Why Is There White Powder Coming Out of my Iron?

We all wish that we were one of those people who find ironing therapeutic and do piles of it in front of the telly, but, in reality, most of us avoid it at all costs. Ironing is faffy and generally left to the last minute, like when you’re about to leave for a social event and realise the outfit you’ve planned is creased and socially unacceptable—great.

Maintaining your iron to a good standard, aka cleaning it regularly (every one to four months depending on how often you iron), is the best way to make the ironing process as quick and effective as possible. 

If you’re starting to notice chalky white marks or limescale on your clothing, it’s probably a sign that you need to give it a good clean before anything gets damaged! Read on to find out how.

You Will Need:

• An old toothbrush
• Distilled vinegar
• Distilled water
• Bicarbonate of soda
• A white cloth or towel

 

How to Clean Your Iron

Hopefully this is obvious, but it’s worth mentioning: start by making sure your iron is unplugged and cool before beginning the cleaning process. Also, ensure to avoid abrasive cleaners and metal on metal!

Step one

First thing’s first, you need to mix a cleaning solution. Do this by mixing half a cup of distilled water with half a cup of distilled vinegar.

Step two

Pour your homemade cleaning solution into the iron (and shut the cap!).

Step three

Turn your iron upright and take a look at the steam ducts (the small holes around the plate). If they have any residue on them, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub it away. 

Step four

Plug in and switch on the iron, then wait a few minutes for it to heat up. Once the iron is hot, hold down the steam button for roughly half a minute. Repeat this 6-10 times.

Step five

Switch off and unplug your iron. Once it has completely cooled, pour out any remaining solution.

Step six

Still going! This time we’re cleaning the soleplate. Create a cleaning solution (slightly different to the previous one) – mix a couple of tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with a small amount of distilled vinegar. This will result in some foam, so mix it in a tub/bowl that won’t overflow! 

Step seven

Use your cloth and cleaning mixture to gently scrub the soleplate in small circular motions. Depending on how much grime has built up, some areas may need to be scrubbed more vigorously than others, so don’t be afraid to go for it if required! 

If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn spot, apply the mixture to the area and leave for 10 minutes before you get to work!

Step eight

Rinse the soleplate with clear distilled water, using a clean white cloth or towel. Done! 

Whilst cleaning your iron isn’t the most exciting job (potentially even worse than ironing itself?!), it doesn’t need to be done too often and won’t take up too much of your time (it also will make you feel like a fully-fledged adult)! 

No one wants white streaks on their clothes, so stick on a podcast and get it done!