How to Clean Out a Steam Iron
Few people enjoy ironing, but ironing with a dirty iron only makes the chore worse. Steam irons can get clogged up with mineral deposits. Since you can't take your iron out, you may be wondering how to clean it out. It's possible to do so quickly and painlessly. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar or steam iron cleaner
- Distilled Water
- Soft cloth
- Cotton swabs
- Detergent
- Salt
Instructions
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How to Clean the Water Reservoir
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1
Fill the water reservoir of your iron at least 1/4 full with straight vinegar. Some irons may require the use of special iron cleaners. Use them according to directions on the bottle.
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2
Turn your iron on to a medium-heat steam setting.
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3
Steam iron and spray a clean rag until the reservoir is empty. Set the iron on top of a cookie rack above a heat proof system; let it run. Make sure you supervise the iron while it is on.
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4
Fill the water reservoir completely full with distilled water.
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5
Steam iron and spray a clean rag until the reservoir is empty.
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6
If deposits are still visible in the water reservoir, repeat Steps 1 to 5.
How to Clean the Soleplate
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7
Start with an iron that is cool and unplugged.
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8
Wipe off the outside of the iron with detergent and water.
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9
Use a cloth dipped in vinegar to remove build up. Dip a few cotton swabs in vinegar to wipe out the inside of the steam vents.
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10
If Steps 2 and 3 do not work, heat a solution of white vinegar and salt until the salt dissolves. Wipe the iron's sole plate with a clean cloth dipped in the solution.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Check with your manufacturer for guidance before attempting methods listed here. According to Heloise (of Heloise's Hints), using vinegar to remove deposits is not recommended for some irons. They may suggest specialized iron cleaners. Special steam iron cleaners can be found at many hardware stores as well as on the Internet.
Resources
- Photo Credit Creative Commons: It's Greg
