How to Clean a Dirty Iron.

If the bottom of your iron is looking less than fresh or has burn marks on the soleplate and you don’t know how to clean it without burning your finger.

Here’s our 11 must-know tips for you to get rid of this problem effectively.

• 1. Add vinegar to the water reservoir 
• 2. Use nail polish remover to break down residue
• 3. Use ice cubes and a plastic knife to remove melted plastic
• 4. A magic eraser 
• 5. Clean out the iron with salt and newspaper
• 6. Dissolve Tylenol into a hot iron soleplate
• 7. Soak a towel in vinegar
• 8. Baking soda will work 
• 9. Turn the iron to low heat and scrub with dryer sheets
• 10. Try out the cotton swab for the steam holes
• 11. Break out the Brillo pad 

Preparation and Safety

Before diving into the cleaning process, it’s crucial to take some precautions to ensure your safety and the longevity of your iron. Here are some essential steps to follow:

1. Unplug the Iron: Always make sure your iron is unplugged and cool to the touch before you start cleaning. This simple step will prevent any accidental start-ups or electrical shocks.
2. Empty the Water Reservoir: If your iron has a water reservoir, empty it completely before cleaning. This will help prevent any mineral deposits or bacteria from growing inside the reservoir.
3. Check the Iron’s Manual: Refer to your iron’s manual for any specific cleaning instructions. Some irons may have special cleaning requirements or recommendations that you should follow.
4. Wear Protective Gloves: If you’re using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials to clean your iron, wear protective gloves to prevent skin irritation or burns.
5. Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Ensure you’re working in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling any fumes or particles from the cleaning process.

By following these safety tips, you can clean your iron effectively while protecting yourself and your appliance.

1. Add vinegar to the water reservoir 

The best way to clean an iron, including its steam vents, is to fill the water reservoir with a mixture of half distilled white vinegar and half water.

After that, you should grab an old cloth or towel, and iron and steam it. When you steam, residue will come out of the vents along with the vinegar.

2. Use nail polish remover to break down residue

Besides, you can take advantage of your nail polish remover to clean your iron plate.

Let’s grab a cotton ball and dip it into acetone nail polish remover. Then, use an oven mitt or a heat-protecting glove to swipe the cotton ball along the surface of the hot iron.

By this way, you will dissolve residue in no time.

If you are going to try out this method, you should do it outside so that you don’t have to breathe in the chemical fume.

Alternatively, you can use a commercial iron cleaner paste, which is specifically designed to remove residue and stains from the iron’s surface.

3. Use ice cubes and a plastic knife to remove melted plastic

If your iron’s soleplate comes into contact with some plastic, you’ll have some difficulties dealing with this problem. By the way, don’t worry, it’s very simple to get off.

As soon as your iron comes into contact with some plastic, all you need to do is unplug it and let it cool.

Then, you can fill a metal bowl or pan with ice cubes and place the iron plate onto the ice to harden the plastic quickly. (You can skip this step if the plastic is already hardened on a cool iron). Last thing you have to do is take the plastic knife and scrape away the plastic and wipe down the surface with vinegar spray or a damp rag. And everything is done! Your problem of cleaning your iron plate has already been solved.

4. A magic eraser 

You will not be able to imagine how a magic eraser does magic when cleaning an iron, especially if your iron is spotted with hard water.

Make your magic eraser wet, and rub your cool iron along the sponge until the stains come off.

Remember to re-wet the sponge as needed.

5. Clean out the iron with salt and newspaper

Another way to deal with your annoying and dirty iron is through iron cleaning using salt and newspaper.

All you have to do is flip your iron to the hottest setting and lay out a newspaper on your ironing board.

After that, let’s sprinkle a good amount of salt over the newspaper, and iron the salty newspaper in a circle until it’s totally clean.

By the way, if you don’t have a newspaper handy, you can use a brown paper bag instead.

6. Dissolve Tylenol into a hot iron soleplate

One of the best tips that you may see when searching how to clean iron plates with burnt residue on the Internet is Tylenol.

Turn the iron on to the highest setting. When it’s hot, you should press the pill directly onto the burnt area.

The pill will melt and turn into a gel that dissolves the burnt spot. Then you can use a damp cloth or towel to clean the soleplate, and repeat as needed.

Nevertheless, don’t forget to protect your fingers, just wear something to protect your hands and you should be good to go.

7. Soak a towel in vinegar

To clean your iron plate, setting the iron onto the towel with the iron plate facing down, let it sit for 30 minutes and wipe it down will be a good suggestion if your iron has corrosion.

Alternatively, you can use a mixture of liquid dish detergent and water as a gentle cleaning method to remove residues without damaging the nonstick coating.

8. Baking soda will work 

Baking soda couldn’t be simpler as our step-by-step guide:

You may need:

– Baking soda or bicarbonate soda

– A pastry brush

– Two microfiber cloth

– White vinegar

– Distilled or deionized water

You will just need 4 steps to get it done:

Step 1: If you want to empty the water tank first, let’s combine two teaspoons of baking soda/bicarbonate of soda with water and make a paste.

Step 2: In the second step, you have to use a pastry brush to apply the paste to the plate, concentrate on the dirtiest areas, with a clean, microfiber cloth. You can use another clean microfiber cloth or a dampened paper towel to clean the excess paste off the iron.

Step 3: If there are stubborn marks, try to mix another baking soda paste and switch the water for white vinegar.

Step 4: Finally, plug in the iron and refill the water tank with the distilled or de-ionized water.

9. Turn the iron to low heat and scrub with dryer sheets

We will share how to do the magic with dryer sheets to clean iron plates. 

Just rub the soleplate with dryer sheets while the iron is on its lowest setting. When a dryer sheet gets too hot, toss it and reach for another. 

Just repeat this process until it’s literally clean. 

10. Try out the cotton swab for the steam holes

Don’t be surprised by the incredible use of the cotton swab can do with your cleaning iron plates problem. 

Dip them in distilled withe vinegar before inserting them to level up the grime-fighting power. 

11. Break out the Brillo pad 

If your iron has stuck-on glue from a craft project like adhering a patch, a Brillo pad will be a good idea to get rid of all the remnants without scratching your iron plate. 

Maintenance and Prevention

Regular maintenance and preventive measures can go a long way in keeping your iron clean and in good working condition. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Clean the Iron Soleplate Regularly: After each use, wipe down the iron soleplate with a damp cloth. This will prevent any residue or debris from building up and ensure a smooth ironing experience.
2. Use Distilled Water: Fill your iron’s water reservoir with distilled water instead of tap water. Distilled water helps prevent mineral deposits from forming, which can clog the steam vents and affect the iron’s performance.
3. Avoid Using Tap Water: Tap water can contain minerals and impurities that may damage your iron or cause mineral deposits to form. Stick to distilled water for the best results.
4. Dry the Iron Completely: After cleaning the iron, make sure to dry it completely to prevent any water spots or mineral deposits from forming. This will help maintain the iron’s efficiency.
5. Store the Iron Properly: Store your iron in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Proper storage will help prevent rust or corrosion from forming on the iron soleplate.
6. Use a Cleaning Solution: Mix equal parts water and white vinegar in the water reservoir to create a cleaning solution. This will help remove any mineral deposits or debris from the iron, keeping it in top condition.
7. Use a Cotton Swab: Clean the steam vents and steam holes with a cotton swab dipped in white vinegar. This will help remove any debris or mineral deposits that may be blocking the steam flow.
8. Rub with Dryer Sheets: Rub the iron soleplate with dryer sheets to remove any residue or debris. This will also help prevent static cling from forming on your clothes.

By following these maintenance and prevention tips, you can keep your iron clean, prevent mineral deposits from forming, and ensure it continues to work efficiently and effectively.

Get rid of dirty iron as fast as possible

By following our tips above, we make sure that you will deal with your dirt iron plate easily.

Jimmy Ho

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