Clean the iron: So you remove lime, dirt and burnt -in

So your iron will be flashed again! With these home remedies you remove dirt, lime and burned -down residues in no time at all.

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Are you an ironing fans? Or do you prefer to bring the task behind you as soon as possible? I personally like to hear one. This makes the whole thing off your hand faster and less annoying.

In order to smooth the clothes, you definitely need an iron that is optimally in good shape. So that it stays in good condition for a long time, it should also be cleaned regularly. We show you the means by which cleaning is very easy.

Why do you have to clean an iron?

As if ironing wasn't annoying enough anyway, should you also clean the iron? Yes, in fact you should clean it after every use - even if very few people really do it.

At the latest when your iron gets stains, you should really clean the good piece. Otherwise, unsightly spots can be created on the next piece of clothing. Dirt or fat remains on freshly washed laundry? Nobody really wants that.

Contamination also means that your iron slides over the fabric. The ironing performance declines, it can no longer correctly fulfill its purpose. For you, this not only means that you are busy and get bad results. You also use more.

How do irons become dirty?

How does dirt get on the iron at all? After all, it only comes into contact with clean fabric! This is exactly where the sticking point is:

  • The iron sole comes into contact with detergent and fabric softener residues with every use. These stick and contaminate the surface.
  • Burned textile residues are also problematic. A iron temperature that is too high can melerate fabric fibers and thus remove it with heat -sensitive materials. These material residues then stick to the iron.
  • If you use normal tap water for your steam iron, form quickly. You should definitely avoid that.
  • Calconies are also a problem. If the water tank is not cleaned regularly, your laundry contaminates and even clog the steam nozzles.

How do you clean the sole of iron?

The flat bottom of the device is called the iron sole, with which it is ironed. It is made of aluminum or stainless steel that is heated via an electric heating element.

You can use special cleaning pins to clean the sole. These pens are used on the warm iron sole - so do not let them cool completely! Edit the sole with the cleaning pin and then polish it with a soft cloth. It is best to work on one surface, because the pens drop slightly.

Classic household cleaners such as oven spray or ceramic fields are also suitable:

  • Spray the sole with the cleaner and let it work briefly.
  • Wip the spray and then the dirt residues with a damp rag. If necessary, you can repeat the process.
  • Then polish the iron sole with a soft cloth.

Caution:

  • Iron iron with aluminum soles should not come into contact with an oven cleaner.
  • Ceranfeldreiniger is not suitable for steam iron because the nozzles can clog on the bottom.

In addition to these cleaners and cleaning pens (such as fromCare + Protect*) There are a lot of other typical home remedies that you can use.

Clean the iron with home remedies

Seifenwasser
If your iron is not too dirty, you can clean it in a classic way with soap water and sponge. However, there is definitely no steel wool. This can scratch the surface.

baking powder
Baking powder is a proven remedy for a variety of stains. Attention: baking powder is not suitable for steam iron!

  • Mix your baking powder with a little water to a thick -fluid paste.
  • Apply it on the cold iron and then heat it up leisurely at the lowest level.
  • The paste trims with a cloth. About 5 minutes should be enough to solve dirt.
  • Polished with a clean rag.

toothpaste
The paste is not only good to brush your teeth. You can also use them to remove sticky residues on your iron.

  • Clean with a wet rag and some soap over the iron surface.
  • Dry the iron and put a small amount of toothpaste on the metal. Rubs it with a cleaning cloth.
  • Remove the remains with a damp rag or a sponge.

Vinegar
Vinegar is strong against stubborn spots. The liquid smells a bit uncomfortable at first, but the smell evaporates again after a short time.

  • Mix the same parts of vinegar and salt in a saucepan.
  • Warms the mixture slowly. But don't let them boil!
  • Let the liquid cool down a little.
  • Clean the underside gently with a sponge and the salty mixture.

citric acid
Lemon is a great cleaner for almost all surfaces. The citric acid reliably loosens the remains of fat and detergents from your iron.

  • Waves the device slightly. If it is out so that it doesn't get too hot.
  • Drizzle lemon juice onto a rag.
  • Thoroughly clean the underside of your iron.
  • Finally, polish the area with a dry cloth.

Aluminum foil
Your iron is no longer gliding over the laundry so beautifully? This is often due to a thin layer of dirt. Aluminum film helps here:

  • Spreads a piece of aluminum foil on your ironing board.
  • Place your iron on the highest level.
  • "Iron" the piece of aluminum foil, if necessary, several times.
  • The dirt particles stick to the film and the sole of the ironing glides over the textiles again.

Eraser
Take a look at your craft drawer whether you can find an eraser there. A white etching rubber solves many deposits, especially burned textile residues, and leaves no discoloration.

  • The iron must be cold for this home remedy. Pull the plug and wait half an hour until the sole has completely cooled.
  • As soon as the metal is cold, you can cycle the contaminants away.
  • Pole up once, done!

Newspaper
You have definitely lying around this home remedy: newspaper is wonderful to remove oil spots and fat residues.

  • Heated the device to medium level.
  • Cover the ironing board with sufficient newspaper.
  • Drive with the iron.
  • Due to the heat, the dirt dissolves on the sole and is immediately stripped on the newspapers.

Scrap
Sounds strange, but works! With the help of an old candlestick, you can clean the iron sole well. In particular, you will get rid of fabric residues in no time at all.

But be careful: this home remedy does not apply to steam iron. Otherwise the wax can clog the small openings.

  • Heat the iron lightly and then out.
  • Wrap your candlestick in a cloth. Do not use colored candles to avoid discoloration.
  • Drive the candle on the remnants.
  • The deposits connect to the wax and can be removed. This also improves gliding.

Reading tip:

Diskale iron

The tank of your device is dirty or calcified? This can cause your nozzles to be clogged or limestone is transferred to your clothes.

Fortunately, cleaning is quite easy. Often you are even pointed out with a signal tone that descaling is due.

Read before you start the operating instructions. Some models have a practical self -cleaning function (such as this fromRussell Hobbs*), thanks to which you can skip this step.

Alternatively, these means help:

White vinegar against lime and dirt
White vinegar is strong in limescale deposits. Before you use the cleaner, you should first read through the instructions: Not all models tolerate the treatment.

  • Mix the same parts of vinegar and water. Put the mixture in the water tank of your iron.
  • Switch the iron to the middle level and wait 10 minutes. Then use the steam function.
  • Switch off the iron. Empeers the tank and distilled water in it.
  • Switch on the iron again. Now let it steam a few times. This is how you remove the vinegar remains.

Vapilate distilled water
Your iron is not compatible with vinegar? No problem.

  • Fill the tank with distilled water and switched it to medium level.
  • Now let it steam until the tank is almost dry.

Use chemical descaler
In many shops, chemical descaler are powder or liquid (here on Amazon*) available. The application is very simple:

  • Fill the descaler into the tank. Turn the iron to the highest level.
  • Distribute the remedy through some sprays and steam blasts in the nozzles.
  • Switch off the iron and let the descaler work for a quarter of an hour.
  • Then switch the device back in and release a few sprays or steam boards.
  • Then empty the tank and flush it out.

Tipp:To avoid limescale deposits, you should empty the tank after each use.

Ruard the nozzles thoroughly

If the nozzles of your iron are blocked, lime is a possible cause. Often the methods listed above are already sufficient to descale to free the nozzles. But you can also help.

Cotton swab
Soak a cotton swab in vinegar and clean the individual nozzles. Then the steam can escape. Remember to put the iron out first and let cool.

Vinegar essence
With this method you clean the underside of your iron and at the same time frees the nozzles of lime:

  • Soak a cotton cloth with the liquid.
  • Heats the iron at the lowest level. Now iron over the cloth.
  • If the device gets out, let it cool down and then put it on the soaked cloth for 10 minutes. This solves more dirt.
  • Then rub it dry with a cloth or a newspaper.

Please note: The iron does not heat with the steam level. Vinegar essence is quite aggressive, so it is best to use gloves when cleaning and do not breathe in the vapor vapor.

More reading material:

So the iron stays clean for longer

So that you don't have to make the effort of cleaning the iron so often, you can take these tips to heart:

  • Wip the iron sole off with a damp rag after each use.
  • Make sure not to iron too hot. So the textiles do not melt and fewer remains get stuck on the iron.
  • Avoid driving via zippers or buttons.
  • Do not use starch spray. This quickly settles on your device.

Now you know how you can best clean your iron. For even more hacks and household tips, have a look at Gofeminin.de!