HAVE you ever accidently left marks on your clothes while ironing? This could be down to a burn metal plate.
But don't worry, we have some ways that you can fix your iron so this no longer happens.
How to clean a burnt iron?
If the metal plate of your iron is burnt, there are some easy ways to get it back to looking like new.
Don't worry, you won't have to pay a fortune to fix the burned iron either.
There are many ways to get the plate gleaming again using cheap household items that you probably already have in your cupboards.
Lifestyle Editorial team member at Airtasker Andrea Phillips said: "The top signs that your iron is overdue a clean include if the iron is dragging instead of gliding when you are ironing your clothes, and you start noticing sticky stains on the fabric you just ironed."
Here are some handy methods to clean the bottom of a burnt iron:
Clean a burnt iron using salt
While we wouldn't usually think of using salt for cleaning, it could be your saving grace.
As well as helping to combat condensation, it could also be your secret saviour when it comes to cleaning your iron.
Place a clean, dry, cotton cloth on to your ironing board for almost instant results.
You then sprinkle the cloth with a generous amount of sea salt and set the iron to a high temperature.
The last step is to iron over the salt several times until the burn stains disappear in front of your eyes.
Clean a burnt iron using baking soda
Baking soda is another household product that you can use in cleaning hacks.
Not only does the product, which is usually used for baking cakes, do the trick, but it's also a gentler way of removing burn marks.
You can make a paste consisting of two tablespoons of baking powder and one tablespoon of water and spread it over the iron's plate while it is cool.
Rub with a non-scratch, clean cloth then wipe it off with a damp cloth – the stains should disappear.
Clean a burnt iron with toothpaste or white vinegar
For this cleaning method and to ensure it's safely carried out, make sure the iron is cold, unplugged, and the water tank is completely empty.
According to Philips, if the above methods haven't worked their magic – toothpaste or vinegar could be your next option.
Make sure that your iron plate is fully dry, before starting off the cleaning process.
Get a small blob of toothpaste and rub it all over the surface of the plate, using an old rag or tea towel.
Then clean the toothpaste away with a damp sponge or cloth.
Once this is done, the iron should be looking new, but allow it to fully dry before attempting to use it again.
YouTube account House Keeper also showed how to rid your iron of burn residue with toothpaste and swears by this method.
The same system can be used using a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts.
Philips says on their website: "You can use vinegar to get more stubborn marks or sticky residue off an iron.
"Lay down newspaper before you begin, because vinegar can damage stone or wooden surfaces."
They then say there are four steps to complete.
First, create a mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and salt in a saucepan.
After gently heating the mixture take the pan off the heat, taking care not to boil the mixture.
Then put on some rubber gloves for protection and soak the sponge into the mixture, before wringing it out so it's damp.
Gently scrub the plate until the burn marks start to come off and repeat until desired results are met.
Prevent build up
One of the most effective ways of eradicating this problem is to prevent build-up occurring in the first place.
It's best to iron low-temperature fabrics first, like nylon and silk, before going onto high-temperature ones like cotton.
Use a hot iron cleaner after each use to maintain the soleplate or you can also use an iron cleaner pad.
One main culprit of leaving marks on irons is T-shirts with prints on them.
If you have to iron one of these tops, try ironing on a lower heat to maintain the printed design and make sure no residue is left on the iron.
However, a damp cleaning pad will quickly and safely remove it so you avoid damaging your clothes permanently.
How to descale an iron
It’s important to descale your iron to make sure that no damage happens to it. To do so, just follow these steps:
- Empty the water tank and rinse it.
- Then fill the tank up with water to the maximum amount and add a tiny bit of white vinegar.
- Turn the iron on to the highest temperature for at least four minutes and press the steam button every now and then.
- Then turn off the iron and let the water rest for 30 minutes.
- Clean the water scale and plate and if there is any limescale left, repeat the process again.
- Rinse the water tank and steam it empty on a rag to make sure that no vinegar remains in the iron and comes off on your clothes.
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