How to descale an iron with citric acid

Reasons for the formation of soot and scale on the sole of the iron

The main reason for the formation of carbon deposits is improper ironing of items made from synthetic fabrics. If you make a mistake in setting the mode and choose too high a temperature, the synthetic material melts under the sole and its particles stick tightly to the surface. You may not notice this right away. The problem will only appear after you start ironing the next item.

Melted synthetic fibers will prevent the sole from sliding freely over the surface and can, like hot glue, stick the iron to the fabric

Scale formation is another common problem. It appears as rusty or whitish marks on the fabric. The source of the problem is tap water. Believe me, this is not a whim of the manufacturers - the recommendation is to fill the iron with filtered or distilled liquid. This is a real look at the quality of our tap water.

The quality of plain tap water usually does not meet the requirements of imported heating units

Further care to prevent lime deposits

Regular care and compliance with the operating rules of the iron will help prevent the appearance of scale:

• 
  It is advisable to pour filtered water into the iron, because the fewer salts contained in the liquid, the longer the device will remain clean;

• at the end of ironing, the water must be drained (this will help avoid the appearance of an unpleasant musty odor and prevent the appearance of scale);
• the device must be kept in an upright position at all times, with its nose up (even when turned off);
• It is necessary to carefully ensure that the sole of the iron remains perfectly flat (it is almost impossible to remove scale from dents or chips).

It is best to monitor the condition of a household appliance from the moment of purchase. Early prevention of scale will preserve the original appearance of the iron for a long time.

Traces of scale: how to clean an iron at home

Let's start with the problem of scale. This is not the worst thing that can happen to your device. There are several effective methods for removing scale.

How to simultaneously clean an iron from scale and carbon deposits: universal industrial products

German manufacturers have been most successful in this matter: they offer a wide range of chemicals for simultaneously cleaning the soleplate of a heating device from soot and scale.

Method 1 – chemical cleaner

The most popular products in this segment are products from Topperr , Bosch and Filtero . It’s not difficult to use them; the algorithm is the same for all. How to clean a steam iron: you need to dilute the chemical in water in a ratio of 1:3, warm up the device as much as possible, turn it off and place it with the sole down in the tank with the cleaning agent. After a couple of hours, you need to wash the sole with water. Before ironing again, press the steam release lever five to six times.

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How to descale an iron: folk remedies

Factory chemicals are not always available in your home. It doesn’t matter, you can clean it using folk remedies. You probably have most of the ingredients in your home, so here are some ideas on how to descale your iron.

How to effectively clean the inside of an iron from scale with citric acid, vinegar or soda

Method 2 – Citric Acid Powder

To descale an iron at home, dissolve 10 g of powder in half a glass of heated water, wet a soft cloth with this solution and apply it to the sole of the inverted appliance for half an hour. Then clean the steam vents with cotton swabs. For internal cleaning, pour lemon juice solution into a water container and turn on the device at maximum mode. Release steam from the heated unit several times.

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Method 3 – sparkling water

To clean the iron from scale inside, pour carbonated mineral water into the liquid reservoir. Then the algorithm is the same as when cleaning the iron with citric acid: warming up and releasing steam.

Method 4 – vinegar

Another popular way to clean a device from contamination is to use table vinegar. Do not use concentrated acid for this purpose, it will damage the iron. Lightly dampen a rag with 6% table vinegar and iron it with a heated iron. Traces of rust will disappear without a trace.

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Household anti-scale chemicals

When buying an ironing machine from a well-known brand, for example Bork, you can immediately purchase a specialized descaling product from the same company. Such cleaners allow you to quickly and effectively remove plaque from different types of coatings without worrying about their integrity.

In addition to branded products that are sold in household appliance stores, in any hardware department of a supermarket you can purchase universal anti-plaque preparations from domestic and foreign manufacturers. They are suitable for cleaning appliances inside and out. Before use, be sure to read the instructions.

The main active component of chemicals is often citric acid, so it makes sense to use a pure food additive instead of expensive household chemicals.

pencil for an iron is best suited . It perfectly dissolves mineral deposits and frees holes from heavy contamination. Fill the reservoir with water, heat the device and rub the work surface with a pencil. Dampen a small cloth with clean water, turn off the device and, after cooling, wipe the sole. To remove residual product and dissolved dirt, iron the unnecessary piece of cloth and activate the steam to clean the channels.

The pencil will clean the surface of the sole not only from salt deposits, but also from carbon deposits

Everyone knows such a cheap and popular iron cleaning product as Anti-Scaling . It is used in a similar way to citric acid, dissolving the required amount in water.

The table contains the most popular cleaning methods:

Getting rid of scale at home is not that difficult, but it’s even better to try to prevent it from appearing. To do this, use only distilled water during the steaming process (it is sold at any auto store) or cooled boiled liquid. Remember to always place the device with the spout facing up and drain any remaining water after ironing.

These simple recommendations will help minimize the appearance of mineral deposits and extend the life of household appliances without the use of radical cleaning methods.

How to quickly clean the iron from carbon deposits on the outside

Method 5 – paraffin candle

Fresh deposits on the soleplate of the iron can be easily removed using a regular candle. Rub the surface of the sole with it, and then vigorously wipe off the wax with hard paper. Instead of a candle, you can use a piece of soap.

Method 6 – salt

Fine “Extra” salt should be sprinkled on a newspaper and a hot iron should be moved over it with force. Salt will absorb all impurities. Please note that this technique is not suitable for devices with Teflon soles.

Method 7 - soda

Plaque and scale are easily cleaned with soda solution. Soda is moistened with water to form a paste. Rub the sole with it, using grains of soda as an abrasive.

Method 8 – matchbox

Another simple answer to the question of how to remove scale from an iron is to use a matchbox. Its sticker, which is struck with a match, perfectly removes traces of lime and rust from the sole.

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Citric acid descaling

A universal descaling agent for irons is citric acid. Every housewife can prepare a liquid for cleaning the iron container from scale. Prepare a solution of citric acid - dissolve the powder in one glass of warm boiled water. To do this, take half a tablespoon of citric acid and stir until completely dissolved.

Instead of citric acid, you can use freshly squeezed lemon juice. There is no need to dilute it with water.

Cleaning your iron from scale with citric acid is as easy as cleaning it with vinegar. By following step-by-step instructions, you can quickly remove scale from your iron.

You can find out how to remove scale from an iron with a steamer in the instructions for the household appliance. We describe in detail how to clean the surface of an iron with citric acid from scale.

Step by step you need to do the following:

• prepare a hot solution of citric acid;
• pour the solution into a special compartment;
• descaling of the iron begins by turning on the device and using the steam function;
• To clean the iron from scale, steam should be passed through the holes several times.

Knowing how to clean scale inside the iron, and outside, on the body and sole, you can extend the life of the device for a long time.

How to clean an iron from burning if the sole is made of ceramic or Teflon

Expensive, good irons from well-known companies such as Tefal or Philips are equipped with modern soles. How to clean such a device without hopelessly damaging it?

Ceramic sole

Method 9 – cleaning agents for glass-ceramic hobs

While special compositions for cleaning irons cannot be found in every hardware store, compositions for electric stoves are available almost everywhere. This paste is applied to the sole and carbon deposits are removed using soft circular movements.

Method 10 – hydrogen peroxide

Peroxide solution is an excellent home remedy for descaling. How to descale a Philips iron with peroxide: wet a piece of cotton, preferably linen, fabric with the solution and iron it with a hot iron.

Method 11 – toothpaste

An excellent tip from experienced housewives is to clean ceramic soles with toothpaste. Apply the paste to the warm sole, rubbing particularly dirty areas with light force. Once dry, wipe off the paste with a dry cloth.

How to descale an iron if it has a Teflon sole

Method 12 – nail polish remover with acetone

Acetone will help get rid of traces of burnt synthetics or polyethylene. Soak a cotton pad in nail polish remover and apply to the stain for a couple of minutes. Then wipe the sole with the same cotton wool. You should know that cleaning with acetone is only done on a cold surface!

Method 13 – chalk

Now we clean the Teflon iron at home with regular chalk: heat the device and run the chalk directly over the surface of the sole. All dirt is easily washed off. Chalk residues can be easily removed with a paper napkin.

Method 14 - ammonia

Not a very pleasant, but effective option on how to get rid of scale from your iron. Moisten the cloth with a solution of ammonia and wipe the sole. In difficult cases, you need to iron the damp fabric with a hot iron. Take care of your lungs, use a respirator and open the windows!

Method 15 – dishwashing liquid

The Teflon sole can be cleaned from burnt synthetics with dishwashing detergent. Wet the cloth with it and rub the heated sole. Then wipe with a damp cloth to remove any remaining soap.

By the way, if your Teflon device has begun to lose its sliding properties, you can extend its service life. Mix paraffin wax with Extra salt, place it between two layers of a handkerchief and iron with a hot iron. You will have to throw away the tissues, but the device itself will last for some time. Some service shops offer services for restoring Teflon coating, but this is not a cheap pleasure, so it is perhaps easier to buy a new device.

Recipe No. 3. Carbonated drinks

How to descale your iron with carbonated drinks?
There are alternative ways to clean the inside of an iron - mineral water or sweet carbonated drinks. But we want to say right away that mineral water of acid origin serves only as a means of prevention. And alkaline water is not at all helpful with plaque.

As for sweet soda, it has a detrimental effect on the internal parts of the device, which can cause it to fail ahead of time.

Ingredients:

• Mineral water.

How to quickly clean a microwave with baking soda:

• Pour mineral water into the tank.
• Crank the iron to its highest temperature and then release steam from it over the container.
• For greater effect, you can repeat the procedure several times.

How to use the Self clean function on an iron

“Self Clean” is a self-cleaning function that significantly extends the life of the device. If your iron has this feature, use it periodically. Such devices are not cleaned with chemicals.

To control this function there is a special button on the case

Just fill the water tank and turn on the iron at full power. When the heating indicator goes out, you need to unplug the cord from the outlet, place the device over a basin or sink, press the “Self Clean” button and hold it until all the water has drained out. In the process, you will see dirt and debris pouring out of the sole. After cleaning, turn on the device again and iron the unnecessary cloth with it. With regular cleaning, your device will last a very long time.

Features of descaling an iron with an anti-lime rod or cassettes

Some devices from well-known companies, such as Brown or Mulinex, are equipped with an anti-lime rod or special cassettes. These additional devices prevent the formation of scale inside the iron. You just need to clean them periodically. To do this, the rod is removed and placed overnight in a glass of lemon juice. After it should be rinsed with water. Instead of lemon juice, you can use descaling agent or bleach.

It is important to remember that the rod should not be touched with your fingers.