Effective methods on how to remove scale from an iron at home. How to descale an iron at home

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The iron must be cleaned periodically inside and outside:

Water tank - from scale and mold;
The body is protected from dust and dirt;
The sole is protected from traces of burnt fabric, rust and scale.

From this material you will learn 10 super-effective ways to clean your iron at home with products that are always at hand and cost mere pennies.

How scale forms inside an iron

To understand how to get rid of scale, you first need to understand what it consists of and why it occurs.

Untreated water, which contains calcium and magnesium salts, makes the water hard. When it boils and begins to evaporate, an insoluble solid deposit of these salts forms. Hard water and scale are two inseparable traveling companions, and the harder the water, the more scale there is.
At first, you may not notice the damage from scale, but over time this will manifest itself in that the device will take longer to heat up, which will be prevented by scale. In addition, the steel heating device located inside the iron will fail prematurely. The sole is also damaged by scale; it gradually peels off and appears on it through holes. This damages the device, not to mention the clothes you iron with it. Therefore, timely descaling of the iron at home is necessary.

What and how to wash the inside at home?

During the steaming process, water boils in the iron tank and, as a result, a coating of hardness salts (calcium and magnesium) forms on the heating element.

During operation of the device, sediment gradually accumulates and turns into hard scale , which interferes with the normal functioning of the device.

IMPORTANT! At the first signs of plaque and for preventive purposes, clean the electrical device once every 3-4 months.

This is interesting: 8 recipes for delicate cleaning of a Teflon iron.

Have you ever descaled your iron?

Not really

Features of descaling iron

You can clean your iron from scale in many ways - with specialized powerful products or household household substances. But in any case, when carrying out the procedure, you should adhere to important rules:

The device should be cleaned regularly, at the first sign of scale appearing on its soles. The thinner the layer of lime deposits, the easier it will be to clean the device.
In order to clean the sole of the device, you must use liquid solutions or gels. It is strictly not recommended to rub the sole with abrasive powders; microscopic scratches will remain on it.
It is forbidden to clean dirt from the surface with a knife; the blade will also leave numerous abrasions, due to which the quality of ironing will noticeably deteriorate.
You can only remove scale from the cold base of the device; if the Teflon or metal coating is still warm, attempts to clean the surface will only lead to the formation of new dirt that is difficult to remove.
After cleaning, the iron should be washed very thoroughly with a clean, damp sponge and allowed to dry completely. If you plug in an appliance with a wet soleplate or cleaning agent residue lingering on it, this will damage the iron itself.

Important! Even if significant scale has accumulated on the device, you should first use gentle methods to clean it. Only if they do not produce results can we move on to more drastic measures.

Self-cleaning function

Most iron models are equipped with a special self-cleaning function. How to correctly perform this procedure can be found in the instructions from the manufacturer. In general, the essence of cleaning is as follows:

Water is poured into the tank to the maximum level.
Heat the electrical appliance to the highest temperature. When the iron gets hot, turn it off and wait until it cools down. Then it needs to be warmed up again and disconnected from the power supply.
The device is tilted over the basin and the self-cleaning button is pressed. Next, pieces of plaque will fly out of the device. To remove more scale, shake the device.
If the liquid in the iron has already evaporated, but dirt continues to come out, it is recommended to repeat all the steps from the very beginning again.
Clogged holes on the sole are carefully cleaned with a brush or cotton swab.
After cleaning, wipe the surface with a clean cloth, first damp and then dry.
Check the electrical appliance by ironing a piece of unnecessary fabric, always using steam.

How to clean an iron with a self-cleaning system

If you use such a device, then descaling your iron at home will not be difficult.

You just need to fill it with water and set the temperature to maximum to begin the descaling process.
After some time, the heating itself will automatically turn off, and the cleaning process will need to be repeated. Then turn off the device from the electrical network and turn on the self-cleaning button.
To achieve a good result, the iron and water must be shaken periodically, but be careful not to get burned.
Having completed this procedure, you will need to remove the water with loose pieces of plaque from the sole, after which the device should dry well. To do this, turn it on again at high power, placing it in a vertical position.
When the device has cooled down, you need to thoroughly wash off everything that remains on the sole from the plaque.

The anti-lime rod also needs cleaning; it also becomes covered with plaque. To clean this part at home, an acidic environment is suitable; you can use water acidified with vinegar or citric acid. Immerse the rod in this solution for a couple of hours, then dry it and install it back.

Follow the instructions strictly, and it will not be difficult to clean the inside of the iron from scale.

Prevention measures

If you don’t want to remove frozen dark scale after each ironing, then it’s best to take precautions in advance.

Fill it with distilled water as often as possible.
If it is not possible to purchase distilled water, then use high-quality filters for tap water.
Use a water softener, which is sold in specialized stores.
Do not allow cracks or damage to appear on the soleplate of the iron, because it will be extremely difficult to remove carbon deposits from these places.

Effective methods for cleaning the iron from scale inside

If the electrical appliance does not have a self-cleaning function, then you will have to get rid of limescale yourself. There are two ways to solve this problem: use special chemicals or trust traditional methods based on the use of improvised means.

Industrial descaling products

Manufacturers offer a wide selection of cleaning products that effectively remove limescale deposits inside electrical appliances. They can be purchased at hardware stores.

Chemicals are based on various acids and other active, sometimes aggressive, substances. In this case, when using a special product, you must strictly follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, which are indicated in the instructions for the product.

Important: high-quality cleaners cannot be cheap!

To clean the iron, you can use less aggressive substances that are practically harmless to health. The following products are suitable for combating scale:

Top house

Use the German drug according to the following scheme:

mix 50 ml of product and 100 ml of water;
pour the solution into the iron and place the device in a vertical position;
turn on the device, after heating, disconnect it from the network;
place the iron horizontally for 10 minutes (on a special stand or table, after placing slats or pencils under the hot sole);
After the specified time has passed, place the device over a sink, bathtub or basin and, shaking the equipment, release steam.

Cillit bang

the product, as in the previous case, mix 50 ml with 100 ml of water and fill the iron reservoir with the solution;
Heat the device, turn it off, place it horizontally for 10-15 minutes, then press the steam release button.

Magic power

Judging by the reviews of housewives, the German iron cleaner deservedly takes first place in the ranking of ready-made household compositions. It should be used in the same way as previous concentrates, but the manufacturer positions it as a universal composition for all types of devices.

Important! In any case, you should remove the self-cleaning rod from the unit and leave the iron with additional options for removing plaque only in a vertical position! Otherwise, the cleaning solution will simply leak out of the device.

Contrary to the manufacturer’s assurances, the steam from the composition has a weak sourish-soapy aroma, so it is better to clean the iron with it with open windows or on the balcony.

Pencil

A chemical product in the form of a pencil allows you to effectively remove not only scale, but also get rid of old and fresh carbon stains on the sole:

fill the iron with water, turn it on (heating temperature – at least 120 ⁰С);
after the device automatically turns off, turn off the power and rub the hot sole with a pencil;
iron the old fabric with steam, cleaning the heating element from dirt and chalk residues.

Filtero 604 tablets

A descaling agent for teapots and thermopots helps to descale your iron. Dilute 1-2 tablets in 1 liter of very hot water, wait for complete dissolution and pour the liquid into a steam container. The turned off iron should be left for 1-1.5 hours, and then the product should be heated in the tank again and completely drained through the holes.

The tablet solution is also suitable for cleaning the platform. In this case, soak a cotton pad or rag in the liquid and manually treat the base of the iron.

The Filtero tablet solution is convenient because traces of it are easily removed from the container and channels of the iron

Lemon acid

If your device does not have the function described above, you can descale the inside of the iron at home using universal household products. For example, the use of citric acid is considered one of the simplest and most accessible methods of removing plaque.

Citric acid powder is great for removing plaque

Prepare a solution from a glass of water and 25 g of citric acid (2 tsp per 250 ml of liquid), mix the components thoroughly. Pour the product into the water tank, and then proceed in the same way as in the case of the self-cleaning function, pressing the steam button (you need to create a burst of steam). After repeating the manipulation several times, finally wipe the sole with a soft cloth soaked in water, ridding the surface of any remaining dirt and stains.

After cleaning, test iron the old unwanted fabric, making sure to use a steamer.

Mineral water

An effective and inexpensive way to get rid of plaque without chemicals. It should be used several times in a row, it all depends on the degree of contamination of the tank:

fill the steam generator container to the top with mineral water;
turn on the iron to maximum heat;
let the automation operate several times;
Leave the device turned off for 12 hours.

Do the final rinse with filtered water without additives.

Important! Only certain types of mineral water can be used to clean irons. Essentuki No. 17 and Narzan are ideal for these purposes.

Apple vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a natural, inexpensive means of combating various stains, including scale on the iron. It copes with it no worse than table vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar will clean your iron only if the deposits are not very dense. Since the acid contained in apple cider vinegar is not very aggressive, it is used undiluted. If desired, you can dilute it with a small amount of water.

Carefully pour vinegar into the water hole. Then heat the device and do not turn it off for 15 minutes.
Next, unplug the iron and keep it in the tank with apple cider vinegar for 2 hours.
After this, drain the apple cider vinegar and the dissolved scale naturally. In the same way, rinse the cleaned tank with plain water.

Milk serum

Fermented whey can also be used as a descaling agent for household appliances. The method is effective if the deposits on the walls of the container are insignificant.

Pour a little whey, strained through cheesecloth or a sieve, into the water container of the iron.
Turn on the electrical appliance at the optimal temperature for 20 minutes.
After this, drain the whey with the removed scale into the prepared container. This must be done using the steaming function by pressing the desired button.
After the cleaning procedure, rinse the iron system with water.

Citramon

Citramon tablets allow you to get rid of scale from the inside of your iron. It contains acetylsalicylic acid, which destroys hard lime deposits. You need to grind 10-12 tablets with a mortar, and then stir the powder in a glass of warm water and pour the product into the steam generator of the household appliance.

In order for Citramon to help clean the iron from internal scale, the device is heated to the highest temperature, wait 15-20 minutes and empty the reservoir using steam. Then the container is rinsed several times in a row using a similar algorithm with water.

succinic acid

Succinic acid is used both as a medicine and as a good helper in everyday life. Take 6 tablets of succinic acid, crush them and dilute them in a glass of warm water.

Use the resulting solution to clean the iron, repeating the steps from the previous recipes:

Pour the iron into the tank and turn it on for 10 - 15 minutes at the highest temperature.
Then drain the product by pressing the steam button.
Rinse the device reservoir twice with clean water.

How to clean the inside of an iron from deposits with washing powder?

You need to take any washing powder and dissolve it in water. The proportion is half a teaspoon of the composition per glass of liquid. Pour the soap solution into the steam generator tank. Heat the iron to maximum and start releasing steam over the container. Then add clean water and repeat the procedure.

Advantages:

steam generator aromatization;
ease of use;
safety;
availability (washing powder is available in every home);
removes minor stains.

Flaws:

it takes a long time to clean the iron reservoir from the soap solution;
does not always cope with heavy scale;
if the container is poorly rinsed, white marks and stains may remain when ironing;
Only high-quality expensive powder helps.

Acetone

You can remove scale from the iron with acetone - it is used for strong old deposits. Soak a soft cloth in the solvent and treat the sole for 5-7 minutes until traces of dirt are completely removed. The cleaned device is thoroughly wiped with a clean sponge and wiped dry.

Important! Acetone cannot be used for irons with Teflon soles - the product will damage the sensitive coating.

Kvass

If you have sour kvass on hand, you can not pour it out, but use it to clean the iron from limescale. If necessary, kvass can be strained through cheesecloth or a strainer.

Then use as in the previous methods:

Pour a small amount of kvass into the iron and turn it on for 10 - 15 minutes at the highest temperature.
Next, drain the product by pressing the steam button.
Rinse the device reservoir twice with water.

Alcohol

To clean the inside of the iron with alcohol, you need to dilute it with water in a one to one ratio. Pour the composition into the steam generator tank. Leave for an hour. Then drain the solution through the steam outlet. Run clean water several times to rinse the iron.

Advantages:

ease of use;
no need to heat the steam generator device;
tank disinfection.

Flaws:

high cost (alcohol is not cheap, so buying it to clean the steam generator is not always advisable);
old lime deposits are difficult to remove;
a lot of time is spent on cleaning.

White wine

If you have leftover unnecessary dry white wine, you can safely use it to clean the iron container. The acids contained in wine can destroy scale deposits.

The cleaning recipe is no different from other methods:

Pour some wine into the iron reservoir and turn it on for 10 - 15 minutes at the highest temperature.
After the time has passed, drain the product by pressing the steam button.
Rinse the device tank twice.

Hydrogen peroxide

Pharmacy hydrogen peroxide 3% has good corrosive properties and allows you to clean minor scale. You need to generously moisten a cosmetic cotton pad with the product and rub the completely cold platform until the dirt comes off. If white lime deposits have accumulated in the holes, they need to be treated with cotton swabs.

Vinegar

An effective anti-scale solution is 9% vinegar. With its help, you can clean the work surface and the channels through which steam passes. This method is only suitable for irons with metal soles.

Correctly carry out cleaning in the following sequence:

Take a baking sheet or frying pan the size of the ironing machine and place 2 wooden sticks parallel to each other on the bottom.
Place the device on the prepared structure with the sole down. It is recommended to place the back part slightly higher than the front.
Mix 1 liter of water and a glass of vinegar.
Turn the steam control to maximum, then pour the vinegar solution onto the baking sheet so that it completely covers the soleplate of the iron, but does not reach the plastic elements.
Place the container with the device on the stove and bring the contents to a boil, then remove from the heat and cool. Repeat the procedure.
After cooling, shake the iron, clean the soleplate with a damp cloth or brush, and additionally rinse the water tank.
Leave the ironing machine turned off for a day, then test iron the unwanted cotton fabric with steaming to remove any remaining scale and clean the steam outlets.

This is how the process of cleaning with vinegar occurs.
The disadvantages of cleaning with vinegar are the unpleasant odor when the acid evaporates and the inability to use the product for Teflon and ceramic coatings.

While heating on the stove, the iron must be unplugged.

Ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid, like many other acids, can be used to clean scale from various containers. It is quite suitable for this purpose and for cleaning the inside of the iron.

Prepare a cup of water, add a tablespoon of ascorbic acid. You can dissolve two sachets of ascorbic acid powder. If the acid is in tablets, then dissolve 4 tablets in a glass; for this it is best to crush them.
Fill the iron's water container with the solution and warm up the appliance for 20 minutes.
After “steaming”, pour out all the spent solution. Don't forget to rinse the tank you just cleaned.

Soda

Soda powder belongs to the category of soft abrasives and is suitable for cleaning ceramic or metal irons. A small spoon of powder is diluted with liquid to obtain a homogeneous paste without dry grains. Then the product is applied to a cotton pad and the surface of the device is treated with light circular movements. In order for the soda to help completely clean the scale, you need to leave it on the sole for 20 minutes, and then remove it along with the remaining dirt with a damp sponge.

Attention! You cannot rub the paste into the surface of the iron forcefully, otherwise microscopic scratches will remain on the coating.

Laundry soap

If scale is stuck to the sole of the iron, you should arm yourself with a regular solid detergent. The whole process takes place in several stages:

heat the device at medium temperature;
remove the cord from the network;
rub the sole with a thick layer of laundry soap;
allow the unit to cool;
wash off the dirt with a damp cloth.

If there are small areas of burnt limescale or fabric deposits on the sole, iron the unnecessary piece of fabric with a heated iron, placing it on the edge of the ironing board. Then wipe the bottom of the unit again with a damp sponge.

Tip: it is better to rub the device with soap while wearing gardening gloves so as not to get burned on the heated surface.

Salt

Table salt helps clean the iron from burnt scale. But you need to use it according to a special algorithm; simply rubbing the coating with hard grains is prohibited.

To safely remove scale, you need to pour the powder onto a flat surface and spread it into a dense layer. Gauze, folded in half, is carefully placed on top of the salt. Then the household appliance is properly heated and gently moved over the prepared substrate for several minutes. There is no need to press the iron firmly against the surface to clean it.

When heated, salt helps remove scale from the iron even through a layer of gauze.

Toothpaste or powder

Ordinary hygiene products will come in handy if the steam holes are clogged and scale has burned on the soles.

Important! Before using these substances, you need to make sure that they do not contain abrasive particles. Otherwise, the device can be completely damaged.

The instructions for using toothpaste or powder are extremely simple:

dilute the bulk mass to the consistency of thick porridge with plain water. The paste does not need to be diluted;
apply the product to the sole;
turn on the iron to maximum;
iron the unnecessary cotton cloth until the dirt on the device is removed;
Unplug the device and wipe the cooled surface with a damp, clean cloth.

This method of cleaning the device is also not suitable for aluminum surfaces, since hygiene products react with the metal and cause it to oxidize.

Use of specialized tools

For those who are not used to trusting folk remedies for fighting carbon deposits, there are special chemicals. means for routine and emergency treatment of electric irons. The proportions in them have already been carefully adjusted, and they are able to effectively clean the parts and components of the ironing device.

Special products for cleaning steam generators and other parts of household appliances are produced by brands such as Tiret, Topperr, Phillips, Reon, Antiscale, and others. You can find them in M-Video, Eldorado, and similar supermarkets selling electrical equipment.

Traditional methods

There are a sufficient number of folk methods that help to quickly clean the iron (both inside and outside) of scale.

How to clean with citric acid?

By entering into a chemical reaction with particles of salt deposits, citric acid destroys them, turning them into a soluble sediment.

Algorithm of actions:

Prepare a solution for cleaning scale. To do this, dissolve 25 grams of citric acid powder in 200 ml of water. The resulting liquid must be thoroughly mixed so that no grains of citric acid remain in it.
Fill the cold iron reservoir with the prepared solution.
We set the maximum heating temperature and turn on the device. After the iron has heated up, they begin to gently shake it over a basin or bathtub, while pressing the steam button.
Continue cleaning until clean water comes out of the iron.
After the iron has cooled, wipe the soleplate with a clean damp cloth and carefully clean the steam holes with cotton swabs.

After cleaning with citric acid, you need to fill the tank with clean water, set the device to the maximum temperature and, using the steaming function, iron the unnecessary piece of cotton fabric several times. These steps will help ensure that any remaining scale and citric acid have been removed.

Vinegar

Table vinegar will help remove old layers of scale inside the iron.

Algorithm of actions:

In a small container, mix water and 9% table vinegar (proportion 3:1);
pour the solution into the iron tank;
heat the device to maximum temperature;
after the device automatically turns off, place it over the basin and press the steam release button several times;
The procedure is repeated at least three to four times until the iron is completely clean.

When heated, the vinegar solution emits a very pungent odor, so cleaning must be done in a well-ventilated area and near an open window.

How to remove hydrogen peroxide?

A hydrogen peroxide solution will quickly remove traces of plaque and rust on the soleplate of the iron.

Algorithm of actions:

The switched off appliance is placed vertically on a table or ironing board.
Using a cotton pad generously moistened with a solution of hydrogen peroxide, thoroughly wipe the soleplate of the iron.
Use cotton swabs soaked in peroxide to wipe the steam outlet holes.

There is no need to heat the iron before cleaning with peroxide solution.

Mineralka

The secret to using mineral water to remove scale is simple. During the production process, mineral water is saturated with carbon dioxide, which is released when the water is heated, actively interacting and destroying scale particles. As a result of a chemical reaction, a soluble salt is formed, which comes out of the iron along with steam.

Algorithm of actions:

the tank is filled with mineral carbonated water;
set the maximum heating temperature, turn on the device;
A fabric or terry towel folded several times is ironed several times using the steaming function.

For high-quality cleaning of scale, the procedure is repeated at least three times. You should not use sweet carbonated water with dye for cleaning.

How to remove deposits inside the device with ascorbic acid?

Everyone's favorite ascorbic acid vitamins not only strengthen the human immune system, but also cope well with scale deposits.

Algorithm of actions:

A tablet of ascorbic acid is ground into powder and dissolved in one liter of water.
The resulting liquid is brought to a boil and then left to cool for a while.
The cool solution is poured into the reservoir.
The device is heated to maximum temperature.
After the device has automatically turned off, press the steam release button several times.

The ascorbic acid cleaning method is effective only for small lime deposits.

Soda

Baking soda powder is an excellent way to get rid of scale from your iron in a matter of minutes.

Algorithm of actions:

soda is mixed with water to a thick paste (proportion 1:2);
the resulting mixture is applied to a cotton pad, which is used to gently wipe the dirty soleplate of the iron;
The already clean device is wiped with a damp cloth.

To prevent soda particles from leaving scratches on the surface of the iron, it is necessary to ensure that the prepared mixture is of a uniform consistency, without solid inclusions.

Acetone

Any acetone-containing product (the most popular is nail polish remover) will help restore the original appearance of an iron covered with old scale stains.

It’s simple: use a soft cloth, generously moistened with acetone, to thoroughly wipe off the dirt . The already cleaned surface of the iron is wiped again with a damp, clean sponge, and then wiped dry.

Work with acetone is carried out only in a well-ventilated area, away from open flame sources.

Steam generator care

There are two types of steam generators:

gravity-flow device (water flows to the heating element of the iron, where under the influence of high temperature it turns into steam);
pump device (liquid is heated in a special container, converted into steam, which passes under high pressure to the sole of the iron).

ATTENTION! If your household appliance is a pump type, it is advisable to have it cleaned at a service center.

In gravity-fed units, in the absence of chemicals, you can remove scale using home methods:

add 2 tablespoons of citric acid to 1 liter of water, pour the solution into the steam generator tank. Turn on the device and iron the unnecessary material;
fill the liquid container of the device a quarter of the volume with vinegar, turn on the equipment. Release steam on the old material until all the vinegar is used up.

Prevention measures:

periodically clean the internal and external surfaces of the device, wipe the sole with a cloth after each use of the device;
store household appliances in an upright position, in a closed box;
use only soft purified water for work;
After ironing, always drain the water and press the steam button several times.

The best way to combat plaque is to follow the operating rules of the ironing tool and regularly clean its internal and external surfaces using the built-in function, special or improvised means.