Irons do need some maintenance to keep them working properly. This is especially true for steam irons that have a water reservoir, as water is often left in the reservoir after use. After some time, mineral deposits and possibly even rust will accumulate, this build-up will end up leaving stains and marks on your clothes when you iron. If this is happening to you, it’s probably a good time to descale your iron. It’s recommended that you descale your iron at least once every 4 months, depending on how often you use it. So before throwing your iron away, read these quick and easy steps if you want to know how to clean the inside of an iron.
Tip: Always check the user manual for instructions on how to properly maintain your iron. If it has been thrown away, you will most likely be able to find it online.
How To Clean The Inside Of An Iron In 5 Steps:
- Pour out any leftover water from the reservoir. Then, fill it with clean, hot water to the halfway mark, and add vinegar to fill up the rest of the chamber.
- Leave the iron to sit on the hottest setting without steam for about 15 minutes before pressing the steam button a few times to flush out the steam vents. After 15 minutes, turn off the iron and allow the liquid mixture to cool before pouring it out.
- Next, fill the iron reservoir with clean, hot water, minus the vinegar. Let the iron sit for another 15 minutes on a hot setting before emptying it. You don’t have to wait for the water to cool.
- Refill your iron for the third time with clean water and test the steam on an old shirt or any old clothing item. If the steam is clear and there are no marks left on the shirt from the steam, then it’s ready to use. If you still see marks on the clothing item after testing the steam, repeat steps 1 to 3 again before retesting your iron.
- Lastly, always empty your iron reservoir after each use to keep the inside clean. If your iron regularly tends to build up with mineral deposits, switch to using only distilled or purified water in the reservoir.
Maintaining A Steam Iron
Steam irons do need regular cleaning, just like any other appliance. With a maintenance routine, the steam holes won’t get blocked and your iron will work efficiently on your clothes for a longer time.
- Clean the anti-calc valve regularly. When your iron is completely cooled and the reservoir emptied, remove the anti-calc valve and place it in a cup of vinegar or lemon for about 4 hours. Then rinse and put it back in the iron.
- To keep your iron clean and gliding smoothly, wipe the sole plate with a damp smooth cloth after each use.
- Avoid using detergents or commercial cleaners, and never use a metal pad to wipe your iron as it will scratch the iron. You should also avoid ironing over buttons and metal zippers.
- Lastly, as soon as you’re finished cleaning the reservoir of the iron, try to make sure that as much liquid as possible is emptied out. Don’t forget to close the steam generator and set the temperature to its lowest. Always remember to store your iron safely on its base.
We hope that you can now clean the inside of your iron and see the results when ironing your next set of clothes. If you still notice stains on your clothes when ironing, the soleplate may have leftover residue. You should read how to clean an iron plate to know the different ways to clean the soleplate of your iron. For a few methods of giving your iron a deeper clean, check out our post on how to clean an iron. Use these methods to keep ironing your clothes seamlessly with the best results.
