Clothing irons work great for removing wrinkles from your clothes and leave them looking crisp and neat. But, like most household appliances, they won’t remain new forever. Over time, you’ll notice residue build up on the iron’s sole plate (this is the metal plate that heats up and comes into direct contact with your clothes).
If you don’t clean this residue regularly, it might end up being almost impossible to remove after the iron undergoes several cycles of heating and cooling. An iron with residue build-up may not heat up properly and leave dirt marks. It may actually end up causing more wrinkles than if you didn’t iron at all because of the increased friction of the iron’s sole plate which can cause the clothes to move around as you iron them. The increased friction could also be dangerous to you because if the iron gets stuck and suddenly slips, you could end up burning your hand.
What is the residue that forms on a clothing iron?
Residue on the iron’s sole plate can come from multiple sources. The most common sources are fused or burnt synthetic fabric, adhesive residue or come from spray starch residue. If it’s colored fabric, it can leave colored streak marks on your white or light-colored clothes.
What causes residue build up on clothing irons?
The most common cause would be using the wrong setting for ironing a certain type of fabric or you’re using an iron with bad temperature control. So, before you iron any piece of clothing, ensure you use the correct setting and temperature for that type of fabric.
How to get the sticky residue off an iron
If there’s only a thin layer of residue
If there’s only a small amount of residue, there are several methods you can try:
Cleaning with plain water and soap
If you do this regularly, you won’t end up with a thick layer of residue that’s hard to clean.
First, try dampening a cloth with just warm water and rubbing it vigorously on the sole plate to remove the residue. If this doesn’t work, you can try dampening the cloth or sponge with a soap solution. Unplug the iron and then rub the dampened cloth on the bottom of the iron. Finish by rubbing the cloth that’s been dampened again with just plain water. Let it dry before using the iron.
Make sure you don’t burn your hand in the process!
Rubbing baby powder
Start with a cool, dry iron. Put some baby powder onto a paper towel and rub it all over the sole plate. Heat up the iron and iron two dishrags to get rid of the baby powder. You should end up with a clean sole plate. Iron a small area of fabric to test it out before ironing the whole garment.
Ironing towels
Turn off the steam and turn on your iron at the highest setting. Place some cotton towel and slide the hot iron all over. You can try sprinkling some salt on the towels. This method should work quite well for waxy or sticky residue stuck to your iron.
Use Vinegar and Salt
Put equal parts white vinegar and salt in a saucepan. Heat the mixture at medium heat until you see bubbles start to rise to the top, just before it starts to boil. Wet a cloth or sponge with the solution and scrub the iron’s soleplate thoroughly with it. Follow this up by wetting a cloth with just plain water and then cleaning up the sole plate to remove the vinegar-salt solution. Let the iron dry fully before using it.
If the residue on the sole plate is thick
If the residue on the bottom of your iron is thick from melted fabric or thick adhesives, you can try heating the iron and gently scraping it off. Heat the iron at its lowest setting. The heat should soften up the residue to make it easier to remove. The scrape of the softened residue with a wooden spoon or spatula. Allow the iron to fully cool down.
Tip: If the burnt fabric is polyester, wiping the cooled iron with acetone nail polisher should get rid of it.
Use baking soda
Combine equal parts of water and baking soda. Stir the mixture to make a slurry. Rub the baking soda paste all over the sole plate. Dampen a cloth with just plain water and rinse off the baking soda paste. Wipe the iron dry and let it dry thoroughly before using it.
Also, don’t forget to clean the inside of the vent holes. You can use a damp cotton swab to remove the baking soda paste that has got stuck in the vent holes. Remove any existing water from the iron’s reservoir and fill it with clean distilled water. Set the iron to its highest temperature and select the steam option. The steam should clear out any remaining mixture in the vents.
If you end up with limescale residue from hard water
If you’re using a steam iron and your area has hard water (hard water is water that has an unusually high mineral content because the water has passed through limestone or chalk which comprise mainly of magnesium or calcium carbonate), you may have to remove the limescale deposits first.
To get rid of the limescale residue, fill up the iron’s reservoir with equal parts vinegar and water. Let the mixture sit in there for two hours or so, then rinse it out with clean distilled water. However, do not try this method if you have a self-cleaning iron as it can damage it. Always check your iron’s manual for tips on how to clean it.
Some preventative tips to prevent sticky residue build-up on your iron
- It’s always good practice to clean your iron with a cloth dampened with water regularly. This way, it will remove any soft, thin residue before they form layers of hard residue that will take a lot of effort to remove.
- Always wipe your iron with a damp cloth after using starch sprays or products on your clothes to prevent sticky build-up.
- Be careful when ironing synthetic fabrics. If you’re not sure about the integrity of the material, use another cloth on top of the synthetic garment
- Use the correct setting for the particular fabric you’re using. Using the wrong temperature setting can lead to sticky residue on your iron.
- Be extra careful when ironing things like logos or embroidery. Again, if you’re unsure of the material, use a cloth above it when ironing. Otherwise, it could damage the logo as well as your iron.
Clothes Iron Buying guide (Read in-depth one)
- Purchase an iron with good temperature control options. Look into ones that options for a variety of fabric.
- Some of the best steam irons will have features to not only prevent sticky residue but also make your ironing easier and faster with things like quick heating.
- Although a heavy iron is harder to maneuver, they are also more effective at getting rid of wrinkles because they can put more pressure on the cloth.
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