Cleaning the iron with citric acid

Features of descaling iron

You can clean your iron from scale in many ways - with specialized powerful products or household household substances. But in any case, when carrying out the procedure, you should adhere to important rules:

The device should be cleaned regularly, at the first sign of scale appearing on its soles. The thinner the layer of lime deposits, the easier it will be to clean the device.
In order to clean the sole of the device, you must use liquid solutions or gels. It is strictly not recommended to rub the sole with abrasive powders; microscopic scratches will remain on it.
It is forbidden to clean dirt from the surface with a knife; the blade will also leave numerous abrasions, due to which the quality of ironing will noticeably deteriorate.
You can only remove scale from the cold base of the device; if the Teflon or metal coating is still warm, attempts to clean the surface will only lead to the formation of new dirt that is difficult to remove.
After cleaning, the iron should be washed very thoroughly with a clean, damp sponge and allowed to dry completely. If you plug in an appliance with a wet soleplate or cleaning agent residue lingering on it, this will damage the iron itself.

Important! Even if significant scale has accumulated on the device, you should first use gentle methods to clean it. Only if they do not produce results can we move on to more drastic measures.

How to clean the inside of an iron from scale using traditional methods

If the iron is equipped with a steam generator, then it is only a matter of time before scale appears inside it. Steam is formed during the boiling process of water in a special tank, and even if the water is of very high quality, over time it will still leave a solid residue on the walls of the tank. You can clean the iron steamer from scale without disassembling the device; just pour a special product into the steam generator that dissolves deposits well.

How to remove scale from an iron with vinegar

An excellent household product for cleaning scale is table vinegar with a concentration of 9%. The solution allows you to cope even with old deposits and helps clean minor formations.

You can descale your iron at home using vinegar as follows:

Half a glass of table vinegar is diluted with an equal amount of filtered water.
The solution is poured into the steam generator tank, approximately 1/3 of the capacity; there is no need to fill the container completely.
The iron is placed vertically, plugged into an outlet, and then the maximum power of the device is set to strongly heat the sole.
The device is kept in this mode for about 10 minutes.

After the time has passed, you need to place a basin under the sole of the device and press the steam button. After all the vinegar water has drained out, you will need to fill the container with ordinary clean water and repeat the entire procedure from the beginning, this is necessary to remove any remaining vinegar from the reservoir.

The cleaned iron is unplugged from the outlet and wait until the sole has cooled completely. After this, wipe it with a dry cloth and do not use the device for some more time; you need to wait until the water even inside is completely dry.

How to remove scale from an iron with citric acid

Another effective solvent for cleaning the internal system is citric acid. Due to its caustic composition, it perfectly dissolves solid deposits and helps prevent device damage or deterioration in performance:

To clean the iron with citric acid, you need to pour 25 g of powder into a glass of hot water and stir thoroughly.
After this, the liquid is poured into the reservoir without filling it to the top, the device is plugged into an outlet and installed vertically.
At maximum power, the device is heated for 10 minutes, and then steam and liquid are released from the reservoir into a substitute container.

After all the lemon solution has flowed out, the tank will need to be filled with filtered clean water and repeat the procedure again. If you do not do this, acid residues may linger in the tank, and then the clothes will be damaged during the next ironing session.

Citric acid as a cleaning agent

To remove scale from the inside, you can use citric acid, which is found in every home. How to properly clean an iron with it?

Dissolve a packet of citric acid (about 25 g) in a glass of distilled water.
Pour the prepared solution into a special container.
After plugging the device into the outlet, wait until it warms up to the desired temperature, press the steam release button and disconnect from the power supply.
Citric acid will act as a kind of chemical reagent that will react with scale and begin to dissolve it.

In this way, you can completely clean the internal elements of the iron from scale.

The procedure for manually cleaning the iron from accumulated scale is carried out once every 2-3 months.

Cleaning with citric acid is accompanied by the release of an unpleasant odor that appears during the chemical reaction. Do not be alarmed when, during the cleaning process, dirty yellow-brown water flows out of the holes. After cleaning, the sole must be washed with a vinegar solution. The container for filling with water is washed, and the iron is turned on with clean water in order to carry out the first test ironing on some unnecessary piece of fabric.

Instead of vinegar and citric acid, you can use mineral water with gas to clean both external and internal elements. The effect of dissolving the sediment will be the same.

How to clean the outside of an iron from scale using traditional methods

The listed methods allow you to effectively clean scale in the internal system of an iron with a steam generator. However, solid deposits also settle on the outer parts of the device - on the sole and in the holes through which hot steam escapes. To clean the soleplate of your iron from scale, you can also use household products using proven algorithms.

How to remove scale from an iron with soda

Baking soda is an effective cleaning agent; it is used not only in cooking, but also when it is necessary to clean old dirt on household appliances. Soda perfectly dissolves limescale and scale, and when diluted with water it becomes very soft and does not leave scratches on hard surfaces.

You can clean your iron using powder like this:

1 small spoon of soda is diluted in a large spoon of water;
mix the ingredients thoroughly until the paste becomes completely homogeneous;
Soda is applied to a cotton swab or disk and the sole is treated with gentle circular movements.

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To achieve the best effect, it is advisable to leave the soda on the sole of the device for 15-20 minutes. After this, wipe the iron with a clean damp sponge and then with a dry soft cloth. Throughout the entire procedure, the device must be completely cold; in this case, heating it is prohibited.

Attention! To prevent the soda from harming the sole of the device, you need to distribute it over the surface very carefully and do not rub it in, but rather spread the mixture. It is important that the soda slurry is soft and without any hard inclusions.

How to descale an iron with salt

Regular salt is a good solvent and cleaning agent. It can also be used to clean your iron, although the procedure will be slightly different from the traditional one:

To remove scale from the outer surface of the device, salt is poured in an even layer onto a sheet of thick paper.
Place gauze on top, folded in a couple of layers, and smooth it out properly to create a smooth surface.
After this, the iron is heated and the hot sole is moved with light movements over gauze with a salt “backing” for several minutes.

Salt, when heated, even through gauze, affects deposits on the surface of the device and allows you to get rid of scale. A video on how to descale an iron confirms that it is not recommended to press the device tightly against gauze, much less treat it with salt without additional protection; hard crystals will leave scratches on the sole of the device.

Another option for using salt is to prepare a caustic solution using vinegar:

Salt powder and table vinegar are mixed in equal proportions and wait until the salt is completely dissolved.
Then soak a cotton swab or soft brush in the solution and carefully treat the surface of the device.
At the last stage, the iron is washed with a damp sponge and wiped dry with a clean cloth.

You can clean the holes in the iron from scale separately using a cotton swab.

How to descale a steam iron with laundry soap

Deposits on a steam iron can be cleaned using laundry soap, which perfectly dissolves complex contaminants, including scale. There are two ways to clean the device:

grate a bar of soap on a fine grater and generously sprinkle the base of the household appliance with the resulting shavings;
Simply rub the sole of the device with soap until it forms a thin layer.

In both cases, the iron treated with soap must be plugged in, set to the minimum heating temperature and wait until the laundry soap softens.

The structure of scale under the influence of hot soap will become less stable. After the base of the device has cooled, you will need to clean it carefully, but forcefully, with a soft cloth. Then the iron is washed several times with a damp, clean sponge, the holes on the sole are properly treated with toothpicks or cotton swabs, and the surface of the device is wiped dry with a cloth.

How to clean an iron from burnt-on scale with toothpaste

Toothpaste is a fairly effective cleaning agent that can be used to clean an iron with scale holes. It is used like this:

a small amount of paste is applied to a cotton swab or a soft-bristle brush;
distribute the cleaning agent evenly over the surface of the device, paying special attention to the steam holes;
plug it in, warm it up properly, and iron a piece of unnecessary cotton fabric together with the paste.

After this, you need to turn off the iron, wait for it to cool down and clean the lower part of the device with soapy water. You will also need to rinse off the soap with a dampened sponge; remove the remaining paste from the holes using a cotton swab. The cleanly washed iron is wiped dry with a soft cloth.

Advice! After cleaning, it is not recommended to immediately iron valuable clothing. First, you should walk a clean sole over a regular rag and make sure that the device is washed thoroughly and does not leave marks on the fabric.

How to clean the soleplate of an iron from scale with vinegar

Teflon or ceramic irons can be successfully descaled using table vinegar with a concentration of 9%. If we are talking about cleaning the outer surface of the appliance, vinegar should not be poured into the steam tank; external cleaning will be sufficient:

Vinegar is mixed with water in equal quantities to reduce the concentration of the product.
Moisten a sponge or rag in the resulting solution and wipe the cold surface of the device thoroughly.
Then leave the iron for 5 minutes, and then wipe the soleplate again with a vinegar solution and try to clean the holes with cotton swabs.

The cleaned device must be wiped several times with a cloth soaked in plain clean water. If traces of vinegar remain on the surface of the device, the device may leave stains on clothing the next time you iron it.

To clean the device, you should only use a vinegar solution diluted with water, and even then, you should wear rubber gloves to protect your skin. It is advisable to cover your face with a mask, since vinegar vapors are quite caustic and can cause harm if inhaled.

How to properly descale an iron with hydrogen peroxide

An excellent cleaning solution is simple hydrogen peroxide, which is found in almost any home medicine cabinet. The antiseptic solution has pronounced cleansing properties and copes well with dense scale on household appliances.

In order to clean the iron, you just need to pour hydrogen peroxide on a cotton pad and rub the cold sole of the device thoroughly, and treat the steam holes with a cotton swab. You need to continue processing until the scale is gone and the surface is completely clean.

After this, the iron is plugged in, warmed up, and the unnecessary clean fabric is ironed. When the sole of the device has cooled, wash it with a weak soap solution and clean water, then wipe the device dry with a soft cloth.

How to clean scale from the soleplate of an iron with acetone

If you decide to clean the iron for the first time in a long time, and the scale deposits on its lower surface are very dense, you can use strong household solvents. For example, acetone or nail polish remover containing this substance has a good effect.

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You need to soak a soft rag or cotton pad in the solvent, and then rub the sole of the device for several minutes until the scale comes off completely. Then the iron must be washed very thoroughly with a damp sponge and wiped dry.

Before use, the device must be tested on an unnecessary rag. This will ensure that the acetone is completely washed off and will not leave unwanted marks on the clothes during the ironing process.

Home cleaning methods

Using improvised compounds to descale your iron at home is cheaper and they are almost as effective as store-bought ones.

How to descale an iron with citric acid

It is possible to clean the iron at home with carbon powder; it is prepared in the proportion of one package per 250 ml of hot liquid. Step-by-step instructions for cleaning your iron with citric acid:

Fill the reservoir with the resulting product.
Set the heating mode to maximum.
Then release steam 5–10 times after repeated automatic shutdown.
Finally, drain the liquid and rinse the inside.

It is recommended to descale the iron with citric acid not only inside, but also on its sliding side. To do this, moisten the material with the resulting mixture and place the iron on it for 25 minutes.

Carbonated mineral water

The treatment scheme with mineral water is similar to the use of carboxylic acid, to get rid of scale in the iron you need to:

fill the iron container with mineral water;
Plug in and release steam after heating;
Rinse the device container.

For the procedure, you must buy mineral water, and under no circumstances replace it with sweet soda.

Treatment with vinegar solution

To cheaply but effectively descale your iron, you can prepare a vinegar solution in equal volume with water. Next, fill a third of the electrical appliance’s capacity with it and perform the following steps:

Place the turned-on iron vertically and wait 10–15 minutes.
Next, start applying steam until dirty liquid stops flowing out of the iron.
Then drain the vinegar solution, fill the tank with clean water and continue releasing steam.

After completing the cleaning, you need to clean the soleplate and check the operation of the iron on light, unnecessary fabric.

Removing scale with a mixture of soda, vinegar and citric acid

To clean the iron (precisely from scale) using this method you will need: 2 large spoons of soda, 1.5 tbsp. l. citric acid and 1 tbsp. l. vinegar. Then follow the instructions:

Place the prepared ingredients in a baking tray and place two slats on it.
Place the iron on the slats.
Next, boil water in a separate bowl and pour it into a baking tray to hide the soleplate of the iron.
It is recommended to check the result after at least two hours.

Using "Antinscale"

Anti-scale powder is mainly used to clean teapots, but it can also remove scale from an iron, steamer, boiler and other water heating appliances. The mixture is diluted at the rate of ½ small spoon per 250 ml of water. Then you need to fill the tank with the resulting solution to the maximum mark. To remove scale, you must follow the instructions:

Place the iron with the filled reservoir vertically and plug it in, setting the maximum mode.
After 10 minutes, turn off the device and do not touch it for 30–60 minutes.
Next, you need to drain the solution and rinse the inside of the tank with clean water.

Regardless of the cleaning product chosen, it is recommended to iron things only a day after the procedure with pre-cleaned soles.

How to clean a steam iron from scale using specialized products

Even powerful home remedies do not always help remove old and stubborn scale. If traditional methods have not brought any effect, and the base of the device is still covered with lime deposits and carbon deposits, it makes sense to resort to powerful commercial products.

Antiscale

The cheap powder has a very aggressive composition and is perfect for descaling any household appliances. To clean the iron, you need to dilute the powder in clean hot water according to the instructions on the package, then soak a rag in the iron scale solution and thoroughly treat the surface of the device.

After this, the surface is washed several times with a wet sponge and wiped dry, and before use, test ironing of an unnecessary piece of fabric is carried out. Antiscale solution for irons can also be used to remove scale from the walls of a water tank; in this case, the liquid is poured into the tank, the iron is heated as much as possible, and then turned off and left for half an hour.

Liquid Topper

A modern liquid descaler for cleaning the inside of an iron helps clean even the most difficult deposits. In the proportion specified by the manufacturer, the chemical solution is diluted with water and then poured into the steam generator or the surface of the device is properly wiped.

In the first case, the iron will need to be heated to maximum values, left for 2 hours, then heated again and released water and steam over the prepared container, having first unplugged the device from the outlet.

Important! When using caustic liquids to descale an iron, the procedure should be carried out with rubber gloves and under no circumstances should you inhale the solution vapors.

Iron cleaning pencil

An unusual cleaning product such as a special pencil helps get rid of scale. It is a solid rod in the shape of a long candle, which contains caustic acids and urea. Using the device is very easy - you need to heat the iron as much as possible, and then carefully clean its soleplate with a pencil.

Under the influence of high temperature, the pencil will begin to melt, and the acids in its composition will interact with soot and scale and weaken the structure of the contaminants. Usually 2-3 treatments are enough to restore the sole cleanliness and shine. An important advantage of the pencil is that it does not scratch the surface of the device at all.

Pills

Iron tablets that remove scale show a good effect. They must be dissolved in warm water in accordance with the instructions, then pour the solution into the device’s reservoir. Then, in the steam mode, release all the water; thanks to the iron descaling agent, the dirt will come out through the holes on the sole along with steam and liquid.

Proper iron care

To avoid scale formation, you need to use the device correctly. There are several rules:

pour filtered water into the iron or dilute tap water with distilled water;
after ironing, completely empty the tank;
regularly clean external steam outlets with a vinegar solution or a special product;
Carry out monthly preventative cleaning of the device.

Regular descaling will help extend the life of your iron and protect your clothes from whitish streaks. By correctly using industrial and folk remedies, you can easily get rid of this problem.

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How to descale an iron using the self-cleaning function

Manufacturers are well aware that scale gradually forms in steam devices, which often causes the device to break down. Therefore, some modern irons are equipped with an anti-scale function in irons; if it is available, it is not necessary to resort to cleaning agents.

You can clean the device using the corresponding function as follows:

Distilled water is poured into the inner container level with the maximum mark on the tank scale.
The iron is plugged in and set to maximum heat until the device turns off automatically.
After this, the steam supply regulator is set to zero, and the device is placed over a basin or bathtub and the self-cleaning button is pressed.

Most of the liquid will pour into the substituted container; to remove the water better, you will need to shake the iron several times, then the scale particles will definitely not remain inside.

Then turn off the device, place it vertically and wait for it to cool completely, after which the tank is rinsed with clean water and the sole is wiped with a soft, dry cloth. After using the self-cleaning descaler in the iron, it is recommended not to turn on the device for 24 hours.

Self-cleaning system

The self-cleaning system has already been discussed in this article; all that remains is to clarify how it works. All models are different and therefore you should definitely look at the instruction manual. Recommendations could be:

Disconnect the device from the network and set the regulator to “0”;
Fill the tank as much as possible with clean water (no chemical additives are needed in this case);
Over the sink, holding the iron in a horizontal position, shaking it periodically, press and hold the special button;
Now set the regulator to maximum and insert the plug into the socket;
After the heating indicator goes out, immediately turn off the power and press the button again.

You can see the descaling self-cleaning function more clearly in the video.

descaling your iron at home using a special system is quite simple. If you have just such a model of iron, do not be lazy to use it once a week. You should not wait until lime spills onto your clothes while ironing.