Easy ways to descale your iron. How to descale the iron inside

14.09.2019

A modern steam iron periodically "pleases" with scale inside and in the aisles outside. Why is this happening? Scale is a precipitate of salts that are released from hard water when heated strongly.

Sediment builds up on the heating elements, hardens and eventually interferes with the normal operation of kettles, irons and washing machines. And although manufacturers advise to fill the iron with a special softened liquid, in everyday life this recommendation is often ignored. As a result, a plaque appears from the tap water: lime particles clog the steam generator chamber, water and steam nozzles, the water main, stick to the heating element and even go out, clogging the holes in the iron soleplate.

The scale inside the iron is especially "insidious" - gray-red particles "shoot" out of the steam holes at the most inopportune moment. For example, when you decide to iron a light blouse before a big event.

Therefore, you should always keep a piece of clean white cloth close at hand when ironing. Before starting the process, first go over the fabric with an iron, try to steam the flap. And only after a successful test, proceed to the folds on the clothes. After all, even a perfectly clean sole of the device does not guarantee that there are no “surprises” inside.

How to descale your iron: professional solutions

How to descale my iron? You can solve the problem of internal pollution by adopting special store-bought means for cleaning the iron from scale, and preparations from burnt plaque are also suitable for external treatment. In addition, effective cleaners are easy to make yourself from the ingredients at hand.

Professional electric assistant care products are available in the form of solid rods or liquid cleaning emulsions. The first ones are suitable for external treatment, and the second ones are suitable for descaling the inside.

Magic pencil... An effective remedy from the category of "cheap and cheerful". Cleaning the iron with a stick from scale has one drawback - a strong smell of ammonia, so at the end of the procedure you will have to ventilate the room. Instructions for use: heat the appliance to maximum, unplug it, then go over the sole with a pencil, paying particular attention to the steam holes. After a couple of minutes, when the product has corroded the dirt, iron any cotton rag. All carbon deposits should remain on the fabric. Wipe the holes additionally. It is enough to apply the rod once. One pencil is enough for several cleanings.
Anti-scale time... The acids that make up the product neutralize salts or already formed scale. Instructions for use: take two tablespoons of "Anti-scale", dilute in a glass of water, pour the solution into a container for water in the iron. Heat the device to the maximum, turn it off and leave for half an hour. Then turn on the appliance again and press the button for steaming several times. After the procedure, rinse the container to remove any chemical residues.

The new generation of ironers have an automatic cleaning function that helps to remove scale from the iron both inside and outside. It is necessary to fill the device with water, heat it up and wait until it turns off by itself. After that, heat the iron again until it shuts off. Press the special cleaning button. All limescale will come out with the steam.

Plaque inside: one instruction and 3 remedies

If you are looking for how to treat the iron from scale, but there are no special preparations at hand, use proven recipes from folk. Internal contamination is eliminated mainly by three means. You can descale the iron inside with citric acid, soda water, or vinegar. Solutions are prepared as follows:

lemon acid- two tablespoons in a glass of water;
vinegar - a glass of 9% product per liter of water;
soda - does not require other components, is poured into the tank to the top.

These products tend to break down salt and lime deposits. So you can clean not only irons, but also washing machines, kettles. The instructions for use for all three substances are the same and consist of six steps.

Pour liquid into the reservoir of the household appliance and heat to maximum.
Unplug the plug.
Shake the device.
Press the steam button several times after placing a cotton cloth under the appliance.
After complete cooling, drain the remaining liquid.
Turn the iron back on and repeat the previous steps a few more times until it is completely clean.

If cleaning was carried out with vinegar or lemon juice, after the procedure, be sure to wash the device by boiling distilled water in it. Then wipe the sole with a damp soft cloth, paying attention to the holes. Start ironing only after making sure that the scale flakes are completely gone.

Plaque outside: how to process holes

You can descale the holes in the iron using the tools listed above. This is done with a cotton swab or a match with cotton wool. Just soak the fixture in the liquid of your choice and carefully clean the steam holes. By the same principle, ammonia can be used. But there are other methods as well. They are suitable if the steam passages are heavily clogged and limescale has crawled along the sole.

Peroxide

Soak a cotton ball in hydrogen peroxide and rub the sole of a cold iron.
Moisten the grooves especially thoroughly.
Wipe until the carbon deposits disappear.
Heat the iron and run over the unwanted piece of fabric.

Hydroperite tablet

Heat the iron to maximum.
Go through the holes with a hydroperite tablet, fixing it with tweezers. Be careful not to burn yourself.
Repeat as necessary.
After cooling down, wash the sole with soapy water.
Walk with a damp and then dry cloth.

Toothpaste

Using a soft brush or cotton swab, brush the holes in the soleplate of the iron with toothpaste.
Turn on the appliance, heat it up as much as possible and iron the cotton cloth.
After cooling down, wash the sole with soapy water.
Walk with a damp and then dry cloth.

Do not try to descale the iron by scraping the outside with a knife or other sharp object. Do not scrub the surface with steel wool or abrasives. Aggressive methods will damage the metal or Teflon coating and negatively affect the performance of the equipment.

Steam generator care

In the arsenal of a modern housewife, in addition to an iron, there is such a multifunctional miracle device as a steam generator. The device helps to quickly get rid of folds on clothes without removing it from the hanger, treats curtains, carpets, sofas with hot air and also needs to be descaled. In the absence of special tools, you can also do with homemade ones.

Lemon acid... It is diluted in water at the rate of two tablespoons per liter, and poured into the reservoir of the steam generator. The device turns on and the acidified water is “evaporated” onto unnecessary tissue.
Vinegar . It is necessary to fill a quarter of the capacity of the steam generator with the product (it is not necessary to dilute with water), and turn on the device. Steam the waste cloth until all the vinegar is gone from the reservoir.

If the steam generator is pump-driven, that is, steam is supplied under pressure, it is better not to engage in self-activity, but take it to a service center for cleaning.

Prevention measures

Any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. In order not to think about how to remove scale in the iron flask for as long as possible, it is recommended to follow the simple rules of operation. There are only two main ones.

Regular care. After each ironing, wipe the soleplate with a soft, lint-free cloth and store the appliance in a cupboard. Take action at the first sign of scale formation.
Correct water. Use distilled water, boiled water, filtered water, melt water, or rain water. The ideal option would be special water for ironing, which is sold in household chemical stores.

By the way, modern manufacturers have already figured out how to descale a steam iron without any effort at all. So, according to reviews, it is worth paying attention to the models equipped with filters - containers for scale. The function is available in the lines of Philips and Tefal appliances. In such devices, all scale is automatically collected in a special compartment, which is easy to remove and wash as it gets dirty.

All modern irons produced by the industry have the function of moistening linen and steaming during ironing.

Previously, a spray bottle was used for moistening, which was bought separately, it had to be filled with water and sprayed on the laundry.

Today this function is built into the iron. Water is poured directly into it into a special container and, if necessary, is supplied through prepared channels through the sole to the desired place. Due to the fact that the sole is warmed up, the water is converted into steam and the laundry is moistened.

In the process of work, a layer of mineral substances is formed on the elements of the container, in the channels for supplying steam and in the sole of the iron, which are in a dissolved state in the water. This layer builds up over time and can damage the appliance. To prevent this from happening, you need to periodically clean the iron.

One of the ways is to descale the iron with citric acid. This method has been known for a long time and was also used to remove scale from kettles heated on a gas stove. The solution was poured into the vessel and brought to a boil. We left him for a while. Then the liquid was poured off.

The cleaning process can be divided into the following simple steps:

prepare a citric acid solution;
pour it into a water container;
warm up the iron;
carry out several cycles of steaming or moistening.

For preparation, take a small bag of citric acid weighing 25 grams and dissolve in a container with purified or boiled water.

The concentration of the solution must be such that it does not damage the internal rubber parts of the steamer. Water should be taken by the volume of the water container - usually 200 ml. Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved.

The solution should be clear and free of sediment. It is important to understand that an excess of acid may not have a positive, but a negative effect. Silicone and rubber used for sealing in the structure can lose their elasticity and, instead of improving the operation of the iron, get the opposite effect - water will simply flow out through the cracks in the gaskets.

Pour into a water container.

There are no additional requirements here. Pour the solution into the iron, close the lid.

Preheat the iron

Set the heating temperature to the highest possible. Connect the device to the network. It will heat up and shut down. After 2-3 minutes, it will turn on again in heating mode and turn off after a while.

Unplug the iron and proceed to the next step.

Cleaning

Before starting work, you need to prepare a container for collecting the waste solution. It can be a basin, a large saucepan. Take the iron and hold it in a horizontal position above the basin and press the steamer button several times. First, a jet of steam will come out, then hot water with pieces of loose scale.

Entering into a reaction, hot citric acid will act on the salt deposits in the channels, while emitting an unpleasant odor, it will bubble, taking out the waste liquid.

The iron, unplugged, cools down quickly. To repeat the procedure, you need to turn it back on and repeat the steps again. In case of heavy contamination, the treatment should be repeated 2-3 times until all traces of scale in the water container and steaming holes disappear.

The final step is flushing the entire system with clean water in order to remove the remaining citric acid from the device reservoir. To do this, pour out the liquid remaining in the container and replace it with purified water, then carry out several steaming cycles and iron it on some unnecessary cloth.

The absence of limescale marks and other stains indicates a well-conducted cleaning procedure. If there are stains, rinse the iron a few more times, then carry out a test ironing.

The question of how to clean the iron from limescale with citric acid after the operations performed can be considered closed. It must be remembered that for the stable operation of the electric iron, this procedure must be carried out every 2-3 months, depending on the frequency of use of the device. If this is not done, during operation, you can get completely clogged steam channels and pieces of mineral deposits in the water tank.

If this happens, you can use the following method: make a solution for cleaning the iron from limescale with citric acid. Using a disposable syringe with a needle, inject the solution into the steaming channels and leave for a while, then try to perform all the indicated actions.

It may happen that the channels are very heavily clogged and the needle does not enter. In this case, you need to take cotton swabs, moisten them with the prepared solution and put them in the holes. Wet them as they dry or absorb. The salt deposits in the channels will soften a little. After 2-3 hours, remove the tampons and try to carry out the procedure with a syringe. If all else fails, use another descaling method that works.

In order to reduce the amount of limescale, it is necessary to use specially purified water to steam the laundry. In the absence of such an opportunity - just boiled or settled. This reduces the amount of mineral deposits on the walls of the water container and steam passages. Manufacturers do not recommend using distilled water for these purposes, although the salt content in it is zero.

With distilled water, the vaporization process occurs a little differently than with ordinary water. Therefore, if there is no purified water, but there is distilled water, then you need to use a mixture of tap and distilled water in a ratio of 1: 3.

Video on how to clean an iron with citric acid

When we use household appliances, we rarely remember that useful appliances need careful handling and regular maintenance. And only when the device taken for granted breaks down, do we grab the head. This also happens with the iron: the formed scale makes the hostess look for reliable methods of solving the problem.

How and why scale forms, how it threatens

The steaming function in the iron is provided by heating the liquid, which is poured into a special compartment. During operation, scale forms inside the device - a hard deposit that appears as a result of salt deposition. Reasons for the phenomenon:

unfiltered tap water is poured into the iron;
after using the device, the liquid is not drained from the reservoir;
preventive cleaning of the iron is not carried out.

Tap water contains a large amount of salts, which is why, when pouring it into the iron, you will soon have to look for ways to remove scale

If the appliance is "affected" by limescale, red spots remain during ironing, which can ruin the favorite thing, or gray limescale flakes spill out of the steam outlet. In the most advanced cases, the iron may fail altogether. How to solve the problem?

Descaling methods

If the iron is out of order, the only way out is to contact a service center, perhaps specialists will help fix the problem. If the device is in good working order, you can remove scale at home.

Self-cleaning function

Most modern appliances are equipped with a self-cleaning function. To activate it, you must:

Prepare a place for the procedure: the iron will need to be held over the bathtub, sink or basin.
Pour filtered and boiled, or even better distilled water into the liquid tank.
Connect the device to the network and set the maximum temperature regime.
After heating, the iron will turn off, then turn on again.
After the second switch-off, bring the appliance to a basin, bath or sink, placing it horizontally, with the bottom down, press the self-cleaning button: the steam outlets will be descaled. To facilitate plaque discharge, the iron should be shaken periodically.

What if the device is not equipped with a useful option?

Purchased funds

Most often, to clean teapots and irons, housewives use an inexpensive tool - "Antinakipin". The product is simple to use:

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of powder in a glass of water.
Pour the compound into the iron reservoir.
Heat the device to maximum temperature, disconnect from the mains and leave for 30 minutes.
Reheat the iron and remove the water using the steam function by pressing the button several times. At the same time, the device must be held horizontally above the bathtub or sink.

"Anti-scale" is a cheap tool that many housewives use to remove scale from the iron.

However, in supermarkets and even in hardware stores, you can buy products specially designed for cleaning irons. The advantage of such products is that their composition is thought out in such a way as not to harm the device.

The descaling agents inside the iron come in the form of liquids, which are poured into the appliance and, after heating, are discharged with a few strokes of steam. The instructions may differ depending on the product used.

Judging by the reviews, the most in demand are the products produced under the brands:

Topperr;
Magic Power;
Top House;
Unicum.

You can use a solenoid pencil to descale the steam vents. After filling the reservoir of the appliance with cleaning liquid, rub the soleplate with a pencil, then iron a piece of unnecessary cloth and activate the steam function by placing the iron over a sink or bathtub.

Home methods

It is not necessary to run to the store for a descaler; you can get by with the products that are on hand. The described methods are suitable for irons with any sole material.

Regardless of the method chosen, after descaling you need to:

Wipe the sole of the appliance with a vinegar solution (the product combines with water in a 1 to 1 ratio).
Rinse the fluid reservoir and fill it with clean distilled or filtered and boiled water.
Heat the appliance, disconnect it from the mains and, placing the iron over a sink or bathtub, press the steam release button, holding it until the liquid runs out.
Iron an unnecessary piece of cloth: if rusty marks remain, repeat the cleaning procedure.

You can use a cotton swab dipped in vinegar, hydrogen peroxide or ammonia to remove plaque from the steam vents.

Solutions

The most popular way to remove limescale is by using a homemade cleaning solution (see information below):

Pour the composition into the iron.
Heat up the device, then disconnect from the mains.
Shake the iron gently for a few seconds.
Above the sink or bathtub, press the steam release button: together with steam and a spray of rusty hot water, scale will also be removed.

The following are used as cleaning agents:

citric acid solution (25 g of powder per glass of water);
vinegar combined with water in equal proportions;
carbonated mineral water.

Gallery: home remedies for removing limescale inside your iron

A solution of citric acid quickly corrodes scale, but it can be dangerous for some parts of the iron Vinegar is useful not only for household pickles: the product can be an excellent assistant in the fight against scale Sparkling mineral water will help remove scale inside the iron without damaging the internal mechanism of the device

Judging by the reviews, the action of citric acid can adversely affect the plastic parts of the device, so many housewives prefer to use carbonated water. In addition, it is important to carefully read the instructions for the iron: if there are elements to combat water hardness, pouring acid solutions into it is categorically contraindicated.

Video: experience of using citric acid to clean the iron

Hot "baths"

In advanced cases, "baths" for the iron will help:

Stir 5 tablespoons of citric acid in 1 liter of water.
Boil the solution.
Put 2 slats in a baking sheet and place the iron on the "platform" with the sole down.
Pour the prepared composition into a baking sheet so that the liquid covers the platform by 1–1.5 cm: the device body must remain dry.
Place the baking sheet on the stove and leave on low heat for 5-10 minutes.
Drain the water tank.

Instead of citric acid, you can use table vinegar: a glass of the product for 1 liter of water.

Video: hot descaling

Is it worth disassembling the device

For old irons with a long experience, the described methods may not work. In this case, on numerous forums, it is proposed to disassemble the device in order to qualitatively free all parts from scale, and at the same time to clean the device from the lint accumulated inside.

Whether it is worth resorting to this method, each housewife decides on her own. However, the most rational solution is to entrust the device to the specialists of the service center or to a person with experience in working with household appliances or certain technical skills.
It is better to entrust the disassembly of the iron for cleaning to a professional.

Cleaning the iron with disassembly is carried out as follows:

Unplug the appliance and let it cool down completely.
Using special tools, remove the back cover, take out the electronic control unit, the contact strip. Detach the upper decorative strip, remove the filler cap and spray, separate the sole from the body. For each model of the iron, the sequence and method of removing parts is different, therefore it is not possible to describe in detail the disassembly process.
Pour hot water into an enamel container or stainless steel vessel, stir in vinegar or citric acid (see the proportions of the previous method).
Immerse the sole in the composition.
After 2 hours, drain the solution, rinse the platform in running water, wipe dry.
Rinse the iron parts with running water to remove lint, wipe with a dry cloth.
Collect the iron.

Having chosen a descaling method, it is important to observe safety precautions when implementing it. When hot steam and water comes out, you need to move the case away, send the children to another room during the procedure.

Video: disassembling and cleaning the iron using the example of Philips 3240

Prevention

Here are some simple tips to help prevent limescale from reoccurring:

pour into the iron a special liquid, distilled or, in extreme cases, filtered boiled water;
after each use of the steaming function, empty the tank of the appliance;
regularly resort to the self-cleaning function for preventive purposes, if there is no such option - to any of the described methods;
store the device with the nose up.

It is worth taking a closer look at irons with an anti-scale system (the device is equipped with a cassette with special granules that soften the water by changing the positive ions of magnesium and potassium to negative ones, or with an anti-lime rod that needs to be cleaned periodically): they are more expensive, but in the process of operation they justify their price.

The instructions for use say that only distilled water can be added to the water tank of the iron. According to the manufacturer's fair comment, following this recommendation, you will not need to look for information over time on how to descale the iron at home.

Why do I need to descale my iron?

Even several times using the iron with a tank filled with tap water without preliminary cleaning will be enough for the formation of limescale on the heating element. It is wrong to ignore the formation of limescale. An iron with a reservoir covered with formations cannot be used for ironing for one simple reason - it will leave “red” stains on the surface of the materials.

That is why, upon noticing the first signs of contamination of the tank for operation in steaming mode, you need to clean the inside of the iron from scale, paying particular attention to the steam holes. There are several ways and means for this, both folk and professional.

What is self-cleaning and how it works

Many modern iron models are equipped with a self-cleaning function. This means that manufacturers have made sure that devices are cleaned without human intervention if necessary. To start the function, in most cases it is necessary to fill the tank to the maximum, connect the power supply and let the device work at full capacity.

The iron is heated to the maximum and turned off several times in a row.
After reheating, the self-cleaning function is activated (usually the start button is located on the body).
At the moment of activating the function, steam with particles of dirt and scale will begin to emit intensively from the steam holes, therefore it is better to do this over a special container.
The traces of limescale and organic compounds are removed together with the exhausted steam by shaking the iron.
The cleaned water tank inside the device is rinsed with clean distilled water.

So that cleaning the iron according to the specified algorithm does not end with burns, you need to remember the ability of the device to maintain the temperature of the sole for a certain time without touching it with your hands.

The self-cleaning function is a convenient, simple and reliable way to descale your iron. But not all devices are equipped with it, therefore, alternative methods have been invented to solve the problem of formations on the walls of the water tank of devices.

Hot treatment of the iron - how and why is it done?

An effective way to remove scale on your own at home is a hot bath with the addition of chemical compounds. The cleaning process in this case is as follows:

Lay out two slats on a baking sheet.
The iron is fixed on a kind of bridge.
A baking sheet is filled with a store-bought anti-scale mixture or one prepared by hand from improvised components (for example, citric acid at the rate of 5 tablespoons per liter of water).
Boil water in a separate container, pour it into a baking sheet so that the lower part of the sole of the iron is completely covered.
Leave the iron in this position for 1-2 hours.

When it is not possible to remove scale in this way, put the baking sheet on fire and boil for several minutes.

Lime deposits in the tank - folk methods

In addition to the above method, you can get rid of limescale using one of the methods described below.

Option one. Mineral water based solution. It is not difficult, and most importantly, you can effectively clean a steam iron with a simple mineral water. To do this, you will need mineral water and a capacious container for collecting liquid with deposits.

The cleaning process begins with filling the tank with mineral water, followed by heating to the maximum. Steam is released over the prepared dishes by sharp pressing of the button, thus provoking the exfoliation of the scale layer along with the heated mineral water. The manipulations are repeated several times. The final stage is rinsing the iron with ordinary distilled water, all the same with steam extraction.

The proven method of cleaning with citric acid is a natural, affordable and safe remedy. To remove traces of limescale, citric acid (1 sachet) is diluted in hot water and added to the reservoir of the device. The iron is turned on to the maximum heating mode, vigorously shaken several times and press the steam outlet button. In most cases, in this way it is possible to get rid of the bulk of the scale.

There is another way to prepare an effective citric acid-based product that is suitable not only for descaling, but also for cleaning the sole of the device from old particles of dirt and melted fabric. To prepare the product, use 1.5 tablespoons of acid, 2 tablespoons of sodium carbonate and a tablespoon of vinegar. It is believed that a descaler will solve the problem in no more than 30 minutes.

The device is treated in the same way as the hot bath described above, except that the acid is mixed with soda and vinegar. The iron is placed in a shallow container with dry cleaning mixtures, where boiling water is gradually added, making sure that its height does not rise above the permissible rate.

After such cleaning, the iron is thoroughly wiped dry, if necessary, they proceed to re-cleaning, but this time already the soles.

Vinegar is also used as an affordable and safe remedy. You can clean the iron with vinegar at home without much effort, following the following algorithm:

The iron is placed in a deep container.
Two glasses of vinegar are mixed with a liter of water.
The finished solution is poured into a container so that it covers the sole by half.
The back of the iron is raised by placing it on a self-constructed "pedestal" from available tools.
The steam release function is turned on at full power, the container is placed on the stove and brought to a boil.
Cool the liquid and repeat the steps.
Shake the iron along with the steam to loosen the limescale.

After the end of the procedure, you need to rinse the iron and leave it inoperative for a day.

Chemical attack - specialized means

When traditional methods do not help to make the steam iron cleaner, or do not inspire confidence, specialized preparations designed for delicate cleaning without damaging the device parts are suitable.

One of these facilities is Top House. It includes components that protect against premature failure of the iron elements. The German-made product is suitable for both internal and external cleaning.

At points of sale of household chemicals, you can also buy products such as "Cillit" or "Anti-scale", as well as special cleaning pencils. Lack of funds - a sharp specific smell and, in some cases, the price. The advantages include ease of use and efficiency. It is necessary to work with industrial preparations, observing safety measures, using protective gloves.

How do I clean the steam vents on my iron?

It is not enough to clean the water container in the iron, disregarding the holes in the sole. In order for the device to work in full-fledged mode, it is necessary to devote time to the steam holes, using all the same mineral water or citric acid. The iron is placed in the solution on the bars, additionally treating each hole with a syringe.

The cleaning procedure is repeated several times until a positive result is achieved.

When the iron gets dirty on the clothes, it means that there is scale inside the tank, which means that the steam holes are dirty. The solution to the problem will be professional products or hydrogen peroxide. To process the holes and the reservoir, wipe the surface with a cotton pad, allowing it to contact the drug for several hours. After the specified time has elapsed, making sure that the steam holes have been cleaned, the reservoir and sole are wiped dry with a clean cloth.

How can I prevent limescale build-up in my iron?

Observing the rules of operation of the device, you can keep it in working order during the operational period declared by the manufacturer. To do this, you must first clean the water tank from the tap, if it has remained there from previous use, carefully treat it with one of the above means and refill with pure distilled water.

In the future, during operation, it is allowed to use exclusively purified water.

Iron soleplate - how to remove adhered fabrics?

When you need to clean the sole of the iron from the remnants of melted fabrics, it is better to use proven methods. This can be a paraffin candle, a special pencil, hydrogen peroxide, or regular vinegar.

Household appliances make our life much easier. However, with improper use and lack of proper care, any appliances quickly deteriorate, including irons.

The appearance of yellowish spots on things after ironing indicates the formation of scale, which must be fought. Otherwise, soon you will have to start buying not only new things, but also an iron.

The main cause of scale formation is hard water. When the liquid is heated, salts of alkaline earth metals precipitate, which subsequently turns into plaque.

As a result, deposits impede normal operation of the heating element, which leads to increased energy consumption and a longer warm-up time for the iron. Also, sediment can fall on things through the steam outlet holes. Limescale often leads to deterioration of delicate fabrics.

For these reasons, it is not recommended to use tap water for the iron. Water from natural sources also contains metal salts, but their concentration is lower. The best option is distilled water or water that has gone through several stages of purification.

Effective methods to descale

In the fight against solid deposits, both store and folk remedies show high efficiency. As a rule, they contain the same active ingredients, but differ greatly in cost. Also, the composition of household chemicals can include aggressive components that, with frequent use, harm heat exchangers.

Specialized tools will help get rid of the problem

Store products are easy to use, because they are sold ready-made. It is enough to study the instructions in order to clean it correctly.

Anti-scale

An inexpensive and popular descaling agent that contains organic food acids. For irons, the product is produced in liquid form, but powder can also be used. One ampoule is designed for one application.

Step-by-step instruction:

Dilute 2 tbsp. l. powder or one ampoule in 200 ml. water.
Pour the mixture into the tank.
Wait 30 minutes.
Switch on again and drain some of the water using the steam mode.
Drain the remaining liquid and rinse the reservoir.

Top house

Copes with scale and lime deposits, and also prevents the appearance of corrosion and increases the heat transfer of the heating elements of the device. The agent is released in the form of a solution. It contains organic acid.

Step-by-step instruction:

Dilute 50 ml. solution in 200 ml. water.
Pour liquid into the reservoir.
Set the "Cotton" mode.
Heat the device in an upright position.
When the iron is hot, turn it off.
Disable steam mode.
Place the iron in a horizontal position. Use a special stand or wooden sticks.
Pour the solution out of the reservoir after 10 minutes.
Pour in clean water.
Plug into a power outlet.
Set the "Steam" mode.
When the iron is hot, press the button several times to release steam. Repeat until all scale particles have come out.
Switch off the device.
Clean the cooled sole from limescale residues with a cloth.

Greenfield

Pencil for removing scale from the holes for steam and carbon deposits from the work surface. The active ingredient is ammonia, so you need to be prepared for an unpleasant and pungent odor during use. It is recommended to clean in a ventilated area or outdoors.

Step-by-step instruction:

Cover the ironing board with an unnecessary towel or rag.
Turn on the iron and set a high temperature mode (100-140 degrees).
When the appliance heats up, spread the pencil evenly over the sole. On contact with a hot work surface, the substance will begin to melt.
Place the device in a horizontal position. It is advisable to place it on a special stand.
After 5 minutes, remove the rest of the product with a linen or cotton cloth.
Clean the cooled surface with a damp cloth and wipe dry.

How to clean an iron with folk remedies

Traditional methods are considered a budgetary and effective option. As a rule, all the ingredients necessary for cooking are in every home and are of low cost. It is enough to follow the instructions and properly prepare the cleaning mixture to get a decent result.

Lemon acid

One of the most effective home remedies for tough dirt is citric acid. This method is widespread, since it is possible to get rid of scale after the first use.

Dilute 25 g of citric acid in powder form in 200 ml. water.
Pour the solution into the tank.
Chill out.

In addition, citric acid is used to clean limescale steam vents.

In this case, the solution is injected directly into the holes using a syringe. Let off steam after a few minutes.

Vinegar

An alternative to citric acid is 9% table vinegar. It is considered the second most popular method, since scale is afraid of acids.

Take 100 ml. purified water and vinegar.
Fill the reservoir 1/3 full with the solution.
Set the maximum temperature mode.
Wait 10 minutes.
Place the iron over a basin and let off steam. As a rule, rusty water with sediment flows.
Fill with purified water.
Heat to maximum temperature.
Chill out.
Wipe the sole.

Soda

Soda can easily remove scale, rust and carbon deposits from the soleplate. Sodium carbonate also cleans the steam vents from all types of contaminants. However, this method is not suitable for Teflon appliances.

First way:

Fold cheesecloth in 2-3 layers.
Pour 2 tbsp on cheesecloth. l. baking soda.
Preheat the iron to medium heat.
Rub the soles with the resulting soda bag.
Rinse the cooled sole with water and wipe dry.

Second way:

Mix 2 tbsp. l. dishwashing detergents and 2.5 tbsp. l. soda.
Apply the mixture to the cold soleplate of the iron. You can warm up to the minimum temperature, but then be sure to turn off the device.
Leave on for 40 minutes.
Thoroughly clean the sole and wipe dry.

Paraffin candle

Another effective tool for external cleaning is a paraffin candle. Alternatively, you can use laundry soap. Both remedies are applied in the same way.

Cover the board with an old towel.
Preheat the iron to the maximum temperature.
Rub the sole with a candle or soap.
Leave on for 5-7 minutes.
Remove residues with a cotton cloth.

How to descale at home

Limescale builds up on the heating element of the iron and on the surface of the fluid reservoir. If left unchecked, tough salt deposits will clog the steam vents and cover the sole over time. As a result, you still have to eliminate pollution. But it should be borne in mind that external and internal cleaning of the iron are different and have their own characteristics.

Internal cleaning

The choice of detergents for internal cleaning depends on the type of appliance. Steam irons are recommended to be cleaned with "Anti-scale" in the form of ampoules. The product in liquid form is intended for steam generators and steamers. Citric acid will also work.

It is undesirable to use vinegar, as it can spoil rubber and plastic elements.

Step-by-step instructions for cleaning steam irons internally:

Fill the reservoir with cleaning solution to ¼.
Leave on for 20 minutes.
Preheat to maximum temperature.
Take any unnecessary item and iron until all the steam is released.
Fill the reservoir with distilled water.
Let all steam out of the iron.
Wipe the sole.

Conventional appliances are cleaned with household chemicals, citric acid and vinegar. The method of application is the same.

Outside sole cleaning

Outdoor cleaning products are selected according to the type of sole. Universal options that are suitable for all types, including Teflon, are:

laundry soap;
paraffin candle;
cleaning pencil.

Step-by-step instructions for cleansing the outside:

Preheat the iron to the maximum temperature.
Stand upright.
Apply the cleaning agent to the hot soleplate. Spread evenly.
Leave it on for a few minutes.
Remove residues with a natural cloth.
Clean the steam outlet holes with a cotton swab.

Express self-descaling system

Most modern irons have a Self-Cleaning function. In this case, it will not take much time and effort to remove scale, as well as unnecessary waste.

Step-by-step instruction:

Pour distilled or purified water into the tank.
Switch on the iron.
Set the maximum temperature mode.
Wait for the iron to heat up.
Place the device over a bathtub, sink or basin.
Turn on the "Self-cleaning" mode.
Wait until all the liquid comes out along with the plaque.
Wipe the sole.
Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Cool the iron.

Cleaning the iron with ordinary mineral water is considered a worthy alternative to the “Self-cleaning” mode. In terms of efficiency, these two methods are on an equal footing.

Step-by-step instruction:

Fill the reservoir with mineral water.
Set the maximum temperature mode.
When the iron is hot, turn on the "Steam" mode.
Let off steam over a bathtub, sink or basin.
Wipe down the sole with a cloth made of natural material.
Fill the iron with distilled or purified water.
Chill out.
Wipe the sole.
Cool the iron.

By watching the video, you can find out how citric acid helps to descale the iron.

Preventing the reappearance of limescale

Limescale can be prevented by following a few simple rules:

use distilled water or water that has passed several stages of purification;
choose the right temperature regime;
carry out preventive cleaning 1-2 times a month, including irons with the "Self-cleaning" function;
choose irons with a built-in anti-scale system;
use water softeners;
use quality filters for tap water.

It is not so difficult to descale the iron, but it will take time, especially in advanced cases. In the future, it is recommended to carry out preventive cleaning at least once a month in order to prevent the appearance of limescale and reduce the load on the heating element. After all, metal salt deposits are very harmful to household appliances, shorten the service life and increase energy consumption.