Your iron might not be your favourite household appliance, but it does help you to step out of the door in smart, neatly pressed clothes. So let’s give your iron the love and care it deserves. We all need a clean iron!
Here are some easy tips for cleaning and looking after your iron
How to clean the base of your iron
Sometimes fibres stick and even burn to the base plate of an iron, leaving unsightly marks on clothes. To get rid of these marks on the plate gently rub the marks using a damp cloth and a little white toothpaste or a homemade paste of baking soda and a little vinegar or water. Never scrub the base with household cleaning products as these can be harsh and damage the coating of the plate.
Avoid iron marks on clothes
Your iron might spit residue onto your clothes through the steam holes. This is due to a build-up of calcium and dirt. To avoid this always use distilled water in your iron (not tap water which contains minerals and deposits) and regularly clean your iron with a special iron descaler.
Using iron descaler is easy. Pour the descaler into the iron´s water deposit (with the iron switched off) and allow it to steam for 10 minutes. Then tip out any remaining liquid and rinse with distilled water.
Using vinegar to clean your iron
You can also make a home-made iron-cleaning solution with white distilled vinegar and water. However, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions as the use of vinegar could invalidate your warranty.
How to clean an iron´s steam holes
Sometimes the holes that disperse the steam get clogged. Take a cotton bud or toothbrush, dip it into iron descaler, white toothpaste or a baking soda and vinegar solution and gently rub to remove the residue.
Having a clean iron will ensure your clothes stay in pristine condition.
