Dirty irons can leave marks, stains, and residue on your clothes, ruining your garments and affecting the quality of the steam produced. Learning how to clean an iron with salt is an easy, efficient, and cost-effective way to keep your iron working at its best. Follow these nine steps to give your iron a thorough cleaning using a simple household ingredient.

1. Unplug the Iron:

Before you begin, make sure to unplug your iron and allow it to cool down completely to avoid injury.

2. Prepare Your Work Surface:

Spread out newspaper or an old cloth over a heat-resistant surface to protect it from scratches and catch any salt or debris during the cleaning process.

3. Choose Coarse Salt:

For best results, use coarse salt as it is abrasive but not too rough on the iron’s surface. Table salt may be too fine to be effective.

4. Heat up the Iron:

Plug in your iron and set it to a medium heat setting without any steam or water in the reservoir. Allow it to warm up for approximately 5-10 minutes.

5. Pour Salt onto Your Work Surface:

Sprinkle a generous layer of coarse salt onto the prepared work surface.

6. Press Iron onto Salt:

Press the heated iron firmly onto the salt and move it back and forth gently over the salt layer. The abrasive properties of the salt will work against any burnt residue, dirt, or grime that has built up on your iron’s surface.

7. Check Your Progress:

After a few passes over the salt, lift your iron and check its surface. If there’s still dirt present, continue pressing it onto the salt until all residue is removed.

8. Wipe Down Iron Surface:

Once all debris has been removed from the iron plate, unplug and let it cool again before wiping off any leftover salt using a soft damp cloth. Avoid getting any water in the iron’s steam vents. Dry it thoroughly afterwards with a clean, dry cloth.

9. Reassemble and Store:

If you have removed the iron’s water tank or other components, reassemble them properly before storing your iron away for future use.

By following these nine steps on how to clean an iron with salt, you’ll maintain its performance and prolong its life, giving you crisp and smooth clothes every time.