How To Clean An Iron

4 Materials
$10
10 Minutes
Easy

It’s easy to neglect the care and cleaning of our small appliances like irons. These gadgets help keep our clothes looking crisp and wrinkle free. Learn how to clean your iron using basic house hold supplies with this tutorial.


Over time, irons can become clogged up, dirty, sticky, and even damaged due to extended or improper use and through the build-up of mineral deposits.

This can result in stained, damaged, or even melted fabrics, which means ruined clothes and, possibly, a damaged iron.


The two parts of the iron that require extra care and regular cleaning are the iron soleplate and the iron steam vents.

The soleplate is the bottom of the iron, the surface that heats up and is in contact with your clothing.

This can suffer from build-up over time, and some materials can melt and become stubbornly stuck to the soleplate.

The irons vents can also suffer from blockages due to mineral build-up, resulting in clogged steam holes and weaker performance, as well as unfortunate water stains on your clothing.



Make sure the iron is turned off and completely cool.

Mix two parts baking soda with one part water to create a paste that can be applied to any stains to work its magic.

Gently work the paste across the stained surface to remove the dirt and build-up, allow it to rest for a little 'soak', and then carefully wipe with a damp cloth and rinse it away.


Next, if baking soda doesn’t get rid of all the grime try toothpaste!

Toothpaste is a surprisingly versatile product that is used for all sorts of things including polishing chrome, scrubbing the toilet bowl, and defogging mirrors.

To clean your iron with toothpaste, simply apply some toothpaste onto the soleplate's surface to clean the stains before gently wiping it away with a soft cloth.

This will also leave your iron's soleplate looking as good as new with a renewed shine and sparkle.



For the most stubborn gunk use a potato cut in half to scrub either the baking soda or toothpaste off of the iron plate. The potato is gentle enough that is won’t scratch the plate and who doesn’t have a potato laying around in their pantry?

Rinse your iron clean and dry it with a soft cloth.

You are now ready to press your clothes and linens again.

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Adrienne Carrie Hubbard | Crafty Little Gnome
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  • Bonnie irwin Bonnie irwin on Jun 25, 2022

    What about the vents? Did you run a vinegar solution through the iron?

  • Monique Monique on Jun 25, 2022

    Don't understand how you get rid of the "paste" that gets imbedded in all the holes. How do you clean that mess???

  • Jean Farrar Jenrette Jean Farrar Jenrette on Jul 02, 2022

    What do you use the vinegar for?

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