One day you put on your favorite music to get ready to iron, you start your first step that you always do in your “ironing moment” (this time you are taking it positively), and you grab the iron and… Disaster! Your clothes have stuck to the iron, your iron no longer releases steam and you don’t understand what is happening, or that beautiful white shirt that you like so much ends up with a kind of brown stain. Yes, your iron is dirty and you definitely need to clean it. We tell you some infallible ways to clean the clothes iron that you should know if it has been filled with lime scale, if they get stuck or if your iron has burned. Take note!We tell you some infallible ways to clean the clothes iron that you should know if it has been filled with lime scale, if they get stuck or if your iron has burned. Take note!

My iron has been filled with lime scale: how should I clean it?

In places where the water is hard, it is common for the iron to fill with lime scale, both at the base of the iron and inside (holes and deposit). For this reason, manufacturers usually recommend using distilled or demineralized water when using the iron and emptying the tank with each use, in order to avoid lime scale (yes, we know, who pays attention to the instructions of the iron manufacturers? ). Anyway, now that you know, maybe you can start using the correct water for, but first, let’s clean it:

Steam cleaning for your iron

If it’s not that dirty, it’s quite possible that a steam cleaning will suffice. Half fill the tank of the iron and begin to steam it continuously until all the water evaporates. You will thoroughly clean the iron, removing all the dirt it may have, so do not forget to put a container under it that collects all the dirty water. Most of the current irons have this cleaning function included (now, it’s time to review the instructions).

Cleaning the soleplate

If the soleplate of the has lime scale, clean it with a paste of baking soda and cold water. With a soft cloth, rub it on the soleplate of the iron and gently remove the stains. This method is valid for metal sole plates, ceramic ones could be scratched.

Cleaning the griddle holes

This grandma trick never fails. With the iron warm, she begins to pass a candle across the surface of the soleplate of the iron and immediately activates the steam function. Next, she rubs the iron over a piece of brown paper or a clean cloth. The wax from the candle that was introduced over the holes will drag away all the dirt and scale encrusted in contact with the steam. When the holes have cleared up, do not forget to clean the base of the iron with a damp cloth while it is still hot.

How to clean the clothes iron if it has burned

It happens to all of us at some point in life, the iron burns us and we think that we have completely ruined the iron. Using a burnt iron is synonymous with destroying a garment, but, like everything in life, iron burns also have a solution.

• Use toothpaste: what will the toothpaste that seems to be used for everything are made of. With the cold and unplugged iron, smear the base with toothpaste. Plug in the iron and heat it up. Activate the steam function for a few minutes and rub the iron over a clean cotton cloth until the burnt spots are removed. When you’re done, let it cool and wipe away any remaining toothpaste with a damp cloth.
• The coarse salt trick: Put some coarse salt on a cloth and rub the hot iron over the salt, back and forth, gently so it doesn’t scratch. This trick works with most griddles, even those with nonstick soleplates, since rubbing gently won’t scratch the griddle. When it’s cool, wipe it down with a damp cloth and some dish soap.

The clothes stick to the iron, what can I do?

• This usually happens when some fibers get stuck to the soleplate of the iron with the heat. To avoid this, always try to check the labels of your garments to find out the proper iron temperature. In any case, if the tragedy has already occurred, there is no problem, because we have a unique homemade solution: baking soda and lemon!
• Make a paste with baking soda and lemon and wipe the surface of the griddle with a clean cloth. This is a powerful cleaner that will leave any metal-based plate looking like new, but also the kitchen surface if it is made of metal.