The ideal steam iron should iron all fabrics thoroughly, not damage materials, and be lightweight and easy to use. However, it is worth remembering that over time, even the best devices can work less efficiently if they are not properly cared for. In the case of a steam iron, descaling plays a key role. How should you clean your iron so as not to damage it? We advise you!

From the text you will learn:

• how to clean an iron with home remedies,
• how to clean an iron from scale,
• how to avoid frequent descaling of the iron,
• what to look for when choosing an iron.

 A dirty device unfortunately also means dirty clothes. If there are stains or scale deposits on the soleplate of the iron, all of this ends up on your clothes. Under the influence of high temperature and humidity, some dirt can permanently penetrate the fabric, making it impossible to save. So that you don't have to say goodbye to your favorite shirt or other item of clothing, it is worth spending a moment cleaning your Zelmer iron or any other steam iron you have at home.

 Homemade methods for cleaning an iron

 If you are a fan of preparing homemade cleaning products, you will certainly be pleased to know that you can also use ingredients you know to clean your iron. However, before you reach for vinegar, baking soda or lemon juice, make sure that these products are suitable for cleaning your iron. How to do this? Find the manual for your device and read the section on maintenance and cleaning. If you do not have a paper manual, enter the device model in an internet search engine.

 Are you sure that you can use homemade cleaning products? Check out how to clean your iron using each of them.

•  cleaning your iron with vinegar – it will work perfectly for cleaning a burnt iron. Just soak a cloth in vinegar and gently rub the iron with it. The soleplate of the device can be warm (not hot) – this way, the vinegar will remove dirt better;
•  cleaning your iron with baking soda – it will also be helpful for a burnt iron. However, baking soda is a stronger agent, so it should be used mainly for old and difficult to remove burns. How to make a soda paste? Pour two teaspoons of baking soda into a bowl, pour in one teaspoon of distilled water, and then mix everything together. Apply the paste to the soleplate of the iron and wait a few minutes. Finally, remove everything with a damp cloth;
•  cleaning your iron with salt – a quick way to remove burns. Spread salt on baking paper, for example, and then run a warm iron over it;
•  cleaning an iron with lemon juice - this is a very good solution for cleaning fresh stains. Just soak a cloth in lemon juice and then... iron it. However, make sure not to select the program with the highest temperature.

 It is quite possible that among the home methods for cleaning irons or other devices, you have once come across the advice to combine vinegar with baking soda. However, we do not recommend this method. Although combining these two ingredients creates an effective, foaming substance, in reality it is not as effective. Vinegar and baking soda together create sodium acetate, which has a slightly alkaline pH - so it is not able to cope with cleaning burnt-on stains. The foam that appears on the paste is nothing more than carbon dioxide, which has no miraculous cleaning properties. It is better to use vinegar and baking soda separately.

 Cleaning an iron from scale – how to do it?

 Descaling a steam iron is not a difficult task, but before you start looking for home remedies, be sure to check the device's instruction manual. Some irons have special functions that make the use of descaling agents unnecessary.

 Self-cleaning is available in Zelmer ZIR1505 and ZIR1515 irons, among others. How to start it?

1. Unplug the iron and fill the water tank.
2. Set the maximum temperature.
3. Plug the iron into the socket and wait for the device to heat up.
4. Unplug the iron again and move it over the sink.
5. Press the "clean" button and shake the iron until some of the water and steam escapes through the holes in the soleplate along with the dirt.
6. Release the "clean" button and shake the iron a few times.
7. Repeat pressing and releasing the "clean" button until most of the water has evaporated.
8. Plug the iron into the power supply and wait for the remaining water to evaporate.
9. Clean the valve by pressing the "clean" button a few times.
10. Wait, until the iron cools down and run it over an old piece of fabric.

 How to keep your iron clean?

 If you don't want to worry about hard-to-remove burns or a big amount of stone, follow a few rules. Thanks to them, your iron will always be clean, and more importantly - it will iron as it should.

First of all, pay attention to what water the manufacturer recommends for ironing (you will also find this information in the instructions). Also remember to wipe it with a damp cloth after each ironing, when the soleplate is still warm. If there are any stains on it, you will remove them immediately without much effort.

It is also very important not to leave any water residue in the iron. Therefore, as soon as the iron cools down, pour out from the container what has not evaporated. This way, scale from the water will not settle in the iron.

How not to worry about descaling and frequent cleaning of the iron?

Your old iron does not work as you would like and you are increasingly thinking about a new device? When choosing equipment, be sure to pay attention to the functions that can make it easier for you to clean and descaling the iron.

Our offer includes, among others, the ZIR3200 Healthy steam iron with a triple Anticalc system that prevents scale formation. It allows you to automatically clean the iron without the need to use additional preparations. Other irons in our offer also have systems that prevent scale formation. They also have functions that make it easier to iron various fabrics. Thanks to them, using the iron and ironing board is very convenient.