How to Clean a Steam Iron
Ironing clothes with a steam iron is a relatively easy task, but if the appliance is not properly maintained, it will cause more harm than good. Steam irons become clogged with mineral deposits over time, and different materials can stick on to their plates. For your iron to remain efficient, you need to know how to clean it the right way.
What You’ll Need:
Steam iron
Distilled water
White vinegar
Towel
Clean and soft cloth
Baking soda
Newspaper
Ammonia
Cleaning The Water Reservoir
Turn off your steam iron and unplug it, making sure it’s cool to the touch before you proceed with the cleaning. This prevents you from getting serious burns as you do the job.
steam iron
When you’re sure it’s cool, empty the water tank completely. In many steam iron models, this is done by turning the iron upside down over a sink, although there are a few models that require a different procedure. If you’re not sure with yours, check the owner’s manual for help.
Make a solution from equal parts of distilled water and white vinegar. Regular tap water contains impurities, making the cleaning procedure ineffective, so opt for distilled. If you have no distilled water on hand, though, and have no choice but to use tap water, boil it for five minutes and let cool before using it.
Pour the water-vinegar solution into the steam iron’s tank, filling it to the maximum capacity.
Plug and turn on the steam iron, then put the heat setting on high. Let it heat up completely, and adjust the steam setting on to high, too.
Get a clean and dry towel, and iron it carefully. This will help catch deposits that come from the iron’s steam vents. Keep ironing the fabric for five minutes or more, until there are no more deposits seen on the towel.
Cleaning The Iron’s Plate
If you’ve just cleaned the water tank, the iron must still be hot. You need to turn it off, unplug it and wait for it to cool before you proceed with this task.
Check the composition of the substance stuck at the iron’s bottom.
If it’s oily, use a rag dampened with ammonia to wipe it off. Then, rinse the iron off using water. The substance should be rinsed off.
If it’s waxy, turn the steam iron to the highest setting and run it across an old newspaper. The paper will soak up the wax.
For other types of build up, regular white vinegar will work great. Pour some on a clean and soft cloth, then use it to wipe the iron’s surface thoroughly. If the buildup is stubborn, add some baking soda to the vinegar.
Check the vents of the iron for build ups. If you see any, use a pipe cleaner or cotton swab to sweep it out of the vents.
As long as your steam iron is clean and working efficiently, ironing will not be a tedious task. Remember these steps and keep your steam iron in tiptop shape.