How to Clean Steam Irons

A steam iron can stain clothing if it's not properly cleaned and maintained.

A good steam iron can last for years if properly cleaned and maintained. For general cleaning, make sure that the iron has cooled before you begin the task. You can injure yourself by attempting to clean a hot iron, although heat may be required to remove deposits on the sole plate.

Things You'll Need

• Vinegar
• Cotton swabs
• Newspaper
• Rags
• Commercial sole plate cleaner (optional)

Instructions

1. Put the iron on its highest heat setting and pass it across folded newspapers if the sole plate has starchy or waxy residue or other gunk on it. For more stubborn messes, you can try commercial products for cleaning the sole plate. You can often find them in the detergent section of the grocery store.

2. Mix one-fourth cup of vinegar into a cup of water and pour it into your iron's water dispenser if you want to clean the steam vents. Set the iron for high steam and iron some rags or scraps of fabric, repeatedly creating bursts of steam. This will help clean out the vents from the inside. Do this for several minutes. Then drain the iron and repeat the process with clean water before you begin using the iron on your clothes.

3. Use something that will not scratch the iron, such as a cotton swab, if you want to clean the outside of the steam holes. Wet the swab and clean out the holes. If this does not completely clean them, dip the swab into vinegar before cleaning out holes.

References

• Creative Homewares: How to Clean an Iron - Steam Irons