How to clean your iron from carbon deposits and scale

Is it possible to clean an iron with citric acid?

The method by which you can clean an iron with citric acid has long been known. Previously, this product was used to remove scale from teapots heated on the stove. To do this, water was poured into a container, powder was poured in and boiled. After 20-25 minutes the water was drained. At the same time, the scale completely dissolved and fell off.

Today, citric acid is used to clean dirt from the iron. The product does not have any negative effects on electrical appliances and is widely available.

Reviews about descaling irons with citric acid are in most cases positive. If you rate it on a five-point scale, then this method gets the highest score. The product can be purchased at any store, it has a low price, and the process itself will take very little time.

The advantages of being a housewife include the following:

• always available in kitchen supplies;
• does not require additional effort or equipment;
• low cost of the product;
• copes with dirt on any modern irons, regardless of the manufacturer.

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Features of cleaning an iron with citric acid

Each process has its own specific characteristics. Compliance with them allows you to avoid possible unpleasant situations. Despite the fact that citric acid is a simple remedy, there are still some nuances when using it.

These include the following points:

• use only boiled water;
• make sure that the prepared solution does not get on important parts of the electrical appliance;
• maintain proportions.

How much citric acid is needed to clean an iron?

The amount of citric acid directly depends on what part of the electrical appliance will be treated (internal or external). To clean the inside of the iron from scale using citric acid, you will need 1 purchased sachet of the product. As a rule, it contains 15 g.

When treating the sole of an electrical appliance externally to remove dirt, you will need 5 level tablespoons of the product. If you measure in purchased 15 g bags, then you will need 5 pieces.

How to dilute citric acid to clean your iron

To clean the iron with citric acid, it must be properly diluted. To do this, be sure to follow the required dosage in recipes and use clean water. Then the device will definitely not be damaged during processing.

The finished solution is prepared by diluting the product in boiled water. After this, the resulting mixture is applied to the contamination and processed according to the selected method.

How to clean the device inside and outside?

Hard deposits form extremely quickly on the internal elements of an electrical appliance , leading to a decrease in the quality of the device or its failure.

Even a slight layer of scale can ruin the fabric being ironed: escaping with the steam, particles of hardness salts leave reddish stains on the material, which are difficult to wash off.

The cleaning method, which has been used for a long time to remove deposits from kettles, is also suitable for cleaning irons. The entire procedure can be divided into several stages:

• preparation of solution;
• filling the iron reservoir with product;
• heating up a household appliance;
• carrying out several steaming cycles;
• flushing the system with clean water;
• checking the quality of the device.

IMPORTANT! To avoid damage to bed linen or clothes, before you start ironing them, first “walk” the device over a piece of white fabric: if there are no traces left on the material after ironing, proceed to ironing the items.

You can find out how and what to clean the inside of the iron from scale and rust here.

Preparation of the solution

Pre-boil 200 ml of water, let the liquid cool to room temperature.

Then make a cleaning solution:

• Pour 25 g of citric acid into prepared softened water (instead of boiled water, you can use filtered or melted water);
• stir the powder thoroughly - there should be no undissolved crystals or other inclusions in the finished preparation that you will pour into the iron;
• pour the solution into the device reservoir, close the lid.

IMPORTANT! Strictly adhere to the specified amount of citric acid when preparing the product: exceeding the concentration of the product can damage the plastic and rubber parts of the iron.

Preheat the iron

• connect the device to the network;
• set the temperature regulator of the device to the maximum value;
• after a certain time, the iron will automatically turn off, then start heating up again;
• wait until the device turns off again and turn off the power to the equipment.

Cleaning

To collect the hot liquid escaping, prepare a wide bowl, basin in advance, or carry out the descaling procedure in the bathroom, above the sink:

• take the iron, position it so that the plane of the sole is parallel to the plane of the floor;
• press the steam button several times: at the first stage, steam will come out of the holes, then hot liquid with scale particles;
• if the iron has cooled down, reheat it and release steam until the liquid in the tank runs out;
• if the device is significantly dirty, repeat the cleaning procedure 3-4 more times;
• Once the hard deposits have been completely removed, fill the iron with purified water, heat it up and iron the unwanted, clean cloth.

IMPORTANT! The holes in the sole should also be cleaned regularly. To do this, pour a solution of citric acid into the canal using a syringe and after 30-40 minutes, iron the old fabric with steaming.

If the channels are so clogged that the syringe does not fit into them, place cotton swabs soaked in an acidic liquid into the holes, remove them after 3 hours and press the steam button several times.

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How to clean an iron with citric acid

When preparing a solution for cleaning an iron with citric acid, proportions are important. This guarantees a positive result and will avoid possible misunderstandings.

How to clean the outside of an iron with citric acid

To process the sole, perform a few simple steps:

• pour a liter of boiling water into a flat container (for example, a frying pan, basin, baking sheet);
• add 5 tablespoons of the product to the water;
• the iron is placed in a container so that the sole of the device does not come into contact with the bottom and is at the same time immersed in water;
• household appliances are left in the liquid for 2-3 hours;
• Wash the sole with a dry soft cloth.

For more effective cleaning, the container with the solution along with household appliances is heated over low heat. In this case, it is convenient to use a metal baking sheet.

Important! Under no circumstances should water cover the plastic, rubber or electrical parts of the iron. Only the sole should be in the liquid.

In addition, there is another way to wash your iron with citric acid. To do this, you will need a clean rag and the product itself. A small amount of citric acid is poured onto it and the dirt on the sole is wiped off. As a rule, soot disappears immediately. After this, iron the wet cloth with a heated device and wipe it dry.

How to clean the inside of an iron with citric acid

Internal descaling takes little time and completely removes dirt. The process consists of the following steps:

• pour boiled or filtered water into a glass;
• add 1 packet of citric acid;
• the resulting solution is poured into the reservoir of the electrical appliance;
• turn on the maximum temperature mode;
• wait 3-5 minutes, during which time the lime deposits have time to dissolve;
• evaporate 2-3 portions of the liquid until it is completely removed.

Important! To improve the dissolution of limescale, shake the iron several times during steam generation.

Cleaning the iron from scale with citric acid does not take much time, effort and money.

Cleaning an iron with citric acid is a simple process that does not require much time or expensive products. When ironing, carbon deposits form on the soleplate of an electrical appliance after some time. This occurs due to the fact that the fibers of the clothing melt, resulting in contamination. Continued use of the iron in this condition will leave marks on the ironed items.

Preventive actions

If you regularly take care of your iron, you will not have to face such a problem as cleaning the iron from scale. A number of preventive measures will help ensure the smooth operation of this device.

• Use boiled or filtered water in the tank. If you use tap liquid, it must be diluted with distilled water in a 1:1 ratio.
• The work surface should be regularly wiped with a damp cloth.
• If necessary, it is recommended to clean the soleplate of the iron from time to time with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water.
• For each type of fabric, a suitable temperature regime must be selected.

If you follow these simple rules, you will be able to minimize the formation of scale, and the cleaned iron can be used for a long time.

The question of how to clean the inside of an iron from scale at home is relevant for everyone. A wide selection of proven methods suggested above and special cleaning products will not leave carbon deposits and lime deposits any chance.

Preventing the appearance of scale in the iron

It is always easier to prevent than to correct mistakes made later. Most often, unpleasant problems arise due to improper care of the electrical appliance. Following a few simple rules will help reduce the likelihood of limescale deposits appearing in your iron.

To do this, use the following tips for maintaining the device:

1. Before using the device (especially a new one), read the operating instructions. The most important point is to maintain temperature conditions when ironing linen and clothes. For example, items made of synthetics or delicate fabrics are ironed at a minimum temperature. Otherwise, there is a high probability that dirt will form on the sole of the iron and the dies will melt and stick.
2. Only distilled water is poured into the electrical appliance, not from the tap. This is stated in the instructions for use of the electrical appliance. This water is sold in pharmacy kiosks, gas stations and car dealerships. When using low-quality water, the formation of limescale cannot be avoided.
3. To save money, instead of distilled water, use filtered, boiled or settled water. In addition, various purchased liquid softeners are added. You can purchase them at hardware stores or specialized stores that sell household appliances.
4. After ironing linen and clothes, drain the water and press the steam button several times. Then less liquid remains inside, which reduces the likelihood of limescale deposits forming. In addition, such a procedure can extend the life of the iron.
5. When not in use, the electrical appliance should be stored strictly in an upright position.
6. Some modern irons have a built-in self-cleaning system. To prevent the formation of plaque, housewives constantly use it when working with an iron. To do this, fill the reservoir of the electrical appliance completely with water (not from the tap), turn it on and set it to the maximum temperature setting. Then they wait until the iron heats up and turns off, then heats up again. After this, unplug the device and quickly go to the bathroom. Here, above the sink, you turn on and hold the steam button. Due to this procedure, internal lime particles go away along with it, which helps reduce the formation of internal plaque. The procedure is carried out 1-2 times a month.

In addition, there are now irons on sale that contain a built-in anti-scale protection system. Using such a device, housewives do not have to worry about the formation of limescale.

How to avoid deposits on your iron

To slow down scale formation, consider the following recommendations:

1. Use purified, distilled or boiled water. This will not get rid of plaque, but it will significantly slow down its formation.
2. Drain the contents after each ironing.
3. Store the iron in an upright position.
4. Periodically use a burst of steam to clean the nozzles, as recommended in the instructions for your appliance.

Timely prevention and appropriate care extend the life of the iron. If you follow simple recommendations, the device will work properly for many years, and your clothes will remain neat.