Lifehacks

There's nothing as frustrating as ironing a crisp white shirt only to realise that a stain on the appliance has ended up ruining your whole outfit.

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Cleaning your iron does not have to be complicated. A couple of tips, both for preventing buildup and getting rid of them should leave you with a clean, sparkling iron every single day.

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Prevention:

A buildup on your iron happens when the synthetic or natural fibres melt onto the soleplate of the appliance as a result of the heat.

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To prevent the situation from occurring in the first place, ensure you iron low-temperature fabric (nylon, silk, etc) first before going to the cotton and linen. If starch is used, make sure it soaks well before you begin ironing.

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Cleaning

Now, if the damage has already been done, there are a few things that can help clean the iron surface.

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Method 1

Baking soda, an effective but gentle abrasive can get rid of minor stains on the iron. Simply take a damp cloth and sprinkle some baking soda on there.

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Rub the surface with it. Continue rubbing until you have loosened the grime. Afterwards, use a different damp cloth to wipe off the soleplate. Be sure to pay attention to the holes too.

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Method 2

If the buildup has become really tough to handle, you may want to enlist the help of an iron-cleaning product. They are readily available at most stores. All you have to do is apply them to your iron to get your appliance clean.

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Method 3

For this, you will need to create your own DIY iron cleaning solution. All you need are baking soda, toothpaste and vinegar. Mix the three ingredients together into a paste. Apply the paste to the iron then use an abrasive sponge to scrub off the stain.

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Take a look at the video below to see how it's done and the results you can expect.

Now you are equipped with some tips for having a clean iron. At the end of the day, prevention really is better than cure. So, take some precaution while ironing so you won't have to deal with a major buildup later.

Source: Goodhousekeeping