait for it to cool and wipe the cleaned sole surface with a clean damp cloth. The iron is as good as new again.

9. Soda and detergent

A mixture of baking soda and any kind of detergent can do a great job of fading. You do not need to heat up the iron before cleaning.

Prepare a small container. Mix some detergent and baking soda in it to form a paste.
Apply the resulting mixture to the dirty surface and leave for 30-40 minutes. The product should eat away at the burn and soften it.
After that, remove the product with particles of the burnt off with a sponge.

Then wash the work surface of the iron and wipe dry. The iron is ok again.

10. Salt and gauze

There is another very simple way with salt. It is not recommended to clean teflon-coated irons in this way.

Prepare a small piece of cheesecloth and some salt.
Fold the cheesecloth in two to three layers. Pour a handful of salt into the middle of the gauze rectangle. Tie the cheesecloth with salt in a knot.
Plug in the appliance and heat it to a high temperature. Turn off the iron before cleaning.
Using a knot of salt, carefully wipe the dirty surface of the soleplate of the appliance. The sole will gradually peel off, and all carbon deposits will remain on the gauze.

When the cleaning process is finished, wipe the cleaned surface with a clean cloth.

11. Matchbox

For this simple method, you need a matchbox. This method can be used to clean irons with stainless steel soles.

It is best to use a new matchbox that does not have a rough side surface.

Turn on the iron and wait for the sole to get hot. Then turn off the iron. Take a matchbox and begin to gently clean the work surface of the appliance using the rough edge of the box. Do this carefully and do not scratch the sole. After finishing cleaning, take a cotton pad or rag and remove any remaining dirt.

12. Vinegar and ammonia

This method can be used to clean even the soleplate soiled with burns. You do not need to heat the iron for cleaning.

Prepare a small container. Mix in a container a little vinegar and ammonia in equal proportions.
Soak a cloth or sponge in the solution and use vigorous movements to start scrubbing away the burn.
If the dirt cannot be removed completely, then leave a cloth soaked in the prepared product on the working surface of the appliance for 30 minutes. After that, the burn will come off the surface easily.

When the soleplate is free of dirt, wash it with clean water and dry it dry.

13. Dishwashing liquid

Dishwashing detergent is available in every kitchen. Some housewives use it not only when washing dishes, but also get rid of burn-on on the iron. If the burn-on on the ironing surface is old, it will be difficult to clean it with dishwashing detergent. Fresh burn-in removes the product well.

Apply a small amount of dish soap to the dishwashing sponge and rub thoroughly on the burn-on areas. If the burn has not gone away, then leave the sponge with the product on the burned area for a while, and then try again. After cleaning, rinse the soleplate with clean water and dry with a dry cloth. After a while after drying, the iron can be used.

14. Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is an inexpensive product that can be used to remove minor contaminants. You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning.

Take a cotton pad, soak it in peroxide and thoroughly wipe the work surface of the iron. All dirt will remain on the cotton pad. Use a cotton swab to remove dirt from the steam vents.

After the procedure with hydrogen peroxide, wipe the surface of the iron with a damp cloth. The iron can be used after two hours.

15. Soda

Soda is a universal remedy for all kinds of pollution. Its significant drawback is that it leaves microscopic scratches on the surface. Therefore, you do not often need to use baking soda to clean the soleplate of the iron.

If you decide to use this method, you will need a little soda and a soft rag. You do not need to heat up the iron before cleaning. Using a rag, apply a mixture of water and baking soda to the work surface of the iron and leave for 20-30 minutes. After that, gently wipe the surface with a rag, removing the soda with dirt. After the procedure, wipe the soleplate of the appliance with a damp, clean cloth.

16. Means for cleaning glass ceramics or microwave ovens

Prepare a bottle of detergent, a dishwashing sponge, and a plastic bag or tray. You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning.

Moisten a sponge with a cleaning agent. Using a sponge, apply it to the entire work surface of the iron.
Then pour a little of the product onto the bag. In the resulting puddle, place the iron with the sole down.
Hold the electrical appliance in this position for 30 minutes.
After that, use a sponge to remove the remaining burn from the surface of the sole.

At the end of cleaning, wipe the cleaned soleplate with a clean, damp cloth. Let the appliance dry before use.

17. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is another available remedy. But it contains abrasive substances, so often it should not be used for this purpose, otherwise scratches may appear on the surface of the sole.

Before the cleaning procedure, the iron must be slightly heated, and then unplugged.

Squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube onto the sole surface and scrub the surface with a brush. For this purpose, you can use an old unnecessary toothbrush. After cleaning, using a sponge or rag, thoroughly wash the soleplate and then wipe with a dry cloth. The iron can be used in two hours, when it dries well.

18. Tablet of hydroperite

Some housewives use hydroperite tablets. The cleaning procedure is best done with the window open, since a strong odor will come from the tablet.

Turn on the iron and heat it to the optimum temperature. The iron must be unplugged during cleaning.
Take a hydroperite tablet and gently wipe the hot surface of the soleplate with it.
Then wait until the appliance cools down. After that, take a damp cloth and remove the traces of the tablet and the burnt away from the surface of the sole.
At the end of the procedure, wipe the cleaned iron soleplate dry with a napkin.

19. Piece of cotton cloth

This cleaning method is relevant if a piece of fabric stuck to the sole during ironing. In this case, the wardrobe item that was unsuccessfully ironed, of course, is already hopelessly spoiled. Try to at least "save" the iron, as it is impossible to iron with a piece of burnt fabric.

Heat the iron to the optimum temperature and unplug it before the procedure. Take a piece of cotton cloth, dampen it with cold water and apply it to the burn area. From the temperature difference, the melted piece of burnt fabric will move away from the sole of the iron.

If there is still some dirt on the working surface of the iron, then use any other cleaning agent.

20. Shaving foam

Shaving foam can be used to remove light dirt from the soleplate.

There is no need to heat up the iron. Apply a small amount of foam to the soleplate, spread over the entire surface and leave for 15-20 minutes. After that, remove the foam along with the burn with a cloth or sponge, wash the soleplate of the iron and dry it.

21. Nail polish remover

If molten polyethylene is accidentally stuck to the soleplate of the iron, you will need a nail polish remover to clean the working surface of the electrical appliance. You do not need to heat up the appliance before cleaning.

Take a cotton pad, moisten it with nail polish remover, and gently scrub the burn-on areas. If the burn does not go away, then moisten a cotton pad in the used product again and put it on the burned place for a few minutes. After that, the burn should come off easily. After that, remove the remaining dirt from the working surface of the iron with a soft, damp cloth.

22. Paraffin candle

It turns out that using a paraffin candle can also solve the problem.

Turn on the iron and heat it to the optimum temperature. Switch off the appliance before cleaning.

Take a paraffin candle, wrap it in a piece of cotton and rub the soiled areas of the iron soleplate. Hold the iron at an angle. From the hot surface, the candle will begin to melt and drain along with the burn. Therefore, do not forget to lay a paper or rag under the iron. During the procedure, be extremely careful: hot paraffin can burn your hands or get into the steam holes.

After cleaning, take a dry cloth and remove any residual wax and burn. Next, wipe the sole with a damp cloth and wipe dry.

23. Teflon scraper

If, after an unsuccessful ironing, a piece of fabric stuck to the sole of the iron, then a special device - a Teflon scraper - will help to cope with such a burn. This item can be purchased at your local hardware store. If a Teflon scraper is not available, a wooden spatula can be used.

Turn on the iron, heat it to the optimum temperature. Unplug the appliance before cleaning. Be very careful not to scratch the sole of the iron by scraping off the melted burnt cloth with a Teflon scraper.

If dirt remains after cleaning, use other products. Then wipe the device with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry.

24. Laundry soap

Laundry soap is renowned for its cleansing properties. But if the pollution is old, then this method will not work.

Before the cleaning procedure, the iron needs to be slightly heated.
Take a bar of laundry soap, slightly dampen it and rub it over the soleplate of your iron.
Leave the appliance in this position until it cools completely.
After that, use a damp cloth to remove the soap from the sole along with the stuck away. After cleaning, iron a damp, clean cloth to remove soap stains from the soleplate.

If there is no laundry soap, then you can use regular toilet soap.

25. Cleaning powder for dishes

The product is suitable if there is little dirt on the sole. The powder should be used with care when cleaning Teflon coated soles.

The appliance does not need to be heated before cleaning. Using a damp sponge for washing dishes, apply the powder to the soles soiled from the burn-on area and rub thoroughly. After cleaning, remove any powder residues from the sole surface with a sponge, rinse it with clean water and wipe it off well with a dry cloth. After two hours, the appliance can be used.

26. A mixture of table vinegar and water

This tool can be used to prevent burn marks, or you can also clean an existing small burn on the sole of the appliance.

Turn on the iron for a while, heat it to make the sole hot.
Take a small container, pour a small amount of vinegar and the same amount of cool water into it.
Soak a piece of unwanted cotton cloth in the liquid, wring it out, flatten on an ironing board, and iron it with a hot iron. Dirt will remain on the fabric.
If the remains of the burn remain, then take a cotton pad, moisten it in the prepared vinegar solution and carefully wipe the burned area. The iron in this case must be turned off.

After cleaning, wipe the soleplate of the appliance with a clean damp cloth and allow to dry.

27. Tooth powder

Tooth powder can be used not only for cleaning teeth, but also in everyday life. It should be used with caution when cleaning Teflon coated soles.

You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning. Use a dish scrubber or an old toothbrush to clean the soles.

Apply a small amount of toothpowder to the sole and use a damp sponge or brush to gently scrub away the burn. Continue the procedure until the soleplate is perfectly clean. After that, clean the soleplate of the iron with a cloth from the remains of tooth powder. So that there are no white stains on the surface of the sole, wash it with clean water and wipe it dry with a napkin or rag. You cannot use the iron immediately after cleaning - you need to dry it.

28. Maximum temperature

If it happened that a piece of synthetic fabric stuck to the sole of the iron, then it is impossible to use the iron further with such a burn. You can save an electrical appliance using a simple method.

Turn on the iron and heat to maximum temperature. The synthetic burn on the sole will melt and can be easily removed. Place two layers of unnecessary coarse cotton cloth over the ironing board, hanging over the edge of the board. Start ironing the fabric by running the sole of the iron over the edge of the board, trying to “scrape off” the burn.

The main part of the burn-in should stick to the fabric. Small residues of burn-on can be cleaned with a wooden spatula or with cleaning agents. Only the iron should already be switched off.

29. Self-cleaning function

Currently, on store shelves, you can find various brands and models of irons: the most expensive with all sorts of functions, and the cheapest with a minimum of features. Before you start using the appliance, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the attached instruction manual. Some modern models of irons have a self-cleaning function. Perhaps your iron has such an option. It is believed that this function cleans well the area of \u200b\u200bthe steam holes.

Of course, if a piece of fabric is stuck to the sole of the iron or there are old accumulations of burn-on, then the self-cleaning function will no longer help. But if you carry out the procedure after each ironing, then there will be no problems with cleaning the working surface of the electrical appliance in the future.

30. Citric acid

This product is suitable for cleaning small deposits. You can also use it as a preventive measure against burns.

To make the product, you will need citric acid and water. Dissolve a sachet of citric acid in 1 liter of cool, clear water. Pour the product into a bottle and use it after every ironing. You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning. Dampen a clean, soft cloth with this product and wipe the ironing surface of the appliance. All dirt will remain on the rag. If this is done regularly, then there will be no burn-in accumulation. The iron will always be in order.

31. Foil

It turns out that foil is also a good helper in solving this problem.

Plug in the iron and heat to maximum temperature. This cleaning procedure requires a large piece of foil. It is better if it is thick foil. Spread the material on an ironing board and use the iron to “iron” the foil as you would with a regular fabric. After a while, all the burn from the soleplate of the iron will stick to the foil. Throw away a piece of dirty foil, and the iron can continue to be used.

32. Dishwashing detergent and baking soda

It is not advisable to clean Teflon-coated soles with this product. The iron does not need to be heated before the cleaning process.

You will need dish soap and baking soda to make your cleaning mix. Prepare a small container, pour some dish detergent into it, add one teaspoon of baking soda. Stir the mixture well.

Using a sponge, apply the resulting product to the areas of accumulation of burns on the working surface of the iron and leave for a few minutes. Then gently scrub the burn off with a sponge. After the cleaning procedure, rinse the soleplate with clean water and dry it with a tissue. The iron can be used after 2 hours.

33. A mixture of baking soda and vinegar

A mixture of baking soda and vinegar is considered an effective remedy for all kinds of contaminants. You can also use this tool to clean the soles of the iron from burning.

Take a small container. Put 2 teaspoons of baking soda in it. Add a small amount of 9% vinegar. Stir the mixture thoroughly.

You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning the soleplate. Using a rag or cotton ball, apply a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to the work surface of the appliance. Thoroughly rub the areas of accumulation of burns to help the dirt move away from the surface.

After the procedure, remove the dirt with a cloth with a cloth. Then rinse the sole with clean water and dry with a dry cloth.

34. Lemon juice and ammonia

The product is suitable even for irons with a Teflon-coated soleplate.

Take one lemon, cut off one end and squeeze the juice into a small container. To improve cleaning properties, add 1 teaspoon of ammonia to lemon juice. Mix everything thoroughly. You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning.

Soak a cotton pad in the resulting mixture, apply the mixture to the ironing surface of the iron and begin to gently wipe off the dirt. If the burn is old, soak a cloth in the detergent and place the iron on the cloth with the soles down. Prigar will go better.

After the procedure, thoroughly wash the soleplate with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth. After drying, the appliance will be ready for use.

35. Caustic or soda ash

Both caustic and soda ash have excellent cleaning properties. Be careful with baking soda to clean the Teflon-coated sole.

You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning the soleplate.

Take a bowl, pour two handfuls of soda into it, add quite a bit of water, stir the contents until smooth.
Place the iron in the mixture, soles down. The liquid should not be higher than the sole. Leave the iron in this position for 20 minutes.
After that, gently scrub all burns with a sponge and wash the soleplate with clean water. Next, wipe the ironing surface with a dry cloth.

36. Means for cleaning windows

Another solution to our problem. It is not necessary to heat the iron before the cleaning process. If there is little burn-in, then it is enough to simply wipe the sole of the iron with a rag soaked in window cleaner.

If a cloth adheres to the sole of the appliance, it is recommended to first treat the ironing surface with window cleaner. Then use a cotton pad dipped in nail polish remover (no acetone) to clean the area of \u200b\u200bthe sole with adhering cloth. After that, treat the working surface of the iron again with window cleaner. After cleaning, it is recommended to wipe the soleplate with a clean, damp cloth and wipe it dry.

37. A mixture of citric acid, soda and vinegar

To prepare the mixture, you will need citric acid, soda and vinegar.

Prepare a small container. Pour 2 tablespoons of citric acid, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and 1 tablespoon of vinegar into it. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
You do not need to heat the iron before cleaning.
Soak a rag liberally in the product and spread it on a plastic bag.
Place the iron, soles down, on a rag and leave for an hour.
Then use a sponge to scrub the softened burn from the ironing surface.
Use toothpicks or cotton swabs to clean the steam holes.

After cleaning, rinse the soleplate with clean water and dry with a dry cloth.

38. Spray for kitchen Sif Anti-Fat

Currently, there are many tools with which you can get rid of various contaminants. With the Sif Anti-Grease spray, you can not only clean the kitchen, but also clean the iron soleplate.

You do not need to heat up the iron before cleaning. It is very easy to use the spray - a small amount of the product is sprayed onto the contaminated surface. After 10-15 minutes, the product along with the plaque is removed with a sponge. After that, the sole of the iron remains to be washed and dried.

39. Shower gel or liquid soap

Shower gel or liquid soap can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also to remove burn-on from the surface of the iron soleplate. The tool is suitable if the dirt on the iron is small.

Before cleaning, turn on the appliance, heat it up a little and turn it off. Apply a small amount of shower gel or liquid soap to a sponge and rinse the burn off from the soleplate of the appliance. After cleaning, remember to rinse the soleplate with clean water and dry with a dry cloth.

40. Special household chemicals

Currently, there are a huge number of special products that help to keep the house clean. Some are specially designed for cleaning irons.

Magic power - Teflon care product. It removes dirt well and is easily washed off with water.
Top House - effective product gently cleans the working surface of the devices.
Topperr –Non-toxic agent that can cope even with difficult stains and burns.

Preventive measures

Sometimes it is very difficult to remove the burn from the soleplate of the iron. Therefore, certain measures must be taken to facilitate the cleaning process.

Read the instruction manual for your iron carefully. If the appliance has a built-in self-cleaning function, then use it.
Observe the temperature conditions of the appliance.
Use the appliance carefully, taking care not to scratch the smooth surface of the sole.
Do not use a knife, razor, or sandpaper. Burn accumulates very quickly on the damaged areas of the sole, and it will be more difficult to remove it.
If a burn has formed on the soleplate of the iron after careless use of the iron, remove it immediately. Old burns are more difficult to remove.
Wipe the soleplate with a damp cloth after each ironing. The villi of the tissues stick to it, gradually a burn forms from them.
Use a cleaning agent that is suitable for the coating of the soleplate. Use abrasive particles with care.
After working and cleaning, leave the iron upright.
Use filtered water for steaming - then there will be no plaque on the ironing surface.
Use the steaming mode more often. This will prevent the fabric from sticking.
Iron not perfectly clean items through cheesecloth.

Uniform heating, easy sliding, non-stick properties - all these are the characteristics that work surfaces have. However, even the highest quality outsole can be covered with a dark coating. This usually occurs due to the wrong choice of temperature conditions or long-term holding of the device on one tissue site. Let's figure out how to clean carbon deposits from the iron using home remedies.

Dirt on the iron is formed from melted or burnt fabric fibers, textile dyes and limescale particles. Before figuring out how to clean the iron from adhering fabric, let's figure out what it is made of.

Traditional materials are aluminum and stainless steel. They warm up quickly and are relatively inexpensive. However, fabric fibers, especially synthetic and woolen fibers, easily adhere to them. To solve this problem, manufacturers apply various coatings to the sole.

The main ones are:

Titanium. Pros - durable, resistant to mechanical damage and scratches. Cons - it takes a long time to warm up, it is expensive.
Ceramics and glass ceramics. Pros - provide easy gliding, quick cleaning, uniform heating. Cons - fragility, tendency to chips, cracks.
Teflon. Pros - artificial fabrics do not stick to it, carbon deposits do not form. Cons - easily scratched.
Sapphire (mineral chips). Pros - resistance to damage, can be cleaned with a metal brush. Cons - high price.
Enamel. Pros - durable and smooth finish. The disadvantage is the high cost.

Many brands combine different types of coatings, such as titanium with sapphire or ceramic with silicon. In addition, some models are supplied with overlays for delicate materials to protect them from burning or melting.

Important: In order not to think about how to clean the iron from the burn on the sole, and to avoid its appearance, things made of synthetics, silk, wool, viscose and other "capricious" fabrics should be ironed through gauze or cotton napkin.

How to clean the soleplate of an iron

Pencil

When figuring out how to clean the burnt fabric from the iron, you should use a special pencil (crayon). They are produced by several companies (Typhoon, Diaz, Ream, Cinderella), are sold in hardware stores and are inexpensive. The pencil is accompanied by instructions for use, which indicate the types of soles that can be processed. As a rule, the product is suitable for all surfaces.

Application rules:

Heat up the iron, unplug it.
Gently rub the dirt with a pencil, not pressing too hard on the surface or touching the sole with your fingers.
After a few seconds, when the carbon deposits have dissolved, run the iron over the cotton cloth.
When cleaning the steam iron, activate the steam release option and then clean the holes with a dry cotton swab.

The heat generated when using the pencil produces an unpleasant odor. Cleaning is best done near an open window. It is advisable to wear gloves on your hands. The same rules apply when using any other chemicals (ammonia, vinegar, solvent).

Vinegar

When figuring out how to clean the iron from burnt fabric, if it is covered with Teflon or ceramics, it makes sense to resort to using 9% vinegar. If the contamination is new, then it is necessary:

Dilute the substance in water - 2 tablespoons per 1 glass.
Dip a cotton swab or cloth into the liquid and wipe the heated, but not hot, sole.

It is better to clean old burns with a cloth soaked in concentrated vinegar. An old waffle or terry towel is ideal for this. It is recommended to use cotton swabs or toothpicks wrapped in cotton for processing holes. At the end, you need to run a hot iron over a damp cloth.

Ammonia

When thinking about how else to clean the iron from carbon deposits and not damage its surface, you should use ammonia. Recipes:

table vinegar and ammonia in a 50/50 ratio;
juice of one lemon and 2-3 drops of ammonia;
ammonia in pure form.

The scheme for cleaning the iron from carbon deposits at home is the same: you should treat the hot sole with a cloth soaked in liquid. In case of stubborn dirt, you can leave the cold iron overnight on a rag soaked in solution, and wipe it with a dry cloth in the morning.

Hydrogen peroxide

In search of a solution to the problem of how to clean the iron from carbon deposits at home, it is worth resorting to using hydrogen peroxide or its dry analogue - hydroperite tablets. Algorithm of actions:

Heat the iron.
Wipe the work surface with cotton wool soaked in peroxide, or treat it with a tablet. When using hydroperite, remove the rest with a cloth.
Iron unnecessary fabric.

Other means

Faced with the problem of how to clean the iron from carbon deposits, you can resort to one of the following methods:

Rub a hot iron with laundry soap. After cooling down, clean it with a damp cloth. The method is suitable for fresh dirt.
Treat carbon deposits on a cold iron with cotton wool soaked in nail polish remover or paint thinner.
Heat the iron and clean the dirt with a box of matches - the plane on which the sulfur is applied.
Rub a warm work surface with a paraffin candle. The appliance should be placed vertically on a pallet to allow the melted wax to flow into it. Iron the rags.
Apply a special glass ceramic cleaner to the ceramic soleplate. Remove it with a soft damp cloth.

The iron, no matter how “advanced” it is, needs systematic care. During operation, the sole can get dirty, and you will hardly want to walk it over the silk of your favorite blouse. To put off a trip to the store for a new device for a long time, we offer you a list of ways to clean the iron yourself.

Sole cleaning, depending on the material

There are many recipes for cleaning your iron at home. Each method is applicable depending on what material the surface of the iron is made of.

The Teflon-coated appliance can be perfectly cleaned with vinegar essence.
The iron with a ceramic coating or cermet is cleaned with a special pencil or non-abrasive agents.
Chromed or aluminum soles can be washed with a wooden spatula or plastic brush.

Ways to clean the soleplate with salt

To choose the best care method, you need to study the basic methods of dealing with carbon deposits. The most popular option is salt.

If the iron burns, sprinkle a handful of table salt on a thick piece of paper or cardboard. Warm up the device strongly, drive it over the salt crystals until carbon deposits fall off.
Pour a handful of salt into a double-folded gauze or any other soft cloth and wipe the dirt well. Remember to also heat up the iron before doing this.
Sprinkle salt on a slightly soiled sole and rub it vigorously with a rough, damp cloth until the surface is clean.

Important! Do not use salt to clean Teflon appliances.

Alternative cleaning methods

Burn-in on the sole can be successfully removed using the simplest methods.

Paraffin candle. Wrap a paraffin candle in a thick cotton cloth, and wipe the device with this device. The candle will melt when heated, so the work surface should be tilted so that the hot wax drips onto the tray. This is most true if you are cleaning a steam iron and it has holes. Paraffin, getting into them, will heat up over time, leak out and spoil clothes. After completing the procedure, wipe down the sole to remove dirt and paraffin.

Vinegar. Soak a cotton swab or cloth in vinegar and rub the problem areas of the iron with it. To combat stubborn dirt, you can add ammonia to the vinegar in a 1/1 ratio. It is important that the iron cannot be heated in this case. Remove residues of the product with a rough cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide. Dampen a cotton swab with this product and wipe the surface. There is practically no smell during processing.

Special pencil. A special pencil will help to clean the burned-in fabric from the electric ironing device. Turn on the device, warm it up well, turn it off and clean it from the burn with a pencil. After a while, a chemical reaction will begin, and after its completion, the softened carbon deposits can be easily removed with a damp cloth.

You can clean the unit with gray from a matchbox. Turn on the iron and run the box over the surface.
Nail polish remover. How to clean the iron if a piece of polyethylene stuck to it? Ordinary acetone will help. When handling, do not touch the plastic parts of the device, as the liquid can damage them.
Foil. The Teflon coating will clear if you iron the foil for 5-7 minutes.

Important! Never use a knife, sandpaper or other sharp objects in cleaning and removing burns. This will scratch the coating mercilessly and cause it to break.

To clean the steam outlet, soak a cotton swab in vinegar, insert it into the hole, and scroll. Thus, you remove dirt that interferes with the full operation of the device. After cleaning, go over the holes with clean cotton swabs.

Some major iron manufacturers such as Tefal, Philips or Roventa produce a special non-stick pad for delicate ironing. It quickly and painlessly irons delicate fabrics such as silk, linen, prints, appliques and others. Such accessories are made of high quality steel, so they are durable and strong.

How to prevent dirt on the sole

It is easier to prevent dirt from appearing on the device than to deal with it.

Observe proper temperature conditions. For silk, 110 degrees is enough, for cotton clothes - 200 degrees, and wool - no more than 140. Many do not pay enough attention to this rule, and this can affect the state of things and the iron.
Make it a rule to turn off the appliance immediately upon completion of work.
In order not to have to clean the surface from plaque, after every 3-4 ironing, wipe the sole with a cloth soaked in citric acid diluted with water.
If the surface is clean, but still does not slip, you can fix the situation with paraffin. Rub it on a grater, mix it with salt and pour everything into a newspaper. Cover with a thin cloth and iron with a hot iron. If necessary, the manipulation is repeated, because this method does not harm the material.

How to descale your iron

If red spots appear on the clothes during ironing, and the steam supply function does not function well, then most likely scale has appeared in it. Three effective recipes will help to remove it.

Self-cleaning function

Modern models of electrical appliances are equipped with a descaling system in advance. If you have not fully figured out the purpose of this or that button on the unit, then hurry to look through the instructions. It may be that you are the lucky owner of such a device. To properly clean, follow the manufacturer's recommendations carefully. In general, the scheme of actions is as follows.

Pour the maximum amount of water into the designated reservoir.
Set the temperature control to the maximum setting.
The appliance heats up, then cools down and heats up again.
Tilt the unit over a bowl or sink.
After pressing the magic self-cleaning button, scale is removed from the steam vents.

After the procedure, rinse the reservoir with clean water and wipe the device dry.

Lemon acid

Dissolve a tablespoon of citric acid (20-30g) in a glass of water.
Pour the solution into the reservoir.
Heat the machine to maximum.
Shake the unit vigorously several times and press the button that releases steam.

It is necessary to carry out the manipulation over the container, because the scale leaves the iron in dark spray along with the vapors. Rinse container and wipe dry.

Mineral water with gas

The mineral waters contain acids that help dissolve scale inside the unit. Just do the same manipulations as given above.

How to prevent lime scale formation

So that later you do not have to clean the scale deposits, monitor the quality of the liquid that you pour into the container. Best for steam ironing:

Bottled water that you can buy at any grocery store.
Distilled water. Can be purchased at any gas station.
Water purified by a household household filter.
Standing water from the mains. In just a few hours, the salts will precipitate out.

Remember that timely prevention will extend the life of electrical appliances. Learn the principles of correct ironing, read the tags on your clothes, and never leave the appliance turned on unattended. If an emergency situation arises, the above simple and effective recipes will help you.

Video: Cleaning the iron using folk methods inside and out

Getting ready for school and work in the morning is not complete without haste and ... without ironing. Rush, as you know, hurts everything, including ironing. More than once I had to literally grab a heated iron and a spoiled thing from my daughter's hands.

Equally easy, the baby singles blouses and skirts with Teflon, ceramics or steel. Therefore, I know firsthand how to clean an iron.
So, let's remind each other of the ways to clean the iron from scale and carbon deposits.

How to clean a regular iron at home?

Even a novice housewife can clean the iron at home. Cleaning the iron without heating it has proven itself excellent.

Important: Do not clean the Teflon or ceramic sole with a stiff brush, scraper, knife blade, or silicate-based cleaning paste.

Use these cleaning methods to add a mirror-like shine to the ceramic sole and a flawless Teflon work surface:

Take any of the following: hydrogen peroxide / table vinegar / baking soda / ammonia.
Apply in the same way to thoroughly clean the sole of our iron. The methods are effective with fresh and slight contamination of the electrical appliance.

We clean the Teflon iron

What to take?

A solution of 3% hydroperite (hydrogen hydroxide)
Or 9% table vinegar
Or table vinegar with ammonia in a 1: 1 ratio,
Or a 20% baking soda solution (4 tsp for a glass of water).

Important: the soleplate of the iron must be cold.

What to do?

Moisten a kitchen scrubber or a piece of terry cloth with one of the solutions,
Rub the sole of the appliance to a shine until all deposits and stains are gone.
In case of heavy dirt, leave the surface to turn off under a damp cloth for 2-3 hours.
Remove the softened layers of plaque with a washcloth or thick cloth.

Important: after cleaning, streaks may remain on the sole, so I advise you to iron a clean cloth with a cleaned hot iron.

Option number 2. Acetone or nail polish remover

A couple of times I ended up with school notebooks in plastic covers on my ironing board, and, of course, they were touched by a hot iron when ironing. In addition, acetone can remove burnt-on fabrics - polyester, acrylic or rayon - from the iron.

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