When is the last time you have cleaned the soleplate on your iron? Have you ever cleaned it? Most people overlook this all-important cleaning task. However, when you think about the starch that you use on your clothing and the lint that is often found on clothes, you will quickly realize that you should clean your iron’s soleplate. If the soleplate becomes dirty, it can make ironing a challenge and leave debris on your clothing. Furthermore, when your iron’s soleplate is properly cleaned, the iron will glide over your clothing and make the task of ironing so much simpler.
Fortunately, cleaning your iron’s soleplate is easy when you know what to do. Let’s take a look at how to clean your iron to ensure that your iron is functioning properly and what to do to prevent your iron from leaving scorch marks on your clothing.
Know When You Should Clean Your Iron – How often you should clean the soleplate of your iron will depend on how often you use it. For example, if you iron your work shirts or school uniforms daily, you will need to clean the soleplate of your iron more frequently than those who do not iron often or send most of their clothing to the dry cleaners. So, how can you know when you need to clean your iron’s soleplate? A good rule of thumb is that you need to clean the soleplate when the iron no longer smoothly glides across your garments. When your iron begins to drag, it is a sign that gunk has accumulated on the soleplate of your iron.
Clean Your Iron’s soleplate with Baking Soda and Water – Many people know that baking soda can deodorize their homes; however, many do not know that it is an amazing scouring agent. This natural product will remove all traces of grime from your iron’s soleplate. To clean the soleplate of your iron, you will need:
* Baking soda
* A small bowl
* Cotton swabs
* Distilled water
* Microfiber towels
Make a paste with two parts of baking soda and one part of distilled water in your bowl. Do not use tap water as it contains minerals that can leave deposits on your iron. Ensure that your iron is cool and unplugged. Spread the baking soda paste over the entire soleplate of your iron. Grab your microfiber towel and buff the soleplate to remove all traces of the paste. Dip a cotton swab into your distilled water and clean the steam holes on your iron’s soleplate. Allow the soleplate to air dry before using.
Clean Your Iron’s Soleplate with Vinegar – Vinegar can be used to clean virtually anything other than stone. Vinegar is a powerful cleaner that can be used to clean the soleplate of your iron. To clean the soleplate of your iron, you will need:
* Distilled white vinegar
* A small microwave-safe bowl
* A spray bottle
* A microfiber towel
Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar into a microwave-safe bowl and heat for approximately one minute on high in your microwave. Pour the hot vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray the hot vinegar on your microfiber towel until damp. Wipe the soleplate of your iron to remove grime and starch. Repeat until thoroughly clean.
How to Maintain Your Iron’s Soleplate
The following tips will help you maintain the soleplate on your iron so you will not need to scrub the soleplates often.
When possible, use distilled water rather than tap water to prevent mineral deposits from collecting on your iron.
After each use, empty the water reservoir of your iron.
Allow the iron to cool completely after each use and wipe the soleplate using a damp microfiber towel to remove starch and other debris from the soleplate of your iron.
Cleaning your iron’s soleplate is quite easy when you know how to do it. Keeping your soleplate clean will help ensure your iron works properly.
If you would like to learn how to make doing your laundry easier, check out our other posts on how to organize your laundry room as well as how to wash your delicates.
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