All I want for Christmas is a new iron. Actually, I want a Dyson, but that’s going take Divine Intervention, rather than a chubby guy with a white beard and a red suit.
Anyway, about my dirty iron. It would be so easy to junk my gunked-up household appliance, but I know it still has a few good years left in it if I can find the time and energy to clean it.
The number one reason you should clean your iron on a regular basis is safety. Learning how to clean an iron will not only spare your clothing from unwanted damage, but it can go a long way to protect you from getting burned.
This brings me to my first tip: Never attempt to clean a hot iron. Before sanitizing an iron, it is imperative that you unplug it first and wait until it cools. Next, pour a little standard household vinegar onto a clean, dry cloth and wipe the surface of the iron. This regime works very well for weekly maintenance. However, if your iron has stubborn stains or is emitting a foul odor you are better off mixing vinegar with baking soda before scrubbing the surface of the iron.
If you are trying to rid your iron of burnt material then you will need to take a more aggressive approach to cleaning. You will need a brown paper bag or newspaper and regular table salt. To clean the iron make sure it is on its hottest setting. Next, place the paper bag or newspaper on your ironing board and pour a generous amount of salt on it. Then, rub the hot iron around on the salt in small, circular motions until the burnt material disappears. If the stains don’t come off the first time, re-salt the bag or newspaper and try again.