The problem of how to clean the soleplate of the iron, worried masters at all times, and, despite the various improvements in home appliances, the problem remains relevant today. Manufacturers assure that special coatings solve the problem with cleaning irons, but in practice it turns out that the problem is not only not solved, but new inconveniences have also been added. After all, now the hostess needs to look for a way how to clean the iron inside of the scum and how to clean the soleplate of the iron. In addition, you need to be careful when choosing the cleaning methods, because you can clean the Teflon iron, steam iron or ceramic sole of the iron without damaging the coating, by far not all proven years of folk ways. And with all this, the market has a fairly modest range of products designed to clean modern irons, which, of course, only aggravates the problem. Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of existing methods in order.
How to clean the iron with a pencil?
A special pencil for cleaning irons can be purchased at any hardware store. Pencil is applied to the heated surface of the iron and, melting, removes dirt. But using a pencil for cleaning irons with holes on the sole is problematic, since the ingress of molten mass into the holes can lead to internal damages.
How to clean the iron with vinegar or citric acid?
In some cases, to clean the soleplate of an iron, it is sufficient to wipe the surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of vinegar or citric acid. But you can not use vinegar to clean the steam irons inside, since acetic acid damages the rubber parts.
How to clean the iron with salt?
This method is suitable only for irons of the old sample with a metal surface, without holes. Uniform layer should be poured on a sheet of paper, can be mixed with paraffin wax, cover it with a napkin, and iron the iron with a hot iron.
How to clean the soleplate with soap?
This method is quite simple and safe for various coatings. The heated surface of the iron should be rubbed with a piece of soap, and after the iron has cooled, the dirt, together with a layer of soap, is removed with a damp cloth, after which the iron is wiped dry. If there are holes, make sure that soap does not fall into them.
How do I clean the steam iron inside?
In the first place for steam irons, well-purified soft or distilled water should be used, unless prohibited in the instructions. If the scum is formed, the iron can be cleaned using the self-cleaning function, if any. To do this, the water tank is completely filled, the iron switches to the maximum temperature, and after the second automatic shutdown, press the cleaning button. Do it better over the tank or over the bath, since a lot of steam with a trace of scale will emerge from the holes. When the vaporization stops, continue to hold the self-cleaning button, while shaking the iron to remove the water and scale from the tank.
If the self-cleaning function is not provided, then a solution of citric acid can be poured into the water tank, and using the steaming function, iron unnecessary cotton cloth. This can only be done in well-ventilated areas, since the vapors released are very toxic. After the scum comes out, it is necessary to fill the reservoir with clean water several times, and iron the unnecessary fabric using the steaming function.
How correctly to clean the burnt iron?
A common mistake is cleaning the iron with abrasive or mechanical means, for example, using a knife or hard brushes. Such methods can even render an old model iron out of order, and, of course, absolutely unacceptable for modern irons. Therefore, to remove carbon deposits, a method should be chosen that excludes mechanical action. If the above methods have proved ineffective, do not despair, there are other tools to gently clean the soleplate of the iron.