by youareoriginal

Created on: July 24, 2009

An iron has to be cleaned regularly if you want your clothes to be clean and crisp. Cleaning an iron seems like a strange thing to do, but it is more likely that you do not know how to do this.

Cleaning of a iron is not a great achievement and is just like cleaning any other small appliance, if you have the time and tools.

Reservoir Cleaning

The small holes that are there on the sole plate may show small deposits, and this is when you can be sure the reservoir that holds water needs to be cleaned. The deposits are caused by minerals that are in the water you use to keep the reservoir full. These deposits my look like salt and may be white in color.

What you need to do this cleaning, is a clean rag and some white vinegar. Pour the vinegar into the reservoir till it is about a quarter full. Switch on the iron and switch to the steam setting. Iron the rag with the iron with the steam setting switched on, till all the vinegar from the reservoir is exhausted.

If some traces of the deposits still persist, use water to fill up the reservoir and again iron the rag with the steam setting as before. In spite of all this if the deposits persist you may need to use vinegar and water till the deposits have all been removed.

Now rinse the reservoir by filling it with clean water, emptying it thereafter. You can avoid the formation of mineral deposits if you use distilled water or water that has been purified, when you fill the reservoir. You can of course use tap water, but then need to see that the reservoir is cleaned at regular intervals.

The smell of vinegar is quite strong and may cause you problems if the room you are working in is not well ventilated. So keep those doors and windows open, and switch on the fans or any exhausting device that you have.

Soleplate cleaning

The soleplate at the bottom of the iron can have a build up on it from the starch or other material from the clothes that you are ironing. So to avoid this being transferred to other clean clothes the soleplate needs to be cleaned . Be careful that you do not use scouring pads or cleaning powder that can scratch the soleplate.

Unplug the iron from the power outlet and see that it is completely cold. Make a solution with laundry detergent or a dish washing soap that is mild. A mesh pad made of nylon is best used, or even a sponge or clean cloth to effect the cleaning, by dipping it in the solution and then wiping the sole plate with it. After that wipe the soleplate with a rag or damp cloth so that it

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>