How to clean holes in stem iron

When my iron is clean, I spray it down well with a solution of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 water. Then I either dig in their with a soft cloth to remove any debris, or use a clean toothbrush to scrub at it.

I've also used a toothbrush and toothpicks to clean the holes. I then iron a cloth (like a kitchen towel to catch all the debris.

Put white vinegar in the steam iron, and let it run over an old rag, and press the steam button, repeat till clean

If you no longer have the owners manual, check the manufacturers website. Here is a helpful link too.

https://m.wikihow.com/Clean-the-Steam-Iron-and-Its-Base-Plate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XakvoEjyz8o

Drain all the water out of the steam iron. If the water is rusty, buy a new iron. Use a toothpick, a Qtip, and a soft cloth to clean the holes in the plate of the iron. Basically, first you use the toothpick to make sure the holes are open. Be your own private eye and determine if there are mineral deposits (use vinegar), rust spots (the inside is rusted and can’t be fixed), silicon flakes (Windex), or dirt or starch (Dawn and water—just a little). Once you have the cause of the clogs, use the liquid indicated and a Qtip to clean all the holes. It’s possible to remove the plate, but I’m not recommending that. Once the holes are clean, clean the whole plate with the same liquid and the soft cloth. If there is a lot of starch, you may have to lightly scrub the plate with a scrubbing sponge. Once you have cleaned the holes and the plate, fill the tank with warm water, swish it around, and drain it out. Do that three times. Dry the iron. Fill the tank with lukewarm water, turn the iron on high steam. Once it gets ready to steam, push the appropriate button on your iron and let the steam clean the iron. Be careful! You may have to let the iron sit after a few minutes, then steam some more. Dry the iron again. Refill the tank. Iron an old towel or pillowcase. It’s either clean, or probably beyond repair. Don’t leave the iron unused with water in it for more than a day. Make it a habit to empty the talk when the iron is cold, and refill it when you need it again. Best wishes 😇💞

I used the instructions in the link, the baking soda /water paste worked great! https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/laundry/clean-iron