Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 5: Iron cleaner
• Method 2 of 5: Dish soap
• Method 3 of 5: Vinegar and salt
• Method 4 of 5: Remove wax
• Method 5 of 5: Clean the steam vents
• Tips
• Necessities

It's time to clean your iron if it sticks to the fabric when you move it or you see residue on the bottom of your iron (also called the soleplate). Removing residue from the bottom of your iron is the best way to get your iron back to normal operation, be it airborne dust, limescale or fibers from clothing.

To step

Method 1 of 5: Iron cleaner

1. Lay out a thick cotton cloth and squeeze it with some commercially available iron cleaner. Follow the instructions on the product packaging to determine the amount to use.
2. Make sure the iron is turned off. Drain all the water from your iron and then wipe the bottom with a warm, damp cloth.
3. Set the iron on a high cotton setting. When the iron is hot, move it with circular movements over the iron cleaner on the cotton cloth.
4. Take the soleplate of the iron again and iron in circles over the cloth again. Continue this until the soleplate and the steam vents of the iron are free of residue and dirt.

Method 2 of 5: Dish soap

1. Mix warm water and mild dish soap together in a bowl.
2. Dip a cotton cloth in the soap mixture and gently wipe the soleplate of the iron with it.
   • This mild cleaning method is very suitable for soleplates with a protective layer of Teflon. Just like with pans with a Teflon layer, this layer ensures that nothing sticks to the soleplate. Such a soleplate is very sensitive to scratches.
3. Wipe the soleplate with a clean, damp cloth until all soap residue is gone.

Method 3 of 5: Vinegar and salt

1. Add 1 part salt to 1 part white vinegar and gently warm the mixture in a saucepan on the stove. Remove the mixture from the heat when the salt has dissolved, but before the vinegar starts to boil.
2. Dip a clean cloth in the warm vinegar and salt mixture and gently scrub the bottom of your iron with it until it is clean.
   • Wear waterproof gloves as dishwashing gloves to protect your hands from the hot mixture.
   • You can use a non-metal scouring pad to remove stubborn deposits, but don't use a steel pad that can scratch your iron.
   • The vinegar and salt mixture can also remove burn marks from the soleplate of your iron.
3. If necessary, wipe the outside of your iron with a damp cloth soaked in vinegar to remove further residue.

Method 4 of 5: Remove wax

1. Put an old newspaper on your ironing board.
2. Set the iron to the highest setting, and run it over the newspaper until the paper has absorbed all of the wax residue on the iron's soleplate.
   • Keep moving the iron constantly to reduce the chance of accidentally burning the paper or ironing board underneath.

Method 5 of 5: Clean the steam vents

1. Dip a cotton swab or pipe cleaner in white vinegar or a warm vinegar and salt mixture.
2. Insert the cotton swab or pipe cleaner into all steam outlets in the bottom of the iron and swirl gently.
   • By cleaning the steam vents of your iron, it will continue to do its job evenly and consistently.
   • Avoid the temptation to use paper clips or other hard metal objects that could scratch the steam vents of the iron.

Tips

• Regardless of how you clean your iron, it is important to fill it with water afterwards according to the manufacturer's instructions. Then use the steam function to clean the steam vents.

Necessities

• Newspaper
• Cotton cloths
• White vinegar
• Dishwashing gloves
• salt
• Iron cleaner
• Dishwashing liquid
• Cotton buds or pipe cleaners