Modern irons are equipped with an automatic descaling function, which is not associated with a higher price for the device. When the lamp indicating this need comes on, all you have to do is press the button or turn the knob, and the water and stone will drain into the tank. However, if the problem of limescale concerns an older iron, then you need to choose the right home method. And only pour filtered or distilled water inside, for example that intended for car batteries. However, using boiled water from the filter does not guarantee complete protection of the iron against limescale.
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Vinegar perfectly descaled iron
The unaesthetic sediment first appears on the soleplate in the immediate vicinity of the holes and is transferred to the ironed materials, dirtying them. What to do in that case? Belongs:
1. Open the window or go with the iron to the balcony.
2. Moisten a clean cloth with vinegar.
3. Clean the holes in the soleplate with a cloth applied on a toothpick and push the stone back.
4. Pour a little hot water and a lot of vinegar into the water tank.
5. Turn on the iron for the highest power with the steam function.
6. Spread out an old, uniform cloth on the ironing board.
7. Iron the cloth and observe how much residue is left on it.
8. Repeat the procedure until the iron is completely empty of the iron (the cloth should be clean after the last ironing).
9. Pour out the remaining water and vinegar from the reservoir and pour clean distilled water.
10. Empty the water container several times by letting steam vertically through the holes in the soleplate.
11. Clean the outside of the device foot with a damp cloth.
Watch out for citric acid
Before using citric acid to descale your iron, it’s a good idea to read the instructions for use for your particular equipment model, included in the packaging or available on the internet. Some devices should not be cleaned or descaled in this way.
Lemon acid is ideal for cleaning kettle deposits and has no such intense odor as vinegar. However, when you pour hot water with citric acid into the container (in a ratio of 2 teaspoons of acid per glass of water), you may notice unpleasant symptoms. Sometimes it creates a sticky mixture, reminiscent of caramel. When the iron is switched on, you can immediately see the sharp, pungent smoke with a burning smell. Brown or rust-colored substance flows out of the holes in the foot, burns and adheres to the surface, dirtying everything when dripping. The iron should then be turned off and, after cooling, clean them thoroughly with the agent approved by the manufacturer, e.g. liquid or milk for plates in ceramic cookers.
Ready iron removers
Using ready-made descaler for household appliances has a significant advantage over pouring vinegar mixture into it – you do not need to do it with the window open, on the balcony or ventilate the apartment for a long time. In addition, it is much faster, more effective, improves the efficiency of irons and extends their life, as well as effectively protects against corrosion. You can use both universal descaling agents (also for coffee machines, metal sieves or electric kettles), as well as intended only for cleaning irons.
Performing descaling requires checking the recommendations of the home appliances manufacturer, whether a given model can be descaled with the selected type.
The easiest to use are economical means in one container or sachet, without having to mix the contents of several bags to activate the active substances. They are always used on cold irons that are turned off. How to descaled iron the iron step by step:
1. Dissolve the contents of the sachet in a glass of warm water.
2. Pour it into a water container.
3. Holding the iron over a sink, spray steam into the compartment.
4. Continue until the water tank is empty.
5. You can check the iron foot for cleanliness by ironing a clean cloth.
Some of the products are also sold in the form of liquids with a highly effective formula, odorless, biodegradable, for easy dosing thanks to a special measuring cup. They are a great solution when there are children in the house because they contain security locks.
It is worth trying these types of preparations on old irons. Their potency may surprise and you will gain an additional household appliance, forgotten or already written off at a loss. They are also ideal for use on metal surfaces, heating plates and ceramic tiles. The amount of the agent can be dispensed according to the needs, if it turns out that the descaler easily managed the coating in the iron or the coffee machine.
What after descaling the iron
A descaled iron with a very dirty foot should be cleaned cold.
Heat the vinegar with salt in a pot until they become thick, clean with a cold foot paste and wipe it off with a clean cloth, use white toothpaste (not gel), which will also remove small burns and then wipe it off with a cotton cloth.
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