Tips for keeping your clothes iron in top condition

It goes with saying that a clothes iron is a must-have appliance in any home. However, with constant use, the inside the boiler/tank can suffer from limestone build-up which can compromise its performance. So, let's see how to keep an iron in pristine condition:

How can you clean the iron's water tank?

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The most vunerable part of an iron is the tank where the water is stored and heated up to produce steam.

To clean the tank, you just need a measuring flask, some white vinegar and a little water.

Fill the tank with a 50/50 water/vinegar solution. Turn on the iron at the highest heat setting and, when ready, evacuate all the steam, thereby dislodging all the limestone from its internal parts.

Leave the iron to cool down and empty the tank to remove any limescale that has detached from the internals. Once done, fill the tank again - this time with a solution made up of 10% vinegar and 90% water.

Repeat this process until no more limescale comes out of the tank when you empty it.

And for the other parts of the iron?

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The water tank is just one of the components of an iron. It is, therefore, good practice to clean the other parts of the iron on a regular basis.

Before starting any iron-cleaning operation, make sure the appliance is cool and not plugged in.

Start by cleaning the external surfaces of the iron: use an damp cloth to remove any accumulated dirt, and if necessary, add a little white vinegar to remove stubborn stains.

Once this cleaning is finished, dry the iron off thoroughly with a soft cloth. Make sure the appliance is completely dry before putting it away or using it again.

How do you clean the iron's sole plate?

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The last step in cleaning of your iron properly, is to clean the sole plate.

Prepare a solution in a basin by mixing a little vinegar combined with warm water. Take a delicate sponge and carefully scrub the sole plate until it is clean again.

Once clean, dry off thoroughly, ensuring no water droplets remain on the sole plate.

If you are not completely happy with the result, you can also cut a lemon in half and rub it over the sole plate. Next, wipe down with a damp cloth and dry off with another (dry) cloth.

Keeping your iron in top condition is essential to ensure it stays working properly. The periodic cleaning of the water tank, in particular, will ensure  your iron lasts for longer and continues to do a great job!