So, you’ve been enjoying and loving your beautiful steam iron. It’s been ironing out those creases and wrinkles and keeping your clothes in tip-top shape ever since you bought it. But there will come a time when its steam output will drop significantly, or it’ll begin to ruin your fabrics with brown stains, or any of the other problems that occur when your iron is in dire need of cleaning. Frustration will set in, and that’s expected.
As you use your steam iron, many other things happen in the background aside from heating, steaming, and temperature regulation. Mineral deposits, rust, and even fabric residue build up slowly inside your iron until they begin to take their toll on the performance of your iron and sometimes start causing damage to your fabrics as well.
However, you don’t need to worry about this as it’s a simple issue to resolve. All you need is a few household items and a few simple cleaning steps to follow which I’m going to show you in this guide, and your iron will be working like new again.
Why Should You Keep Your Steam Iron Clean?
It’s important to keep your steam iron clean to prevent several serious problems:
1. Uneven heating: A clean soleplate enhances heat distribution and makes it easier to press and iron clothes properly.
2. Stains: Mineral deposits, rust, and burnt fabrics are the main culprits in iron stains. Cleaning your iron prevents the buildup of these substances and prevents brown and white stains while ironing.
3. Low steam output: A regularly descaled iron means a clean steam vent, and when the steam vent is clean, steam output remains as powerful as it was designed to be.
4. Mold, bacteria, and bad odor: A clean water tank prevents the growth of mold and bacteria and bad odor. It also reduces the risk of internal damage and prolongs the iron’s lifespan.
In addition to all I’ve mentioned, cleaning your iron regularly as experts advise helps you save money because each one you buy lasts longer, but it’s so easy to forget to do so. Ironing is one of the most hated chores in the home according to a Good Housekeeping survey, so it’s perfectly natural to forget to clean your iron.
Some irons have an auto cleaning feature which makes it easier to get rid of limescale, and manufacturers like Black and Decker recommend you use it once a month. If your iron doesn’t have this feature, you may need to follow the general recommendation and do it manually once every 1 to 4 months. Be sure to follow your model’s specific cleaning instructions too.
Why Your Steam Iron Needs Cleaning
1. Mineral buildup: If you use tap water instead of distilled water, your iron is going to need frequent cleaning. Tap water contains magnesium and calcium, and when heated, these minerals form limescale deposits and clog the steam vents and heating element. The result of this is weak steaming, sputtering, leakage, and poor heating. This will eventually damage your steam iron if you don’t begin a cleaning routine.
2. Burnt fabric residue on the soleplate: This can stain your clothes and cause uneven heat distribution. Dirty soleplates also don’t glide smoothly which can cause snagging, and there’s a risk of tearing occurring if fabrics that require low heat get snagged by the soleplate.
Materials You’ll Need
Materials for Cleaning the Soleplate
A soft cloth or microfiber towel, cotton swabs, white vinegar, baking soda, and a soft-bristled brush or old toothbrush.
Materials for Descaling
Distilled water, distilled white vinegar, and measuring cup.
Other materials You May Need
Commercial iron cleaner/descaler, lemon juice, and magic eraser.
Safety Precautions for Handling Cleaning Materials
1. Make sure you clean your iron in a well-ventilated area. Vinegar and commercial descalers can produce strong fumes.
2. Store all cleaning solutions (baking soda, vinegar, descalers) in a safe place where pets and kids can’t reach. Use clearly labelled containers.
How to Clean a Steam Iron Step-by-Step
How to Clean the Soleplate
1. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water by mixing two teaspoons of the former with one teaspoon of the latter.
2. Identify the dirty, stained, and/or burnt parts of the soleplate and spread the paste over those areas, taking care to not apply it over the steam holes.
3. Rub the affected areas in small circles using a soft cloth until they’re clean.
4. Use another soft cloth, this time a damp one, to wipe any remaining paste from the soleplate. Wipe it until it’s completely clean.
Sometimes baking soda may not be enough, especially when you’re dealing with stubborn burnt marks or sticky residue, and that’s when white vinegar comes in handy. To remove stubborn residue with vinegar:
- Heat up half a cup of white vinegar but don’t let it boil
- Apply the warm vinegar on the soleplate and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes
- Wipe the soleplate with the same cloth you used to apply the vinegar on the soleplate
- If there’s any residue left on the soleplate, you can use a soft brush or an old toothbrush to get rid of it
Special instructions for ceramic soleplates:
- Don’t use vinegar on ceramic soleplates without diluting it, otherwise you may damage the ceramic coating.
- Also, don’t use a brush or other abrasive items for scrubbing ceramic soleplates. Use a soft microfiber cloth instead
- Melted fabric is notorious for being hard to remove, but a magic eraser can help you out. You’ll need to heat the iron slightly and then work the magic eraser to remove the residue
Special instructions for stainless steel soleplates:
- Brushes and other abrasive materials can be safely used to scrub stubborn marks or residue off stainless steel soleplates
- You can use a mild dish soap and water mixture as an alternative to baking soda for light cleaning
- If you’re a perfectionist like me, apply a drop of olive oil on the soleplate and wipe it dry to restore the stainless steel sheen when you’re done cleaning
How to Clean the Water Tank and Steam Vents
To remove mineral deposits and limescale from the water tank, follow these steps:
1. Empty the water tank. If the iron is in use, unplug it and let it cool down before starting the cleaning process.
2. Mix half a cup of distilled white vinegar with half a cup of distilled water. If you feel like you need more, increase the amounts of each equally.
3. Now that you have your homemade cleaning solution, pour it into the water tank and be sure to not exceed the maximum fill line while doing so.
4. The next step is to plug in the iron and select the highest steam level. As with all steam irons, let it sit for a while until it’s hot enough to activate steam.
5. Press the steam trigger a few times. This step is necessary to make the solution pass through the steam vents and descale them.
6. Let the iron sit for about 15 minutes. This allows enough time for the vinegar solution to do its job.
7. Replace the vinegar solution with distilled water and repeat steps 4 and 5. This time you don’t need to leave the water in the tank for 15 minutes. You just need to flush the cleaning solution out of the tank which shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes. This is important because it gets rid of the odor and acidity vinegar leaves behind and washes away residual limescale which can stain your fabrics.
8. Wipe the iron dry using a clean, dry, soft cloth. Then place it in a dry, safe spot vertically and let the water tank dry out before replacing the water fill cover.
Should You Switch to Distilled Water?
Distilled water prevents limescale buildup, stains, and maintains steam output. It can also make your iron last longer by preventing internal damage. However, distilled water isn’t always the right choice. Some manufacturers recommend tap water for the following reasons:
- Some models of steam irons are designed to be used with tap water. These models have self-cleaning anti-calc features that protect them from limescale and mineral buildup
- The absence of minerals in distilled water can cause occasional malfunction. Distilled water can also cause corrosion as it tries to get the minerals it lacks from the metal components of the iron
Many manufacturers recommend using tap water if your tap water isn’t hard. Using hard tap water can lead to fast limescale buildup that no self-cleaning function can save you from. In such cases, manufacturers advise using a mix of 50% tap water and 50% distilled water, just as Delonghi does here.
Depending on the hardness of the water in your region and the model you own, the best type of water for your iron could be tap water, distilled water, or a 50/50 mix of both. The bottom line is read your manual and follow your manufacturer’s recommendations.
My Top Tips for Steam Iron Maintenance
1. Use the right type of water. As explained above, it could be tap water, distilled water, or a 50/50 mix of both.
2. Run the anti-calc function once a month if your iron has it.
3. Wipe the soleplate with a soft, damp cloth after each use. This not only makes cleaning the soleplate much easier but also prevents residue and dirt from accumulating on the soleplate which can make cleaning much harder.
4. Never exceed the maximum fill line of the water tank to prevent damage to components as a result of the water leaking out.
5. Store your iron in an upright or vertical position in a dry and safe place.
6. Take care to not wrap the cord around the iron while it’s still hot. This can damage the cord if done repeatedly.
7. It’s important to always store the iron with an empty tank. Pour out any unused water before storage.
8. Descale your iron regularly according to your usage. For light usage (2 or less times per week), descale once every 3 to 4 months. For moderate usage (3 to 5 times per week), descale once every 1 to 3 months. If you use your iron daily or professionally, descale it once a month.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Avoid using abrasive materials on the soleplate. Materials like metal brushes and steel wool can scratch the soleplate and damage coating over time. Use a soft cloth instead. A microfiber towel is also suitable.
2. Regardless of what you’ve read online, always follow your manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines. If your manufacturer says don’t use vinegar, then don’t use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are commercial descaling agents safe to use?
Yes, if your manufacturer says so. Some brands produce their own descaling solutions and these are totally safe to use.
Can I use lemon juice in place of vinegar for descaling?
Yes, but with caution. Citric acid breaks down limescale just like vinegar, and lemon juice has a high concentration of it, but vinegar is the better choice of the two because it’s more effective. Lemon juice contains sugar and pulp, so it has to be diluted with an equal amount of distilled water or it may leave a sticky residue inside the water tank.
How do I remove rust stains from my iron’s soleplate?
You can either follow my soleplate cleaning instructions using baking soda paste, or gently rub the spots with a soft cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar. Another method that can work is using a sprinkle of salt on a piece of cloth with a few drops of lemon juice to scrub the rusted areas. Don’t try to scratch the rust off as you’ll only worsen it by damaging the soleplate even further.
Consistency is Key
Descaling your steam iron at least once a month and wiping the soleplate after each use will make it last much longer without any issues. Using the right type of water, emptying the tank before storage, and storing it upright can also extend the lifespan of your iron.
That said, consistency is key. To make the most of these tips, you have to follow them regularly. Don’t empty the water tank the first few times you use the iron and then store the iron with leftover water the next 7 times you use it. That’s not going to help you much in the long run.
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