How To Clean An Iron Soleplate

When did you last clean your iron plate? Or perhaps a better question might be is, have you ever even thought about needing to clean an iron soleplate? Probably most people haven't, but when you think about how much starch you have to use or all of the debris that may be burning into your clothing - as well as on your iron - while you are pressing wrinkles out of your dirty shirt, then you can understand why it's a great idea to keep its faceplate clean. Also, having a pristine iron plate can help the device function correctly.

Fortunately, it is not hard to clean an iron faceplate.

Learn how to properly clean your iron soleplate to ensure that your appliance is working correctly so that your clothes stay wrinkle-free and be become matted with scorched clothing fibers and starch.

How To Know When It Is Time For You To Clean Your Iron

How often you need to clean an iron plate depends on how frequently you use your appliance. If you iron your work shirts or school uniforms on a regular basis then you will need to clean your iron more often than somebody who uses a dry cleaner. When should you clean an iron plate then? A good rule of thumb to follow is to wash the faceplate if it is not gliding over garments smoothly any longer. This means there is a lot of stuff accumulating and causes the iron to drag.

How to use Water and Baking Soda To Clean an Iron

It is well known that baking soda has a great ability for deodorizing your house. It works wonders also as a natural scouring agent which can help to get rid of grime from your iron's soleplate.

You will need:

• Cotton swabs
• Microfiber cloths
• Small bowl
• Distilled water
• Baking soda
  

In the small bowl, combine one part distilled water and two parts baking soda to make a paste. (Don't use tap water since it can leave behind additional mineral deposits.)  

Be sure to unplug the iron and that it is completely cool.

Spread your paste over the soleplate over the iron.

Take a damp microfiber cloth and then wipe away the paste, and make sure all of it is removed.

Dip the cotton swab in distilled water.

Use it to clean the iron soleplate's steam holes.

Allow the iron to completely dry before you plug it in and start to use it once again.

Use Vinegar To Clean An Iron Soleplate

You can use vinegar to clean practically anything, other than some home appliances that have delicate inner workings and stone. The same is true when cleaning your iron's faceplate.

You will need:

• Microfiber cloth
• Spray bottle
• Microwave-safe bowl
• 1/2 cup stilled white vinegar
  

Pour the vinegar inside of the bowl. Heat it up for around one minute in the microwave.

Pour the vinegar carefully into your spray bottle.

Spritz hot vinegar onto your microfiber cloth until it is damp, without being saturated.

Use the cloth to wipe the iron's soleplate.

Repeat this process until the soleplate is clean and free of grime.

Iron Maintenance Tips

You can use the following tips to keep the faceplate on your iron clean, so you don't need to worry about scrubbing it so frequently:

• Use distilled water in the iron's steam compartment whenever possible to prevent mineral deposits from forming.
• After each use empty out the water reservoir.
• Allow the iron to cool completely after each use, and use a dampened microfiber cloth to wipe the soleplate down to get rid of starch residue or rogue fibers.
  

As you can see, it takes some time and effort to clean an iron soleplate, but it makes a big difference in how effectively the appliance works.