How to Clean a Dirty Iron: 11 Ways to Tackle an Iron Bottom

If the bottom of your iron is looking less than fresh or flat-out-burnt 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 

The best way to get rid of your iron 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.

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

If your iron 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 on your iron plate, 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 the. 

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 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. 

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 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 wihite 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. 

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.

Visit us for more tips

If you are looking for more tips to improve your healthy living, Sparkling and beyond is here to help. 

Moreover, if you don’t have time for getting your house clean, we also provide our cleaning services. Whether where you live is a house or a mansion, our well-experienced specialist will make you satisfied with our services.

Jimmy Ho

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