Clean the Bottom of an Iron

If your clothes iron is starting to drag as you move it, or if you notice residue on the bottom of your iron (also called the soleplate), it's time to clean it. You’ll want to clean the iron’s soleplate and the steam vents, where residue tends to collect if you use tap water. You can use commercial products, specially designed to clean irons. There are also ways to clean your iron using household items, such as vinegar, salt, baking soda, toothpaste and dish soap.

Steps

Using Vinegar and Salt

1. Mix a 1:1 solution of vinegar and salt in a saucepan. Place the pan on the stove and heat the mixture until the salt dissolves. You can stir occasionally to help this process along. Make sure you remove the saucepan before the vinegar starts to boil.
2. Dip a clean rag in the heated vinegar-salt solution. Make sure you wear waterproof gloves, such as dishwashing gloves, to protect your hands from the hot mixture. Depending on the surface you want to work on, you might want to cover it with a towel or some newspaper. Vinegar can be especially damaging to surfaces like stone and marble.
3. Wipe the bottom of your iron gently until it's clean. Don’t forget to scrub the steam vents as well to dislodge possible buildups. If necessary, wipe the outside of your iron down as well.
   • Note that the vinegar-salt mixture can also remove burn marks from your iron's soleplate.
   • If a rag isn’t enough to dislodge the buildup on your iron, you might want to a scrubber or kitchen sponge. Make sure it’s not metal, otherwise it will scratch your iron.

Using Baking Soda

1. Mix baking soda and water. Use 1 tablespoon of water and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Mix in a small bowl until no water remains and the mixture becomes a paste.
2. Use a spatula to spread the paste onto the iron. Focus on areas with particularly strong buildup. Make sure to coat the steam vents as well. Don’t lay the paste on too thick, just enough to evenly coat the soleplate.
3. Wipe off the paste with a damp cloth. Don’t hesitate to scrub at more tenacious spots. Wipe until no paste remains and the grimy buildups have been removed.
4. Clean the steam vents with cotton swabs. Dip a cotton swab into water and insert it into the steam holes. Scrub to remove mineral deposits and the baking soda paste.
   • After cleaning the steam vents, bring the iron to your sink. Pour out any water that may have entered the steam holes.
   • Avoid the temptation to use paper clips or other hard, metal items that could scratch your iron's steam vents.
5. Fill the iron with water and iron a cloth. Make sure to use a cloth you’re not too attached to, as some tenacious residues may end up staining it. Turn the iron to its highest setting and iron for a few minutes; the clean water will flush out any remaining deposits.
   • Pour out any remaining water over a sink.
   • Let the iron dry. Make sure not to leave it on a sensitive surface, in case sediments drip out of the steam vents.

Using Other Household Products

1. Mix warm water and mild dish soap together in a bowl. The amount of dish soap you’ll use depends on how dirty the iron is. Keep in mind that the resulting solution should be far less concentrated than what you use to clean dishes.
2. Dip a cotton rag in the soap and wipe the iron's soleplate. Make sure to scrub the steam vents as well, as these are a typical spot for buildups. You can also wipe the rest of the iron to deal with any grime.
   • This kind of gentle cleaning is ideal for Teflon-coated soleplates which, just like Teflon-coated cookware, keep substances from sticking but are very vulnerable to scratches.
3. Dampen a cloth with water and wipe the iron. Wipe until all traces of the soap are gone. Place the iron upright on a counter or table and let it dry; you can place a towel under the iron to catch any dripping water.
4. Put a small amount of toothpaste on the iron’s soleplate. Make sure you use white toothpaste rather than gel; the former has a foaming effect that the latter lacks. Use an amount no larger than a quarter.
5. Scrub the toothpaste over the soleplate with a rag. Pay particular attention to the steam vents, as various kinds of residue tend to build up there. If your iron’s soleplate is particularly dirty, you can also use a kitchen sponge or scrubber to dislodge the grime. Avoid using a metal scrubber, as this will scratch the soleplate.
6. Wipe off the toothpaste with a damp cloth. Rub thoroughly to ensure that none of the toothpaste remains. Otherwise you might stain your clothes when trying to use your iron.
7. Fill the iron with water and iron a cloth. Make sure to use a cloth you’re not too attached to, as some tenacious residues may end up staining it. Turn the iron to its highest setting and iron for a few minutes; the clean water will flush out any toothpaste that might have been rubbed into the steam vents.
   • Pour out any remaining water over a sink.
   • Set the iron out to dry.

Cleaning the Steam Vents

1. Pour white vinegar into the iron’s reservoir. Only fill the reservoir up to a third. If you’re concerned that white vinegar is too abrasive, you can also make a solution that’s equal parts water and vinegar.
2. Turn on the iron and let it steam. Use the iron’s high heat setting. Let the iron steam until the vinegar has completely evaporated. This should take between 5 and 10 minutes.
   • Alternatively, you can lay a piece of cloth on an ironing board and iron it until the reservoir empties. You’ll then be able to see all the filth removed from the iron.
   • Make sure you use cloth you’re fine with throwing out. It will likely get stained and marked from this process.
3. Fill the iron with plain water. Make sure you fill the reservoir completely, and turn on the iron. Let it steam until the reservoir is empty. This will simultaneously remove any remaining gunk in the steam vents and clear the iron of any leftover vinegar.
   • After steaming, make sure to wipe the soleplate with a rag to clean off any remaining residue.
4. Use a cotton swab to finish cleaning the steam vents. Dip a cotton swab into a solution that’s equal parts vinegar and water. Rub the cotton swab over and in each steam vent in turn. This will remove more resilient buildups.
   • Cleaning iron steam vents ensures even, consistent iron performance.
   • Avoid the temptation to use paper clips or other hard, metal items that could scratch your iron's steam vents.

Tips

• Make sure to check the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting any of these methods. Some irons require proprietary cleaners due to their construction.
• No matter how you clean your iron always fill it with water afterward, following the manufacturer's directions, and operate the steamer to clear the steam vents.

Related Articles

• Clean Teflon

Sources and Citations

See also

• Steam Press a Sweater or Other Knit Garment
• Make a Portable Ironing Board
• Iron a Shirt
• Heat Press a T‐Shirt
• Use an Iron
• Starch a Shirt
• Iron a Suit Jacket
• Use a Clothes Steamer
• Choose the Right Ironing Board Cover
• Iron a Dress Shirt

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