How can you clean your iron from carbon deposits? How to clean an iron from burnt marks on the soleplate - effective methods for different types of coatings. Self-cleaning function or the easiest way to descale the inside of an iron

Modern electric ironing devices are becoming more and more sophisticated, but at the same time they are demanding in terms of operating conditions and maintenance. An incorrectly selected ironing mode can lead not only to damage to clothing, but also to fabric sticking to the surface, and using plain tap water leads to the formation of scale. All this requires the owner to take measures to clean the ironing equipment that is indispensable in the house.

The best iron cleaning products

You can clean the iron using special store-bought products, here they are:

a special pencil based on ammonia. This product can be purchased at any hardware store, and it costs a penny. All you need to do is heat the electric device, rub its sole with a pencil, and then run it several times over a piece of unnecessary fabric, on the surface of which all the dirt will remain along with the remnants of the product;
What else is used to clean an iron? Silit will help remove rust and scale. After heating the device, you should turn it upside down and carefully drop a few drops of the product into each steam outlet. After a few minutes, rust will begin to appear on the surface, which should be removed with a dry cloth. And then it is recommended to fill the tank with water, select the steaming mode and punch holes well with a jet by pressing the corresponding button several times. Drain off excess water, wipe the device dry and begin ironing.

How to clean an iron from carbon deposits

There are many ways to clean your iron at home, here are some of them:

Soda combined with dishwashing detergent. These two components must be mixed in a 2:1 ratio to obtain a paste. The sole of the iron should be covered with this slurry using a sponge. Leaving the device for 5–10 minutes, then vigorously rub the surface with a damp cloth.
You can also clean your iron from carbon deposits using laundry soap. It is enough to warm up the device well and wipe its sole with a piece of the product. Wait until the iron cools down and wash off any residue with water.
It can also help to clean your ironing equipment. regular vinegar. Armed with some rough, unnecessary cloth, you should soak it in vinegar and thoroughly wipe the contaminated surface. Since vinegar evaporates quickly, you will have to wet the cloth several times. After all the dirt and plaque remains on the fabric, the iron should be returned to its original appearance by ironing first the wet and then dry fabric.

How to clean iron from fabric

Fabric remains are the most common contamination that occurs when using the device in everyday life. If you do not take cleaning measures immediately, you can later damage your clothes when ironing, which will be contaminated by the fabric elements remaining on the sole.

We must immediately warn you that you cannot use strong abrasives such as sandpaper, blades or metal sponges, as they can easily scratch the sole. This can lead to further damage to your clothes when ironed with such a ridged and scratched iron. It is better to clean the iron at home like this:

Heat the device, moisten an unnecessary rough cloth with ammonia and, as in the case of vinegar, rub the entire contaminated surface well. In the same way, we remove tissue residues and other plaque using hydrogen peroxide.
Hydroperite tablets will help clean the iron from the fabric. After heating the electric device, you should rub its sole with a couple of tablets, and as soon as the dirt begins to come off from the surface, remove the remains with an old dry rag.
The surface of the iron will shine clean again if you treat it with toothpaste, then turn on the device and iron the unnecessary fabric with a well-heated soleplate. To prevent the paste from clogging into the steam holes, you can pour water into the compartment and turn on the steam ironing mode.

Cleaning the iron inside

Like any electrical or other device operated with water, the iron tank sooner or later becomes covered with rust. The culprit may be failure to follow the instructions and use of plain water instead of distilled water. However, there is no need to panic or get upset. There are a couple of ways to solve this problem, here they are:

You can clean the inside of the iron at home using anti-scale agent or citric acid. To obtain a solution that needs consistency, you need to dissolve 0.5 teaspoon of the product in a glass of water, pour it into the compartment of the heated device and leave for 20–30 minutes. Then clean the holes by pressing the “steam” button several times. If the tank is not completely cleaned, you can repeat the procedure;
the same method, but instead of acid or anti-scale agent, use a mixture of water and vinegar.

That's all about cleaning ironing equipment at home. In order for the iron to last as long as possible and always delight you with the shine and cleanliness of the soles, you must follow the operating rules, observe the temperature conditions for different types of fabrics and do not neglect ironing through gauze. And then you will not be in danger of holes on your favorite blouse and rusty spots that are clearly visible on light-colored things. Good luck!

There are many options for irons to suit every taste. Manufacturers offer devices with different types of coatings: Teflon, ceramics, aluminum and others. But they have the same problem. When the heated sole is left on the fabric for too long, there is a risk of burning, which is difficult to eliminate if you are unaware and have no experience. If the scale inside is removed with vinegar, the burnt fabric will not come off so easily. Let's look at effective ways to combat the problem.

Methods for cleaning iron from burnt marks

Table vinegar

To prepare the composition, you must use vinegar with a concentration of 9%. Mix 160 ml. purified (!) water with 40 ml. composition. Dip a cotton or linen napkin into the solution; these fabrics can withstand high temperatures.
Turn on the iron and set the power to medium. Warm up the device, and then begin to wipe the warm sole with a napkin folded in several layers. The burn will gradually go away, so there shouldn’t be any difficulties.
If necessary, perform the manipulations several times. Rinse any remaining dirt in the vinegar solution. To clean the steam vents, use cotton swabs and the vinegar mixture above.
You should be careful when handling the hot soleplate of the iron. Also, when heating, vinegar does not smell very pleasant, so we recommend opening the windows.

Paraffin

If you have a paraffin candle, then grate it on a fine-grained grater and combine with extra-class salt (fine). Larger crystals will damage the coating of the sole, so table salt should not be used.
You can use pure paraffin without salt. To do this, place the iron in a vertical position, place a tray under it, turn on the device and rub the candle into the soleplate.

Toothpaste

To use the composition for household purposes, you can purchase even the cheapest toothpaste without granules. Teeth cleaning powder diluted with water to make a porridge is also suitable.
Use is not difficult. Apply the composition to a cold surface where there is carbon deposits. Rub with a cotton or linen cloth until the marks disappear.
Leave the product to act for 15-20 minutes, remove any remaining residue. If the carbon deposits have not completely disappeared, perform repeated manipulations immediately after the first cleaning.
At the end of the procedure, dampen the cloth in clean water, wipe the soleplate of the household appliance and let it dry. The interesting thing is that toothpaste or powder removes stains completely.

Peroxide

Use hydrogen peroxide to clean burnt appliances. An analogue is also suitable - hydroperite in tablets.
The principle of the procedure is not difficult. Heat the household appliance, soak a linen napkin in hydrogen peroxide, fold it into 5 layers. Wipe the hot surface until dirt is removed.
The hydroperite tablet must be mixed with water, then wipe the soleplate of the iron in the same way. After all manipulations, iron the cotton cloth to remove any remaining product.

Matchbox

To remove burnt marks from the surface of the iron, you need to use the sulfur strip, which is located on the side of the matchbox. The main thing is to take sulfur from an unused box of matches.
Heat the iron to medium heat. Take an empty box and start moving it over the area of contamination, rubbing it lightly. When all the burnt residue is gone, let the device cool and remove the residue with a dry cloth.

Ammonia

Ammonia is an effective and inexpensive means for cleaning surfaces from burnt surfaces. To use it, choose any of the recipes below.
You can mix 9% vinegar with ammonia. A 50 ml mixture is also suitable. lemon juice and 4 drops of ammonia. Some people use ammonia in its pure form, as you like.
The processing principle is the same: soak a piece of flax in any of the products, heat the iron and rub vigorously with a wet cloth. Then turn off the device, wait 7 hours, and in the morning remove the residue by simply ironing.

Salt

Salt not only adds an original taste to dishes, but is also used for household purposes. This method is not suitable for cleaning an iron with a Teflon sole.
Lay out several clean sheets of paper and sprinkle with fine extra-grade salt. Heat the iron to maximum heat, iron the salt for a while.

Special pencil

There are many targeted household products on store shelves. A pencil is also called a chalk for cleaning various iron coatings. The most popular companies producing products: “Cinderella”, “Diaz”, “Typhoon”.
Each chalk comes with instructions that indicate what surfaces it can be used on. But there is still a general principle of use, let’s consider it.
Heat up the iron, then unplug it. Do not press on the pencil, start rubbing it on the burnt sole. When the dirt is gone, run the iron over with a dry cotton or linen cloth.

Soda

The effectiveness of soda in household problems has long been known. The composition will help get rid of even old dirt. It is important to use baking soda wisely so as not to harm your household appliance.
Combine 50 g in a cup. soda and 300 ml. warm water. Stir until the particles are completely dissolved. Spread the product over the area of contamination with a foam sponge. Lightly scrub the surface.
Do not forget that soda is an abrasive compound. Therefore, it is prohibited to use it for Teflon-coated irons. It is also not recommended to use coarse salt for such devices.
After you have treated the surface, the remaining soda should be removed with a clean rag. Wipe the soleplate of the iron dry with cotton towels.

Alternative remedies

Preheat the iron as usual. Rub the sole of the household appliance with laundry soap. Wait for the surface to cool completely. Wipe with a damp cloth. This method is effective for fresh stains.
You can do it another way. Wipe the cold soleplate of the iron with nail polish remover or paint thinner. For convenience, use a cotton pad.
If the soleplate of the iron is made of ceramic or similar expensive material, you can use glass cleaner. Spread it on, wait a few minutes and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

Cleaning Teflon Coating

Do not use abrasive products to clean the Teflon coating. In this case, there are more gentle and no less effective remedies that you can prepare yourself.

A glass cleaner does the job well.
Soak a cotton cloth in the vinegar solution and iron the cloth. For effectiveness, you can add a little ammonia.
Budget options include gel-based dishwashing detergent.
Many housewives recommend using baby cream. The composition effectively copes with dirt. It is enough to wipe the hot sole with a rag and cream.
Teflon coating can be cleaned in a non-traditional way. For this you will need regular chalk. Heat the iron and rub the soleplate with chalk powder. Roll up the stain in any convenient way. You can do the same with laundry soap.

Cleaning ceramic coating

Modern irons with ceramic coating damage clothes and leave burnt marks; cleaning the devices is quite simple. To return the sole to its original appearance and previous functionality, you can resort to some actions.
Purchase a simple glass and ceramic surface cleaner. The composition can be purchased at any household store. In most cases, housewives already have similar products at home.
Spread over the cold soleplate of the iron, after 5 minutes wipe the device with a clean sponge. If you want to do it in a different way, then you will need hydroperite. Rub the hot sole of the iron with a tablet, then remove the residue with a damp sponge.
Toothpaste can help solve this problem. Apply the mixture locally to the stain and scrub with an old toothbrush. Remove any remaining carbon deposits with a damp cloth.
Often there is a situation when you can simply forget about carefully ironing synthetic items. Then the melted material can be wiped off with nail polish remover. From now on, lay a gauze cloth to prevent such situations.

Remember that delicate fabrics should be ironed through gauze, then there will be no melted particles left on the sole.
Always clean the steam vents if you cannot remove creases or folds from your items.
After using the iron, wipe the soleplate with a vinegar-based solution.
If absolutely necessary, use harsh cleaning agents. Otherwise, the soleplate of the iron will be irrevocably damaged.

It is not difficult to clean the soleplate of your iron yourself if you have some knowledge. Consider common ways to solve problems, and try to avoid a similar situation in the future. Iron delicate items through damp gauze.

Video: how to clean a burnt iron

Probably everyone, at least once in their life, has wondered how to clean the iron from carbon deposits, which often form during ironing. If the iron is very hot, foreign materials can easily stick to it. It may happen that the wrong temperature setting is accidentally set, and when you touch something that you started ironing, carbon deposits remain on the sole.

When you subsequently use the iron, carbon deposits interfere: it clings to the fabric and can even ruin it. You can clean it at home with many means - from folk remedies to those offered in stores.

The stores offer many accessories to make ironing easier. Among them there are also those products that will help clean the iron from carbon deposits at home. One of these are special pencils.

Their main component is ammonia, which when used spreads an unpleasant aroma. But after one application the effect is noticeable immediately.

The pencil is very easy to use. It is enough to heat the iron and lubricate the sole with a pencil, then wipe the surface with a cotton napkin. During the procedure, carbon deposits dissolve and flow onto the table or surface where cleaning is carried out, so dirt should be removed immediately.

This cleansing pencil is quite affordable and is enough for several procedures. Similar products are also available for Teflon-coated irons.

For them, pencils are especially necessary: they quickly and quite effectively cope with carbon deposits, do not cause mechanical damage to the sole, and Teflon surfaces are especially vulnerable to them. By the way, regular toothpaste is perfect for such irons.

This effectiveness of the pencil is due to the fact that it contains ammonia at its base, so you don’t have to spend money on a purchased product, but make it yourself. And everything you need for this is available in your home medicine cabinet and kitchen.

Folk remedies against soot

There are housewives who do not like to use chemicals, so the most acceptable way for them is to clean the iron at home using folk remedies. They are no less effective than store-bought ones and allow you to save a lot of money.

But when using folk remedies, you should be extremely careful: some substances used can render the ironing tool unusable.

The following methods are most effective:

Cleaning the iron with salt. It should be poured onto a thick paper sheet, the iron should be heated to the highest possible temperature and moved over the salt. The carbon deposits should gradually disappear. The paraffin from the candle will help enhance the effect. It must be finely grated and added to salt.
A regular paraffin candle will have an excellent cleaning effect. To do this, you need to wrap it in a cotton napkin and wipe it with a preheated iron. The candle melts, so you need to provide some kind of container where the molten paraffin will drain. The iron should be held so that paraffin drops and dirt do not get into its holes. After completing the procedure, it is necessary to remove all paraffin residues.
An effective remedy is a matchbox. You need to heat the ironing tool, and then wipe the sole with the part of the box on which matches are lit. You need to use a new box that still has the sulfur layer intact.
Hydrogen peroxide will help remove carbon deposits. You can remove it with a cotton pad soaked in peroxide. Hydroperite will also help. You should move the tablet along the sole of a very hot iron. But there will be an unpleasant odor, so care should be taken to ventilate the room. The carbon deposits will come off easily, and the cleaned iron will only need to be wiped with a damp cloth.
Acetone or vinegar will help in the fight against carbon deposits. The surface is wiped with a cotton pad soaked in them, after which the carbon deposits disappear. After this, wipe the sole with a woolen cloth. If you cannot completely remove the stains, you can leave the iron overnight on a cloth well soaked in vinegar. And in the morning, the exfoliated plaque should be removed with a soft cotton cloth.
One of the most gentle cleaning methods is laundry soap. They should just wipe the sole.

To clean the working surface, you cannot use an abrasive material, much less a knife, as this can completely ruin it.

What else can help?

Ammonia, which is found in almost every home medicine cabinet, will help you clean your iron at home. They need to generously moisten the cotton wool and wipe the soleplate of the cold iron. Then you should heat it to 130ºС and wipe it with a piece of woolen cloth. All the fumes will remain on the fabric. But this method will only help with minor stains.

It happens that a hot iron completely melts the fabric when ironing. In this case, you will have to use a more effective composition to clean the surface. It is prepared from the following ingredients:

dishwashing liquid - 1 tsp;
ammonia - 2 tsp;
juice squeezed from half a lemon;
hydrogen peroxide - 1 tablet;
half a glass of water.

Everything is thoroughly mixed, a cotton swab is well moistened in the prepared mixture and the surface of the iron is wiped with it. Just be sure to do this with rubber gloves so as not to damage the skin of your hands. The carbon deposits soften under the influence of the prepared product and will come away from the iron.

Windshield cleaners and nail polish remover can also help. But when working with them, it is necessary to ventilate the room, as toxins hazardous to health are released into the air.

In order for the iron to serve its owners for as long as possible, you should make it a rule to wipe the work surface with a soft cloth after each use.

Hello, dear readers! Today's review will be devoted to cleaning the iron, not only its sole, but also the inside. The carbon deposits that form on the sole of the iron are familiar to everyone, because even the most expensive iron is not protected from this scourge. What causes this notorious soot to form? This problem appears due to non-compliance with the temperature regime, i.e. If you are ironing silk fabric, then set the heating power level of the iron to minimum; if you plan to iron a woolen sweater, do not forget to put gauze. But unfortunately, we don’t always follow such seemingly basic rules, so we then suffer from the deposits that form on the iron, which, when ironed, leaves terrible marks on the surface of the fabric.

How to clean the soleplate of an iron.

Indelible pencil.

The easiest way to remove carbon deposits is to purchase a special pencil for cleaning the iron at a hardware store; its cost varies between 20 rubles, and it copes with its task at 5+. Using it is simple: heat the iron, and thoroughly coat its sole with this pencil; as soon as the product “corrodes” the carbon deposits, run the iron over a piece of lint-free fabric. The only drawback of this method is the pungent smell of ammonia, which is what this pencil actually consists of. This method is certainly very effective, but what to do when clothes need to be ironed urgently, and there is no time left to go to the store for a “magic pencil”. You will have to deal with carbon deposits using improvised means.

How to clean a burnt iron - proven methods:

Method number 1. Laundry soap. We heat the iron, wipe its sole with laundry soap, after it has cooled, rinse off the soap with water.

Method number 2. Soda with dishwashing detergent. Mix ½ tsp. detergent with 1 tsp. soda (it should turn out to be a paste), apply the composition to the sole of the iron (it is convenient to use a sponge), leave the device for 5-10 minutes, after which we arm ourselves with a damp rag and intensively wipe the surface to be cleaned.

Method number 3. Salt with heating iron. Pour fine salt onto the newspaper, level it, and run a hot iron over it with pressure, as if ironing. When the salt begins to darken, the process is coming to its logical conclusion. Devices with Teflon coating cannot be cleaned in this way!

Method number 4. Salt without heating the iron. Pour fine salt onto the newspaper, level it, and slide the sole of the iron over it with intense ironing movements. Devices with Teflon coating cannot be cleaned in this way!

Method number 5. Vinegar. Take an old rag (preferably coarser), lightly moisten it with vinegar, and actively wipe the dirty soleplate of the iron. Since vinegar tends to evaporate quickly, do not forget to wet the rags as often as possible. After we have achieved the desired result, heat the iron and iron with pressure a piece of cloth first soaked in plain water and then a dry rag.

Method number 6. Ammonia. We heat the iron, moisten unnecessary rags with ammonia and wipe the contaminated area of the iron sole. Attention, when the ammonia begins to evaporate, a pungent odor will appear, be prepared to ventilate the room.

Method number 7. Hydroperite tablets. We heat the iron, rub the base with a hydroperite tablet, wait until the plaque begins to “corrode”, remove the remains with an old dry rag.

Method number 8. Hydrogen peroxide. Heat the iron, moisten a cloth with hydrogen peroxide and thoroughly clean the base of the device.

Method number 9. Paraffin candle. We wrap the candle in cotton fabric, heat the iron, and move it forcefully along its base (hold the iron vertically), as soon as the candle begins to melt, the wax will flow down, so do not forget to place some kind of tray. Also, tilting will help prevent wax from getting into the holes on the sole of the iron. After the device is cleaned, iron the unnecessary fabric with it.

Method number 10. Toothpaste. Apply toothpaste to the soleplate of the device, turn on the iron, remove the remaining toothpaste by ironing the unnecessary rag. You can turn on the “steam” mode, then the toothpaste will not clog in the steam holes.

How to clean the inside of an iron.

After using the iron for a long time, you may notice the formation of scale; this occurs due to non-compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations specified in the instructions for the device. Take the time to read the instructions before using the iron. Here I want to give you general tips for descaling your water tank.

Tip #1. Pour hot boiled water into a glass or mug, add a packet of citric acid, and pour the resulting solution into the iron (water compartment). We turn on the household appliance at full power, and by pressing the “steam” button we release steam several times. Then we drain the liquid, pour in boiled water or what the manufacturer recommends, and again press the “steam” button several times, change the water again, and with peace of mind we begin ironing things!

Tip #2. Silit removes rust and scale well. We heat the iron, turn it upside down, and carefully drip Silit into the steam outlet holes. After a few minutes, traces of rust will appear on the surface; remove them with a dry cloth, then pour water into the steaming tank and press the corresponding button several times. Don't forget to wipe the top of the device.

Recommendation #4. The iron should be cleaned carefully so as not to damage its surface, otherwise the grooves or burrs formed on its sole will rust and cause puffs on clothes. The result: a clean, shiny iron.

Cleaning the soleplate of the iron (video):

Dear readers, that’s all, maybe you have your own proven ways to clean the soleplate of an iron, share your experience in the comments! I look forward to your feedback, and don’t forget to subscribe to receive news from the “Comfort in the Home” website. See you again!

Show hidden content

How to clean an iron at home

Cleaning your iron from carbon deposits at home is a simple matter. The main thing is to choose a product that is suitable for the material from which the sole of the iron is made. There are some nuances to this matter:

For appliances with ceramic coating. To avoid damaging the surface, you can use a special cleaning pencil or chalk.
For metal surfaces. It is best to resort to baking soda or toothpaste.
For Teflon. You can care for an iron with a Teflon or ceramic sole using vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or soap.

Now let's take a closer look at these cleaning methods.

6 folk recipes

To clean your iron from carbon deposits, it is not at all necessary to resort to expensive substances; you can get by with budget components:

Image	Instructions
	Method 1. Vinegar Wondering how to clean the soleplate of a Teflon-coated iron? Use regular table vinegar: Dilute a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water. Soak a clean cloth in the resulting solution. Heat the iron (but not to maximum temperature). Wipe the base of the device with a damp cloth. Be careful not to burn your fingers. During the cleaning process, heated vinegar will release an unpleasant odor. To work without unnecessary discomfort, put on a gauze bandage and open a window indoors.
	Method 2. Lemon juice and ammonia Simply by adding a few drops of ammonia to lemon juice, you will get an effective remedy that will not only rid the sole of soot, but also remove any remaining tissue stuck to the surface. In addition, alcohol will also disinfect the surface and prevent the formation of fungus on it.
	Method 3. Soap This option is perfect if you are looking for how to clean a Teflon-coated iron from fresh carbon deposits. Simply rub the sole with a bar of soap, and then remove any remaining carbon deposits with a damp cloth.
	Method 4. Nail polish remover It's very easy to use. Soak a cotton pad in the liquid and wipe the dirty areas with it. Then all you have to do is treat the surface with a clean, damp cloth.
	Method 5. Hydrogen peroxide To clean the surface of the iron, you will not need the liquid itself, but hydroperite tablets, which contain hydrogen peroxide. Rub the work surface with them (no need to crush the tablet), and then walk over it with a damp sponge.
	Method 6. Toothpaste Cleaning the soleplate of the iron with toothpaste follows the following procedure: warm up the device a little; apply the paste to the sole; rub it with a medium-hard brush; wash the surface. To prevent scratches on the iron as a result of such cleaning, use toothpaste without abrasive additives.

Iron pencil

You can also clean the iron using a special pencil (price - from about 75 rubles), which is sold in stores with household chemicals. It's very easy to use.

Turn on the device and wait until it warms up.
Start running the pencil along the sole until it starts to melt. Do not press the pencil too hard, otherwise it will break and small pieces will fall into the holes on the surface of the device.
Remove any remaining dirt with an unnecessary cotton cloth.

This option is good for the question of how to clean a Teflon iron or how to restore the metal or ceramic surface of the device.

How to prevent carbon deposits

To ensure that the problem of carbon deposits no longer bothers you, I recommend following simple but important tips:

Maintain temperature conditions. For different types of fabric, you should choose different temperature conditions. For example, 110 degrees is enough for silk, 200 degrees for cotton products, and no more than 140 degrees for wool.

Use damp gauze. Some items (especially woolen ones) are best ironed through a damp gauze cloth.
Treat the iron. After each use, wipe the soleplate of the device with a soft cloth.

Summary

I told you about the most effective ways to clean your iron from carbon deposits with your own hands. Choose a recipe based on the type of sole material, and return the device to its original appearance.