How to clean the sole of the iron from soot: a life-saving life hack

There is nothing worse than staining a clean white shirt with a burnt iron. Clean the surface of the appliance regularly to remove dirt and grime. In addition to the fact that the iron will take longer to heat up (which in turn will lead to higher electricity bills), the most effective life hacks will not save you from dark stains on your clothes.

Basic cleaning at least once every few months will contribute to a better ironing process and improve the performance of the appliance. Ideal Home experts told us how to improve the iron's glide and how to clean the sole from soot.

Life hack with baking soda and vinegar

The necessary ingredients:

• white vinegar
• baking soda
• two microfiber cloths
• cotton swabs.

You should always take extra care when cleaning electrical appliances. Jeremy Barltrop from G Johns & Sons Ironmongeries emphasized: "If you are planning to clean a burnt iron after an ironing session, you should also drain it and wait until it is completely cool and dry before you start."

Vinegar works best when combined with baking soda. Mix these two ingredients until a paste forms.

Dip a microfiber cloth in the paste and wipe the sole of the iron. For maximum benefit, rub in small circles, not up and down or side to side.

Acetic acid will help cut through burnt residue. Ava Wilson, editor-in-chief of Unclutterer, added that baking soda, thanks to its mild abrasiveness, removes and breaks down any burnt-on residue without damaging the surface of the iron.

Leave the paste on for 30 minutes for the ingredients to work. Do not wash off the product immediately after application.

Make sure that the steam holes are free of dirt and debris. Use cotton swabs to clean the holes from the paste residue before the soda dries and clogs them.

When you are sure that you have left the paste in long enough, you can use another clean and damp microfiber cloth to wipe off the residue.

How to prevent carbon deposits

1. One of the easiest ways to burn the soleplate of the iron is to iron T-shirts with prints. If you use a high temperature setting, you will not only burn the iron, but also ruin the clothes.
2. When ironing, you probably take a pile of laundry and iron it one by one. Experts recommend ironing delicate fabrics that require lower temperatures first.
3. Clean the iron regularly. Although burn marks on clothes are usually associated with high temperatures, clogged and dirty irons can also contribute to the appearance of soot. For this reason, it is advisable to clean your iron regularly - at least once a month, depending on how often you use it.

A few more life hacks

Experts also recommend trying an affordable pharmacy remedy. Turn the iron on high, take a paracetamol tablet with tweezers and wipe the sole with it. You will see that the burnt black spots quickly disappear as you wipe them off.

If you don't have white vinegar or baking soda on hand, you can use toothpaste to clean the burnt iron. To do this, rub white toothpaste on the sole and leave it on for a minute, then wipe it off with a clean microfiber cloth.

Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest developments.