Sometimes, our carelessness leads to uncalled crises. For example, you’re ironing your clothes but don’t notice that the iron is on its hottest setting. You suddenly realize your clothes and iron were already burnt! Now, how to clean a burnt iron then?
We understand the frustration. We’re sure most, if not all of us, have been in that situation too! Don’t worry, though. Read on if you want to know how to clean a burnt iron! Cleaning your iron is not as daunting as you think it is.
11 Ways to Clean a Burnt Iron
You can easily clean a burnt iron with products you can find in your home. If you don’t own one of the items we’ll mention, don’t fret because there are many alternatives! Just a quick reminder before cleaning your iron: test small sections first! Remember that some products might not work well with your iron, so be cautious.
Nail Polish Remover
If you have a nail polish remover or acetone at home, you can remove the burnt part of your iron. You’ll also need a cotton swab or a cotton pad for this method. A mask is optional, but you should wear it if you don’t want to inhale the fumes.
To clean your burnt iron, follow these steps:
- Turn on your iron and put it in its lowest setting.
- Soak the cotton swab or cotton pad in nail polish remover or acetone.
- Rub the burnt areas with light to moderate pressure.
- Once the cotton swab gets dirty, get a new one, then repeat the steps.
- Turn off the iron, then wipe it with a damp cotton pad or a cloth to remove nail polish remover residue.
Dishwashing Liquid
Regular dish soap is a cost-effective method to clean your burnt iron. This is one of the less abrasive substances that you can use. For this, you’ll need dish soap, water, a bowl, a sponge, and a cloth. When you’ve prepared the materials needed, follow these steps:
- Dilute two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid in a bowl or a cup of warm water.
- Soak the cloth in the soap and water mixture.
- Cover the bottom of your iron with the cloth and let it sit for a few hours.
- Remove the cloth and gently scrub the burnt areas using the sponge.
- Repeat if necessary.
Sea Salt
If you want a method that doesn’t include scrubbing, then the sea salt method is for you. You’ll need sea salt (or rock salt) and a cloth. You can also use parchment paper or newspaper as an alternative for the cloth.
- Turn on your iron and put it in its highest setting.
- Lay the cloth or the paper on a flat surface.
- Generously sprinkle salt over the cloth.
- Iron the salt in a circular motion until the burnt areas get removed.
- Replenish the salt if necessary.
- Wipe the bottom of the iron with a dry towel.
Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the best natural cleaning products that you can use for your iron. Since it’s acidic, you can use it to eliminate badly burnt marks. You only need vinegar, a sponge, or a brush.
- Preheat your iron for a couple of minutes, then turn it off.
- Dip the sponge or brush in vinegar.
- Scrub the burnt areas with pressure.
- Repeat until the burnt spots are gone.
- Wipe the iron to get rid of excess vinegar.
Even though vinegar is a powerful cleaner, you must be aggressive when scrubbing to ensure that the burnt areas are cleaned.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another natural cleaning product, along with vinegar. It easily dissolves grease, dirt, and gunk. You’ll be able to remove the burnt areas of your iron by mixing a simple baking soda paste. You’ll need baking soda, water, and a brush for this.
- Mix baking soda and water. The ratio should be 2:1.
- Dab a small amount of the paste on the burn mark.
- Scrub it with your brush, and avoid the steam holes.
- When the iron is clean, wipe the paste with a damp towel.
Baking Soda and Vinegar
When you combine baking soda and vinegar, it creates a potent cleaning solution. This is because the acids of the vinegar dissolve the baking soda. As a result, it releases carbon dioxide, which helps remove dirt.
You’ll need vinegar, baking soda, distilled water, a brush, and a cloth. The steps are as follows:
- Combine one tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of vinegar.
- Dip the brush into the mixture, then scrub the burnt area.
- When cleaning the iron, do it in a circular motion.
- Wipe the residue using a cloth dipped in water.
- Repeat in other areas if necessary.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide isn’t only a wound cleanser. You can also use it as a disinfectant and a stain remover. It has a strong bleaching power, so it’ll clean your iron! Don’t worry because hydrogen peroxide is non-toxic, and its fumes won’t irritate your nose and lungs.
To clean your burnt iron, follow these steps:
- Turn on your iron and put it in the highest setting.
- Dip a clean cloth in hydrogen peroxide.
- Wring it, then lay it flat on a table or surface.
- Run your iron over the cloth, repeating the step until no burn marks are left.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a mild cleaning agent. Other people use it to clean other things aside from their teeth. Most toothpaste contains baking soda, so it makes sense that it can clean other things too. To clean your iron, follow the steps:
- Rub an ample amount of white toothpaste onto the burn marks.
- Gently scrub it with a cloth or a brush.
- After removing the burn marks, wipe the toothpaste residue with a damp towel. When cleaning, make sure to avoid the steam vents to avoid clogging.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is also called paracetamol. Who thought paracetamol could also be a cleaning tool? As clever as it sounds, it does clean burnt iron. The reason behind this cleverness is still unknown. Many have tried it, and they’re surprised at its effectiveness!
It doesn’t matter what brand of acetaminophen it is. Make sure that it’s uncoated.
- Turn on your iron and put it in the highest setting.
- Once it’s hot, rub the tablet on the burnt area using a pair of tweezers.
- Turn off the iron when you’ve managed to remove the burn marks.
- Wipe the iron with a cloth to remove the residue.
Paraffin Wax
You can use a candle or anything that has paraffin wax as an iron stain remover. This method is pretty straightforward and doesn’t need any other preparations. You need a candle and your iron.
To clean the iron, follow these steps:
- Turn on your iron and put it in the medium heat setting.
- Take your candle or paraffin wax using an oven mitt or a thick cloth.
- Rub it over the burn mark.
- Wait until the wax melts.
- You’ll see the burn marks and stains getting removed.
- When you’re done, turn off the iron.
- Wipe the iron on a damp cloth.
Dryer Sheets
If you use dryer sheets or fabric softener sheets in your laundry, you can also use them to clean your burnt iron. It’s a simple solution and doesn’t require much effort! Just follow these steps:
- On a flat surface, lay a paper towel and the dryer sheet.
- Turn on your iron and put it on low setting.
- Iron the dryer sheet from 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Keep ironing until the burnt areas are gone.
- Turn off the iron, then wipe it with a dry towel.
Why Should You Clean Your Burnt Iron?
A burnt iron doesn’t only produce a funky smell; it also bears other consequences if you don’t clean it. When you leave it as is, the dirt might also stick to your other clothes and leave unwanted spots. Additionally, it makes your iron sticky, which can be annoying when ironing clothes.
As much as possible, you should clean your iron when it gets burnt. That’s to prevent other issues that might lead to your iron breaking down. Even if your iron isn’t burnt, clean it every once in a while to keep it pristine.
Conclusion
There are lots of methods that you can try when you’re about to clean your burnt iron. You’ll enjoy ironing your clothes out again because you’re free from the risk of ruining your clothes. Just be cautious when cleaning because lots of these methods include turning on your iron. Now that you know how easy it is to clean a burnt iron, it’s time to try these methods out!