How to clean the iron at home from scale?

Irons with steam function have long been deservedly popular - they will easily smooth out any type of fabric. But with prolonged use inside the scum is formed. If you do not remove it in time, it may damage the device. Scum is formed due to hard water, and the device from the inside is covered with a thick layer of calcareous plaque, which clogs the holes. As a result, or steam is not supplied at all, or goes unevenly, white flakes of plaque fall out of the holes, which can ruin your things. Do not wait for this, just need to clean the iron from the scale in time. How to clean the iron at home from scale?- You will learn about this from this article right now.

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Self-cleaning function

Modern models of irons are often equipped with self-cleaning function, that is, they clean themselves from within themselves. To do this, you need to collect the maximum amount of water in the reservoir of the device, turn it on full power and start the function of self-cleaning.

Before you do this, carefully read the instructions. But in general, the circuit is as follows:

1. The device is turned on, then turns off and then heats up again.
2. After the second shutdown, pull the plug from the mains, press the button that starts the self-cleaning function.
3. When the cleaning process begins, it is best to keep the iron on some capacity, for example, above the pelvis. You can use the sink, but then you have to clean it, too.
4. Periodically the device must be shaken violently.
5. From the holes along with the steam will be included pieces of scale.
6. After cleaning, you will need to flush the soleplate.

Important! When cleaning, the iron heats up very much and does not cool down immediately. Do not touch its surface while it is hot and do not iron things immediately after cleaning.

If your iron does not have such a useful function, then you can use folk methods.

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Mineral water cleaning

How do I clean the steam iron from scaling inside at home? There is a safe and accessible method for all housewives:

1. Fill the device with carbonated mineral water and turn on the iron at the maximum temperature. All further manipulations, as in the case of self-cleaning, it is better to hold over a basin or a sink.
2. Press the vaporization button and hold it until all the liquid has evaporated.
3. Together with the steam through the holes, flakes of scale will also fly out.
4. Then repeat the process, but with regular water - it is best if it is boiled.

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Cleaning with citric acid

In such a case, we can help such an irreplaceable thing in the kitchen as citric acid. How to clean the iron with citric acid from the scum? The principle of operation is the same as with mineral water:

1. In a glass of water, dissolve a bag of citric acid, pour the solution into the device.
2. Set the maximum mode.
3. Waiting for the citric acid to dissolve the scale.
4. During the evaporation, the device must be shaken to improve the separation of the lime scale.
5. Then you need to evaporate 2-3 portions of water to remove the remnants of the product.

Hot bath with citric acid

With citric acid, the iron sole can also be cleaned. For this:

1. Dissolve citric acid in boiling water( for 1 liter of water there are 5 tablespoons).
2. Pour into a flat container - for this purpose either a large frying pan or a pan.
3. At the bottom we put two slats so that the sole of the device does not come into contact with the bottom of the container.
4. The iron is placed on the slats with the sole down. The liquid should completely cover the sole.
5. We leave for a couple of hours. During this time, citric acid will dissolve the contamination, and the iron can simply be cleaned with a sponge or a soft cloth.
6. For more efficient cleaning, the pan can be heated at low heat.

Important! The liquid should cover only the soleplate of the iron. Elements made of plastic, rubber, as well as electrical parts of the device can not be immersed in the solution - this can lead to breakage.

Such baths can be made using not only citric acid, but also special chemicals for cleaning irons from lime scale.

Important! You can make yourself a liquid to clean the iron from scaling. The composition is as follows: 1 tablespoon of vinegar + 2 tablespoons of soda + 1.5 tablespoons of citric acid. This mixture is poured with boiling water in the right amount.

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Vinegar cleaning

Another popular descaling aid - table vinegar:

• To clean the tank, vinegar should be diluted 1: 1 with water, and then do the same things as in other ways.
• To clean the surface of the device, wipe the sole with cotton wool soaked in vinegar, or iron a rag or gauze with a hot iron, abundantly moistened with a weak solution of vinegar.
• If the traces of scale are old, then you can put the iron for several hours on a rag soaked in a solution of vinegar with water.
• For best effect, you can wrap everything in polyethylene, and then just iron the unnecessary flap several times.

Important! If the holes for steam are hammered, they can be cleaned with cotton swabs soaked in vinegar.

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Descaling

For cleaning the soleplate of the iron, hydrogen peroxide can be used:

• Moisten the cotton pad and wipe the surface of the appliance with it.
• If the dirt is strong enough, soak a piece of cloth in peroxide, attach to the surface of the iron and leave for a couple of hours.

Then wipe the appliance with a napkin or iron an unnecessary piece of cloth.

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Pencil and other special tools

Use a special pencil to clean the soleplate and steam outlets:

1. Collect water into the reservoir and turn on the iron to the maximum temperature.
2. Scratch the iron sole with a pencil.
3. Take an unnecessary piece of cloth and iron it using the steam function. The pencil will melt, cleaning the instrument's sole and holes for steam. And all the dirt will remain on an unnecessary piece of cloth.

Important! When cleaning, there is a strong smell, so you need to carry out the procedure in a well-ventilated room.

In addition to pencils, there are also other special anti-scale agents that help to carefully clean various surfaces. They contain components that protect the metal from spoilage and allow cleaning the device both outside and inside.

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Descaling

If you follow a number of rules, then if you can not get rid of the problem with scum completely, then at least reduce the likelihood of its appearance. So, here are these useful tips that you probably heard about, but which you have diligently ignored, and now you need to clean the iron at home from the scum:

• Using distilled water will protect your iron from scale - it is sold in a pharmacy, at a gas station or in an auto parts store. But its constant purchase will cost you not cheap, especially if you have large ironing volumes.
• Instead of distilled, you can use filtered or stagnant water. Some people use boiled water. It is possible to soften the hardness of water by special means, which are sold in the economic departments.
• After ironing, drain the water and press the steam button several times. This procedure can prolong the life of your iron.
• The iron must be stored in an upright position.

Clean the scales with any convenient method at least once a week, without waiting for the white flakes to fall out of the holes. Then you will not even think about thorough cleaning or an unplanned purchase of a new device.