How to Clean an Iron

Co-authored by Michelle Driscoll, MPH

A dirty iron can cause a lot of problems, especially if you have a big load of laundry to take care of. Over time, water can leave behind mineral deposits. If you use a spray on starch or other product, this can leave gunk behind on the plate of the iron. Fortunately, though, irons are relatively easy to clean, especially if you do it on a regular basis.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning with Vinegar and Salt

1
Mix two parts white vinegar and one part salt. You will heat this mixture on the stove over medium heat. Heat until the salt is dissolved, but avoid letting the vinegar come to a boil.^{[1]
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- Unfortunately, the smell will probably be strong, but it will be a good cleaner for the iron.
2
Allow the mixture to cool. Leave the hot vinegar to cool down some. You want it to be warm, but not scalding hot.
- Wear dish gloves to protect your hands from the smell of the vinegar.
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3
Dip a clean rag into the vinegar mixture. You will use the mixture to clean the plate of the iron by rubbing the cooled mixture on the bottom of the iron.^{[2]
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- You can also use a soft brush to do this, unless you have a teflon coated iron as the brush may scratch the coating. Avoid using a wire brush as this will ruin the iron’s plate.
- This is a great way to get rid of scorch marks on the iron.
4
Rinse the iron. After you are finished cleaning, you should remove any of the residue that might be leftover from the mixture. You can do this by dipping a clean rag into some white vinegar and gently cleaning the plate of the iron again.
- After that, you can turn the iron on and run it over a piece of old, but clean cloth. This will help burn off any residue that might be left.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning with Baking Soda

1
Make a paste. Mix together a paste of 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of water and 2 tablespoons (6 g) of baking soda. The paste should be a bit runny, but still thick enough so that it can stick to the plate of your iron.^{[3]
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- Use filtered or distilled water, if you can.
2
Spread the paste on the iron’s plate after it has cooled. If you have recently used the iron, ensure that the plate is completely cool before you do this! You can apply the paste directly to the plate. If your iron is only dirty in one place, you don’t have to spread the mixture all over. If you are just doing a general cleaning, it is also OK to spread the paste over the entire plate.^{[4]
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- You can use your fingers to apply the paste or you can use a spatula.
- You can leave this paste sitting on the iron for a few minutes if there is a lot of buildup on the iron.
- Spread the paste on generously, especially if your iron is very dirty.
3
Get a clean cloth wet. You will use this to remove the paste, so make sure it is clean. Get the cloth wet. Wring out any excess water, and then wipe off the paste that you have spread onto the iron.
4
Use a cotton swab to clean the steam holes. Dip the cotton swab (the kind that people use to clean their ears) into some fresh distilled water. Clean out each of the steam holes using the cotton swab.^{[5]
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- You may need to use more than one cotton swab if there is a lot of gunk coming out of the holes. Use a new cotton swab if there is a lot of buildup stuck on the swab.
5
Fill the reservoir. If there is any old water leftover in the iron, be sure to empty it out first. You can do this by opening the hatch to the reservoir and turning it upside down. After it is empty, use distilled or filtered water, and fill the reservoir about 1/3 of the way.
- You can also fill the reservoir with a mixture of 3/4 cup (180 mL) of water and 1/4 cup (60 mL) of white vinegar for a stronger cleaning solution. However, you should read your iron’s instruction manual to make sure that it will tolerate vinegar.
6
Turn on the iron. Turn the iron to its highest setting, and make sure the steam setting is on. In this step, the steam and heat will clean out gunk and mineral deposits caught deep in the steam holes.
- Be careful when working with a hot iron. Don’t get burned by the steam that will be released by the iron.
7
Iron a clean cloth for a few minutes. Choose a clean cloth that you don’t mind getting dirty. If there is dirt caught inside the iron it may leave brown streaks on your cloth. All you need to do now is iron the cloth to help clean out the iron. If you have a manual steam button, press the button often to help release even more steam.^{[6]
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- A kitchen towel will probably work well for this.
8
Turn off the iron and let it cool. Make sure that you place the iron on a protected surface (e.g. a kitchen counter covered with a towel). As the iron cools, more old sediment might drip out of the iron.
- If there is any leftover water in the reservoir, be sure to remove it.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Other Ways to Clean Your Iron

1
Rub a new dryer sheet on the plate of the iron. Turn your iron on the lowest setting. Take a fresh dryer sheet, and gently rub the plate of the iron until all of the dirt and gunk is gone.
- When you are finished, turn the heat of the iron up and iron a clean rag to get rid of any residue left behind by the dryer sheet.
2
Fill the iron's reservoir. You should use white vinegar and distilled or filtered water, if it is available to you. Turn the iron on steam and iron a thick piece of cotton cloth for five minutes. Dump the vinegar solution from the reservoir and clean off the soleplate with a clean towel.
- Be sure to check your owner’s manual to be sure that your iron can tolerate vinegar in the reservoir.
3
Use toothpaste to clean off the soleplate. Buff a bit of toothpaste directly onto a cool soleplate, being sure to hit trouble areas. Rub the toothpaste off with a clean cloth, then set the iron on steam and steam a cloth for five minutes.^{[7]
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- You can also mix together 1 tbsp (3 g) of toothpaste, 2 tbsp (6 g) of baking soda, and 3 tbsp (45 mL) of vinegar and use this mixture to clean the soleplate.
4
Clean a sticky iron with newspaper. If there is something sticky on the bottom of your iron, turn the heat on the iron all the way up and turn the steam off. Run the hot iron over a piece of newspaper until it is clean.^{[8]
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- If it is still sticky after this, you can sprinkle a bit of salt on the newspaper and repeat the process. This should take care of any sticky substances.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How can I get the brown stains off my iron?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Assuming the brown stains on your iron are scorch marks, you can use 2 parts warm vinegar and 1 part salt solution to help remove the marks. If the stain persists, you can create a stronger solution of 1 tablespoon of toothpaste, 2 tablespoons of baking soda, and 3 tablespoons of vinegar. Use a soft sponge to apply the solution to the bottom of the iron and scrub the iron until the stain is removed.
Question

How can I just starch the collar of a shirt?

Michelle Driscoll, MPH
Founder, Mulberry Maids
Michelle Driscoll is the Owner of Mulberry Maids, which is based in Fort Collins, Colorado. With five years of experience, her business specializes in cleaning homes and small offices. She holds a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. Additionally, Mulberry Maids has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.

Michelle Driscoll, MPH

Founder, Mulberry Maids

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

You can use a spray starch product, which is typically just a couple dollars and can be found at your local supermarket. Spray starch will allow you to only target the areas you are interested in starching. Use the spray starch while ironing your shirt collar.
Question

How do I remove a burnt stick on hemming tape?

Community Answer

Lighter fluid will get the sticky residue off. You can also try nail polish remover.

Warnings

Read the owner’s manual that came with your iron carefully. The owner’s manual may have specific instructions on how to clean the iron without damaging it.

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