The best way to clean your iron
Is there anything more upsetting (in ironing-related circles that is) than a good shirt that’s been marked by a grubby iron?
Even an expensive iron can sometimes experience build up which can mean horrible brown stains on your favourite clothes.
Build up is caused by the fibres in the clothes you iron melting into the holes; the ironing spray you use getting stuck on the iron; and mineral deposits from the water building up.
To avoid iron build up, and keep your iron in tip top condition, try these simple steps.
Know your temperatures
Now you might already know to iron your cottons on hot and your silks on low, but remember to also arrange your ironing in order. This is so that items that need a low heat are ironed first, before you turn it up to finish off the clothes requiring maximum power.
Remove build up with baking soda
Grab a clean dish cloth and dampen it with warm water. Dab it with baking soda and use this to give a cold iron a gentle scrub to remove any build up. Wash the cloth and give the iron a final wipe down, using cotton buds to get into the holes. Turn the iron on, let it warm up, and press the button to release some steam, and then wipe again once cool.
Use an iron cleaner
If you have more severe build up you can use commercial iron cleaners that will remove any deposits from inside the iron itself. These are relatively inexpensive and are perfect if your iron is sticky or not steaming properly.
Let your spray settle
Another way to avoid build up in your iron is to ensure that you let the spray starch settle in for a moment before you glide the iron over. This will help avoid the holes on the iron plate from building up with small amounts of starch.
Have you ever ruined any clothing by using a dirty iron? Share your story in the comments below.