We’ve all done it; you start ironing one of your favorite shirts, only to discover that your iron is doing more harm than good. The gunk that sticks to the metal plate will end up damaging and messing up whatever you’re trying to iron. BUMMER! The only way to prevent this is to clean your iron before you use it. No matter how yucky yours has become, here’s how to get it cleaned up.
1. Elbow Grease
Yeah, there’s no magical solution to eliminate scrubbing, but there is a magic potion — vinegar. Regular white vinegar should help considerably, along with a little muscle and a good sponge. Another method many swear by is Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser. Either way, scrubbing is required.
2. Nooks & Crannies
Your iron probably has little grooves the plate, which might require something smaller to scrub them — like a toothbrush. Use some baking soda or vinegar and an old toothbrush to get these little nooks and crannies clean. Sorry — more scrubbing!
3. Steam Clean
Once your scrubbing is done and you’ve removed all the nastiness you can, turn your iron on “steam.” Just empty out any stagnant water first, and refill it with clean, distilled water (or whatever your instruction manual calls for). Let the iron steam away for a few minutes, then grab your Magic Eraser and/or toothbrush, and remove any extra bits you can. But be careful…it’s still hot!
There you have it…a totally clean iron. Hooray! Now you can finish up your ironing (boo!) without it making a mess. Now go — your Netflix shows are waiting!
