BURNING the metal plate on your iron can leave burn marks on your clothes.
However, there is no need to worry as we are going to tell you some tricks to removing the marks on the iron, so you can save your clothes.
How to clean a burnt iron?
If the plate of your iron is burnt, you'll be pleased to know there are some easy ways to get it back to top form.
And you won't have to pay a fortune to fix the burned iron either.
There are plenty of ways to get the plate gleaming again using cheap household items that you probably already have in your cupboards.
Lifestyle Editorial team member at Airtasker Andrea Phillips said: "The top signs that your iron is overdue a clean include if the iron is dragging instead of gliding when you are ironing your clothes, and you start noticing sticky stains on the fabric you just ironed."
Here are some handy methods to clean the bottom of a burnt iron.
Clean a burnt iron using salt
While we often think the only use for salt is to add a little flavour to food, it has plenty of non-food related uses.
As well as helping to combat condensation, it could also be your secret saviour when it comes to cleaning your iron.
Place a clean, dry, cotton cloth on to your ironing board for almost instant results.
You then need to sprinkle the cloth with a generous amount of sea salt and set the iron to a high temperature.
The last step is to simply iron over the salt several times until the burn stains disappear in front of your eyes.
Clean a burnt iron using baking soda
Baking soda is another common household product that can be used in cleaning hacks.
Not only does the product, which is usually used for baking cakes, do the trick, but it's also a gentler way of removing burn marks.
You make a paste consisting of two tbsp of baking powder and one tbsp of water and spread it over the iron's plate while cool.
Rub with a non-scratch, clean cloth then wipe it off with a damp cloth – the stains should be gone.
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Clean a burnt iron with toothpaste or white vinegar
For this method and to ensure it's safely carried out, make sure the iron is cold, unplugged, and the water tank is empty.
According to Philips, if the above methods haven't worked their magic – toothpaste or vinegar could be your next option.
Ensure that your iron plate is fully dry, before starting off the cleaning process.
They advise to get a small blob of toothpaste and rub it all over the surface of the plate, using an old rag or tea towel.
Then clean the toothpaste away with a damp sponge or cloth.
Once this is carried out, the iron should be sparkling clean, but please allow it to fully dry before attempting to use it again.
YouTube account House Keeper also showed how to rid your iron of burn residue with toothpaste and swears by this method.
The same system can be used using a mixture of white vinegar and water in equal parts.
Philips says on their website: "You can use vinegar to get more stubborn marks or sticky residue off an iron.
"Lay down newspaper before you begin, because vinegar can damage stone or wooden surfaces."
They then say there are four steps to complete.
Firstly, create a mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and salt in a saucepan.
After heating the mixture gently take the pan off the heat, taking special care not to boil the mixture.
Then put on some rubber gloves for protection and soak the sponge into the mixture, before wringing it out so it's damp.
Gently scrub the plate until the burn marks start to come off and repeat until desired results are met.
Prevent build up
One of the most effective ways of eradicating this problem is to prevent build-up in the first place.
It's best to iron low-temperature fabrics first, like nylon and silk, before going onto high-temperature ones like cotton.
Use a hot iron cleaner after each use to maintain the soleplate.
You can also use an iron cleaner pad.
One main culprit of leaving marks on irons is T-shirts with prints on them.
If you have to iron one of these tops, try ironing on a lower heat to maintain the integrity of the printed design and make sure no residue is left on the iron.
However, a damp cleaning pad will quickly and safely remove it so you avoid damaging your clothes permanently.
How to descale an iron
It’s important to descale your iron to make sure that no damage happens to it. To do so, just follow these steps:
- Empty the water tank and rinse it.
- Then fill the tank up with water to the maximum amount and add a tiny bit of white vinegar.
- Turn the iron on to the highest temperature for at least four minutes and press the steam button every now and then.
- Then turn off the iron and let the water rest for 30 minutes.
- Clean the water scale and plate and if there is any limescale left, repeat the process again.
- Rinse the water tank and steam it empty on a rag to make sure that no vinegar remains in the iron and comes off on your clothes.
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