How to quickly clean the ceramic soleplate of an iron

One of the most necessary household tools is an iron. Just a century ago it was a heavy cast-iron plate with a handle that had to be heated over an open fire. Regardless of how long this useful device has existed, people have always been faced with the problem of how to clean the soleplate of the iron.

Modern ironing devices have become much lighter and more convenient compared to their predecessors, and are equipped with a large number of functions that make housework much easier. The most popular are irons with Teflon or ceramic-coated soles. The more functions this type of household appliance has, the higher its cost.

Have you ever had to clean the soleplate of your iron?

Not really

An iron with a ceramic sole is lightweight but highly effective. Despite all the advantages, the device becomes dirty over time and needs to be cleaned. When even a small amount of carbon deposits appears on the ironing surface, it leads to a deterioration in the quality of ironing and damage to things.

It is also important to take into account the fact that the cleaning methods for ceramic coatings differ from Teflon coatings. This type of work requires special care, since the slightest scratches can damage the surface of the iron. Do not use highly abrasive products, rub dirt stains with a wire brush, or scrape them with a knife or sandpaper.

Housewives have long wondered how they can quickly clean carbon deposits from an iron. Many years of collective experience have allowed us to collect many simple ways to clean an iron with a ceramic coating using improvised means at minimal cost. Therefore, you should not rush to buy new household appliances or rush to a repair shop, but use one of the simple methods and clean it yourself.

Why does the ceramic soleplate of the iron get dirty?

One of the main reasons for iron malfunction can be the use of plain tap water during ironing. This water does not differ in purity and quality and requires filtration. It contains many salts, particles of debris, and rust that come from old pipes. During operation, tap water is poured into a special tank. When heated, it boils. When the steam function is used, the water evaporates at high temperatures, leaving a hard whitish coating on the walls of the container and the sole.

If the device is not equipped with a self-cleaning function, then limescale will gradually accumulate. The thin holes for escaping steam become clogged, which makes the ironing process very difficult.

Other causes of dirt stains may include:

Incorrect use of temperature conditions in accordance with the type of fabric;
Too long contact of the hot surface with synthetics;
Failure to comply with the rules for proper operation of the electrical appliance (after using the iron, the water from the reservoir must be drained; using the steam function too often);
Accidental contact with adhesive elements, polyethylene, or plastic on the ironing surface.

It is extremely important to ensure that the soleplate of your iron is cleaned. Not only because things can be irrevocably damaged, but such damage will lead to the fact that the household appliance cannot be repaired. Buying a new electrical appliance will require a much larger financial investment than prevention and timely cleaning.

How to Clean a Ceramic Iron Using the Self Clean Function

Most irons today have a self-cleaning function. Before starting it, it is important to read the operating instructions in detail and learn how to use these techniques. By default, a button called Self Clean is located on the body.

So, follow these steps:

Fill the water tank completely;
Set the maximum heating temperature;
Wait for the appliance to fully heat up until the indicator light turns off;
Hold the iron over a container (bowl, sink, bucket). It is important to maintain a safe distance from your face and use oven mitts to avoid burning your hands;
Turn on self-cleaning mode.

Hot water under pressure flushes the entire steam generation system in the device, the steam pushes the formed scale out. Finally, you need to rinse the tank and wipe it.

Cleaning the device from the inside

If your iron does not have a self-cleaning system, you will have to periodically clean the inside of the device from limescale. Citric acid or a special product, for example, Antiscale, will help you with this.

Dissolve a packet of acid in water or dilute a household chemical according to the instructions. Pour liquid into the device reservoir and heat it to maximum temperature. After that, turn it off and wait 20 minutes. After this time, turn it on and remove all the water from it using the steam function. After finishing the treatment, change the water in the tank several times to rinse it.

How to clean a ceramic iron using improvised means

We offer simple cleaning methods using products that are always on hand in any kitchen.

Method 1. How to clean the ceramic soleplate of an iron with lemon or lime juice

Citric acid breaks down fat well and helps quickly remove stains and rust.

Squeeze the juice of a whole lemon and mix it with a small amount of clean water. Soak a soft rag in the solution and saturate the contaminated areas on a cold surface with it. Then wipe thoroughly.

If you don’t have fresh fruit at home, use store-bought citric acid.

Method 2. How raw potatoes help clean a ceramic iron

Raw potatoes contain large amounts of oxalic acid, which is used to remove stains and rust.

Cut the potato in half and sprinkle it with a pinch of baking soda. Rub thoroughly onto the contaminated cold surface. Let the released juice settle, rinse well with clean water, and wipe dry.

Method 3. How to clean the surface of the iron with food grade acetic acid

Only 9% vinegar is used, it is safe for ceramics. Heat the iron to maximum, turn it off and wipe the contaminated surface with a rag soaked in vinegar. Steam holes are treated with cotton swabs. Then the iron is heated again and a piece of fabric is ironed to consolidate the result.

Read about how else you can use vinegar to benefit your household.

Method 4. How ammonia helps clean the surface of the iron

Ammonia can be used both in pure form and in its aqueous solution. It is advisable to carry out the procedure with latex gloves and a protective mask, since the ammonia in ammonia irritates the mucous membranes when its vapor is inhaled and can cause burns to the skin of the hands.

We offer 2 effective ways:

Preheat the iron and disconnect it from the power supply. Moisten a piece of cotton wool with pure ammonia and rub the ceramic surface.
Mix 200 ml of clean water and 50 ml of ammonia in a spray bottle. Heat up the appliance, then turn it off. Spray the prepared solution onto a warm surface and leave for a quarter of an hour. Then remove the dirt.

Method 5. How to remove plaque from an iron using hydrogen peroxide

Heat and iron a cloth soaked in a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution several times. Turn off and let the surface cool. The steam holes are cleaned with cotton swabs.

Method 6. How to quickly clean an iron with a ceramic sole using toothpaste

Toothpaste contains a lot of active ingredients that successfully clean the soleplate of the iron, like tooth enamel.

First, heat the iron as high as possible and turn it off. Apply a little paste to a piece of soft cloth. It is important to use the lowest abrasive paste to avoid scratches on the delicate surface.

Apply a thin layer of the paste to the dirt stains and leave until it dries completely.

Wipe the treated surface with a soft cloth after half an hour.

Method 7. How laundry soap helps clean the soleplate of the iron

Laundry soap contains potassium hydroxide. It is this component that helps to effectively dissolve the resulting plaque.

Rub the hot surface of the iron with a hard piece of laundry soap. Leave for approximately 50-60 minutes. Remove the soap mass with a soft damp cloth and dry the device thoroughly.

It is important to ensure that soap does not flow into the steam holes. Otherwise, it will not be easy to remove the solution completely.

Method 8. How to clean the ceramic soleplate of an iron with nail polish remover

To treat a ceramic surface, you must choose a liquid without dyes or additives of plant origin. It is also important to be very careful when cleaning without touching the plastic parts.

Soak a piece of cloth in acetone and wipe the dirt stains until they disappear completely. Afterwards, treat the entire sole with a damp cloth and dry.

Method 9. How baking soda cleans the soleplate of the iron

Baking soda is highly abrasive, but the grains are fine enough to use on fragile ceramic surfaces.

Prepare a solution by mixing 100 ml of water and sodium bicarbonate (one teaspoon). Dampen a piece of cloth or a bath pad and clean the cooled surface of the iron. Finally, dry thoroughly.

Method 10. The most unusual. Box of matches

Few people know that in the production of matches, a special brown substance is applied to the boxes; it contains ideal components that are used to clean smooth surfaces: stibnite, crushed glass, red phosphorus, chalk, and others. To clean dirt, do the following:

Heat the iron to the maximum value, disconnect from the power supply;
Gently wipe away dirt on the ceramic surface with the brown side of the matchbox;
Finish with a cloth.

Method 11. Pencil for quickly cleaning the iron

Most often, housewives use a special pencil. The one that contains ammonia is especially effective.

Heat the iron, disconnect from the power supply. Apply a pencil to his soles. Moreover, you should hold the device in a vertical position so that the molten product does not flow into the steam holes. Let cool. Using a piece of cotton cloth, clean the iron from any remaining product.

Method 12. How to clean an iron with a ceramic sole using heated salt

Cleaning fragile ceramics requires very finely ground salt.

Take a linen or cotton napkin and pour a small amount of salt in the center. The edges must be folded so that a small bag is formed and the salt does not crumble. Plug it back in and warm it up as much as possible. Then turn off the device, place it vertically and rub the carbon stains with this salt bag.

Method 13. Aluminum food foil is the easiest way to clean the ceramic sole of an iron

Using an iron preheated to maximum, iron a piece of food foil several times. All stubborn dirt should remain on it.

Method 14. Cleaning with a paraffin candle

Rub the hot sole with a paraffin candle. Try to hold the device in such a way that melted paraffin does not fall into the steam holes. Once the carbon deposits have been removed, reheat the iron by filling the reservoir with water and use the steam function to remove any remaining wax.

Method 15. How to clean the soleplate of an iron at home using hydroperite tablets

The tablets must be crushed well before use.

Plug in the iron and walk over the resulting powder several times. Once the sole is clean, wait until it cools down and wipe it with a damp sponge. Then dry thoroughly.

Nail polish remover

It is recommended to resort to this cleaning agent only if there are no other products at hand.

Nail polish remover will help if a woman goes on a business trip or vacation. Accordingly, in such a situation, salt, soda or other means are not kept in the room.

To clean ceramic soles, you can use a liquid with or without acetone. However, experienced housewives do not recommend using a product with acetone; it can damage the ceramics.

Nail polish remover works great on both fresh and old stains. It is applied to a heated iron with a cotton sponge.

After obtaining the desired result, wipe the sole with a damp cloth and place it in fresh air to remove the unpleasant odor from the nail polish remover.

Household chemicals

All of the above methods of cleansing are simple and always available. However, in some cases it may be advisable to use purchased products. They not only carefully remove any dirt, but create a protective film that promotes smoother sliding over clothing and protects against future salt deposits.

The most popular means are:

WPro is a soft cream without alkali content. It is applied to the surface and left for 15 minutes. Then thoroughly clean the carbon deposits, wipe with a napkin and dry. The manufacturer claims that you can clean the soleplate of your iron with this cream much faster and more effectively than other similar competing products.
Cif Active is offered to the consumer in the form of a spray and is used to remove various stains. Apply to the ceramic surface using a sprayer. After 15-20 minutes, wipe the product with a damp sponge. The device is turned on and the unnecessary fabric is ironed to consolidate the result.
Many people prefer Shumanit BAGI, as it is capable of removing any stains, even old ones, in seconds. Simply apply the product and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe off.
TOP HAUSE is designed for professional cleaning. It is produced in the form of a set that includes a liquid cleaner, a pencil and a napkin. Able to ideally remove limescale from the internal parts of an electrical appliance.
It has been noticed that Kenolux grill cleaner also copes with carbon stains on the soleplate of the iron. Moreover, it cleans quickly, effectively and safely. The liquid is evenly distributed over the surface to be cleaned and left for ten minutes. Then rinse off and wipe dry with a cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can also clean an iron from burning. To do this you will need a small amount of product and a piece of linen fabric.

Action plan:

It is necessary to connect the electrical appliance to the network and set the temperature mode suitable for ironing linen.
While the sole is heating up, take a cloth and soak it generously in 3% hydrogen peroxide.
Once the maximum temperature for ironing linen has been reached, the fabric is laid out on an ironing board and an iron is passed over it.
When the material dries, it is again dipped in hydrogen peroxide and the procedure is repeated. This manipulation is carried out until the sole begins to shine with cleanliness.

It’s also worth knowing how to clean the steam vents. Peroxide will also help with this. Cotton swabs are moistened in the product and gently wipe the holes.

After cleaning, wipe the electrical appliance dry with a napkin or clean towel.

How to remove old carbon deposits from an iron

Old carbon deposits are not so easy to remove, so you will have to put in some effort and patience. However, of all the listed available methods, only fine salt and hydroperite tablets can cope with the most difficult stains. It is important to use finely ground products. Otherwise, there is a risk of severe damage to the ceramics.

The second option for cleaning old carbon deposits on the ceramic sole of an iron is to use professional chemicals. This method can be expensive. However, the investment is still profitable compared to buying a new iron.

Matchbox

A slightly unusual and not well-known method for cleaning the soleplate of a ceramic iron is using a matchbox. But this method is very effective.

After using it, many housewives were satisfied.

How to clean your iron:

Preheat the iron.
Take a new matchbox and rub the soot stains with the sulfur side.

This is the whole procedure. After all dirt has been removed, the ceramic surface is wiped first with a damp and then with a dry cloth.

Tips and tricks: how to maintain the result

Follow the basic rules of care:

If the burnt fabric has left marks, you should immediately iron it with a towel soaked in cold water. The temperature difference helps to quickly clean the ceramic coating.
Never use hard wire brushes. They scratch the surface, rendering it completely unusable.
Always empty the water tank after ironing.
Use only filtered, clean water.
Iron synthetic clothes, T-shirts with vinyl stickers only through gauze, woolen and silk items - from the wrong side.

These techniques will help you save money to purchase a new iron and a lot of time to search for new effective means of cleaning it.

You might also find our article on how to clean ceramic cookware helpful.

Antiscale

This industrial product is sold in household chemical stores. It can be used to clean the bathtub, all faucets, as well as ceramic-coated ironing equipment.

Mode of application:

The contents of one ampoule are diluted in 200 ml of water.
The resulting solution is used to treat a ceramic surface preheated to medium temperature.
Then rinse with plain water and wipe dry.

If necessary, the cleansing procedure with Antiscale can be repeated. However, you should not get carried away with such a procedure; after all, this is a chemical agent that, if used frequently, can damage the ceramic coating.

Following these tips, the electrical appliance will last for a long time, will iron perfectly and will not spoil your favorite things.

Reviews

Novak Antonina Nikolaevna, Chelyabinsk
I tried cleaning my iron with vinegar several times. I can't say that it helps very much. Although I rubbed the entire surface for about 30 minutes, and actively. In my opinion, store-bought products are much better than homemade ones, although more expensive. What do you advise? How else can you clean a ceramic coated iron?

Rozumnaya Natalia
Thank you for the article! I myself have tried several of the recipes described here, but not all of them help. I cleaned mine with baking soda. Everything works fine now, the main thing is not to overdo it and not to scratch the ceramic on the sole.

Kislinskaya Inna Pavlovna, 67 years old
Thanks for the recipes! My pension is not enough for expensive chemicals, I use home remedies. All my life I have cleaned my irons with laundry soap; it quickly removes even carbon deposits. It’s even better to iron it straight through gauze or mesh, then you won’t have to clean it.
Read also: How to get rid of rotten smell, mold or dampness in a washing machine

(Visited 424 times, 424 visits today)

Soda

Regular baking soda will help you clean ceramics from dirt. Dissolve 5 g of soda in 100 g of warm water, soak a soft cloth in the liquid and start cleaning the surface. To remove heavy dirt, you can sprinkle a little dry soda on a damp cloth and gently clean the area. Make sure the cloth is soft enough, as rough materials can damage the ceramic coating.