Currently, irons with a Teflon soleplate are very popular as it is a material that guarantees special protection against residues that could stick to the iron. In addition to allowing the iron to stay clean, Teflon prevents your clothing from getting stained while you use it. Nevertheless, it can happen that Teflon itself gets stained, but luckily you just need to know how to clean it to make it look like new again. As you continue reading, you will discover how to easily remove even the most stubborn dirt and limescale deposits that accumulate inside the water tank.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Cleaning the Iron Plate
Step 1. Make a cleaning mixture
Select a mild-acting home care product, such as the detergent you use to wash the dishes, and mix it with water to create a cleaning solution. You will use it to remove dirt and debris that has stuck to the soleplate of the iron.
- Depending on the type of product, dissolve 1-2 teaspoons in 250-500 ml of water.
- Remember that it is best to use hot water.
Step 2. Clean the soleplate of the iron
When the cleaning solution is ready, moisten a clean white rag and wipe the soleplate to remove the dirt. Make sure it's completely cool before you touch it.
- Pay particular attention to the dirtiest or stained parts.
- You can choose to use a microfiber cloth if you are concerned about scratching the Teflon. but keep in mind that to remove stubborn stains you may need the abrasive force of cotton.
- Get a clean rag if the one you are using gets dirty.
Step 3. Use a cotton swab to clean the grooves and holes in the soleplate
Soak it in soapy water and rub it along the grooves and holes in the bottom of the iron. You will probably have to use several cotton swabs to clean them all thoroughly.
If there are stains or dirt that are difficult to remove, you can try using a toothpick (very gently) to loosen the dirt
Step 4. Rinse the plate
Take a clean rag, moisten it only with water and wipe it on the plate to remove the soap and the last residue of dirt. You may have to rinse it several times to get rid of all traces of detergent. Also moisten a few cotton swabs to remove soap residue from the holes and grooves in the plate.
If possible, carefully rinse the soleplate directly with running water
Part 2 of 3: Remove Hard Stains from the Soleplate
Step 1. Wet a few sheets of kitchen paper with vinegar and place the iron on top
If using a common detergent some stains did not come off, you can moisten a few sheets of absorbent paper with vinegar and then put them under the plate. By being in contact with the dirt, the vinegar should be able to dissolve it so that it is then easy to remove.
- The sheets of absorbent paper soaked in vinegar should be placed on a towel or other absorbent material, for example on a sponge.
- Leave the plate in contact with the vinegar-soaked paper for between 5 and 15 minutes.
Step 2. Now sprinkle the paper towels with baking soda
After letting the vinegar work in contact with the stains, you can pour a little baking soda on the same sheets of absorbent paper and place the iron on it again.
- It is important to use enough baking soda to cover the entire surface of the soleplate.
- If it seems necessary to re-moisten the paper with vinegar, you can do it freely.
- Again, leave the plate in contact with the baking soda for between 5 and 15 minutes.
Step 3. Rinse the soleplate with a clean cloth
Lightly moisten it only with water and wipe it on the bottom of the iron to remove the vinegar and baking soda. You may have to rinse the cloth several times or use a clean one to do a thorough job.
- If possible, carefully rinse the soleplate directly with running water.
- Make sure you have removed all traces of baking soda from the soleplate before using it again for ironing.
Part 3 of 3: Cleaning the Inside of the Iron
Step 1. Fill the tank with water and vinegar
If you notice that there are deposits of limescale and other minerals on the outside of the iron or inside the water tank, you can get rid of them using a mixture of water and vinegar.
- Fill a quarter of the tank with vinegar.
- Then fill the remaining three quarters with water.
Step 2. Adjust the steam output by setting it to maximum
Position the iron vertically so that the jet of steam does not meet any obstacles; in this way you will also avoid damaging the underlying surface. Let the steam escape from the iron until the water and vinegar mixture is completely exhausted.
If your iron has an auto shut-off feature, you will need to lift or move it slightly from time to time to turn it off
Step 3. Clean the grooves and holes on the plate again
Take cotton swabs or a damp rag to clean up the grooves and holes in the bottom of the iron. You may need to insert the tip into the openings from which the steam escapes to extract dirt and deposits of limescale and other minerals. Doing so is important because the water and vinegar mixture will likely have pushed the residue into the holes.
A lot of debris may have accumulated near the holes on the plate. Use a generous amount of cotton swabs to make sure you're doing a thorough job
Step 4. Fill the iron tank with clean water and turn it on to the maximum available temperature
Before you start using it on your clothes again, you'll need to run clean water through it. It will have the effect of removing any vinegar residue from the tank and other internal parts.
- Some flat iron models have a self-cleaning system that you can use at this point.
- Let the steam escape from the iron until the tank is almost empty. This may take up to 15 minutes.
