How to Clean Your Steam Iron
Turn your steam iron off and allow it to cool
Safety first! Be sure that your steam iron is powered off and cool to the touch before proceeding to clean it. Neglecting to do so will not only hinder the cleaning process, but can result in serious burns. Never attempt to clean a steam iron that has not been completely cooled.
Empty steam iron's water tank
After the steam iron is cool, completely empty the water tank. For most models, this can be done simply by turning the steam iron upside-down over a sink, but some models may require a different method. Check your owner's manual for the most effective way to drain the steam iron.
Fill steam iron's water tank with a vinegar solution
Mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and distilled water. (Distilled water should be used for this process, as tap water contains impurities which will hinder the cleaning process.) Pour this solution into your steam iron's water tank, up to the maximum fill line.
Turn steam iron on, and adjust steam setting to high
After filling your steam iron with vinegar and water, set the heat to a high setting and allow to completely heat up. Once it is completely heated, place the steam iron on the highest heat setting. Iron a clean, dry towel for a few minutes to "catch" any deposits from the iron's steam vents. Iron the towel for at least five minutes, or until no more deposits are left on the fabric.
Turn steam iron off, allow it to cool, and empty the water tank
Again, be safe. Allow the steam iron to cool completely before emptying the water tank. If desired, refill the water tank with plain water and empty it again to make sure all the vinegar is rinsed out.
Preventing build-up in your steam iron
The most effective way to keep your steam iron free from build-up in the first place is to use distilled water instead of tap water when ironing. If tap water must be used, boil the water for five minutes and allow to cool before pouring it into the steam iron's water tank. When ironing, be sure that the steam iron is allowed to heat up completely before opening the steam vents to help prevent build-up from depositing on fabrics.
Published by Amy Weekley
I'm a stay-at-home mother of two, loving every minute of it. Writing has long been my hobby, and I figure it's time to share my work with the rest of the world. Enjoy! View profile
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14 Comments
Post a CommentAny ideas on how to clean the bottom of the iron?
Smart ideas. My iron is a mess! Thanks!
Useful info.
Great tip Amy! I use vinegar for many things as well. :-)
I needed these tips!
ours could use a good cleanin
And you guys know what's funny? I wrote this article because I realized that day that I needed to clean my iron. I came downstairs, wrote the article, and promptly forgot to clean the stupid iron. So I went upstairs to do some ironing this morning, and it's still all gross. Ah, gotta love "mommy brain." :-)
Oh, wow, I have to clean that? Oops. Thanks for the heads up.
hahaha Jacques -- the only reason I iron is because my husband needs nice shirts for work, and I refuse to pay somebody else to take care of my laundry. :-P It's funny how few people do the things that our parents' generation saw as just normal things to do.
Great tips. Just yesterday, we had an iron issue. I always iron the cloth board for a minute or two before ironing my clothing. Never occured to me to just clean it!