DIY Sparkle and Shine: Natural Steam Iron Cleaning Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 clean microfiber cloth or sponge
• Cotton swabs
• Old toothbrush (optional)
• Toothpick or needle (for steam holes)

Instructions:

1. Unplug and Cool Down the Iron: Make sure your steam iron is unplugged and completely cool before starting the cleaning process.
2. Mix Cleaning Paste: In a small bowl, combine the baking soda and just enough water (a few drops) to make a thick paste.
3. Clean the Soleplate: Apply the baking soda paste to the soleplate (the flat surface of the iron) using a microfiber cloth or sponge. Gently scrub any areas with burnt residue or buildup. For more stubborn areas, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub more thoroughly.
4. Clean Steam Holes: Use a toothpick or needle to carefully clean out any clogged steam holes on the soleplate. Cotton swabs can help clean around the edges of the steam holes and other hard-to-reach areas.
5. Wipe Off Paste: After scrubbing the soleplate, dampen your microfiber cloth with clean water and wipe off the baking soda paste. Make sure the surface is free of any residue.
6. Descale the Iron (for internal cleaning): To clean the inside of your steam iron and remove any mineral buildup, mix 1 tablespoon of white vinegar with 1 cup of distilled water. Pour this mixture into the water reservoir of the iron.
7. Steam It Out: Plug in the iron and set it to the highest steam setting. Allow the iron to heat up, then steam until the water reservoir is nearly empty. This will help clean the internal components of the iron and remove mineral buildup.
8. Final Rinse: Once the vinegar mixture is gone, refill the reservoir with distilled water and repeat the steaming process to flush out any remaining vinegar.
9. Cool Down and Dry: Turn off the iron, unplug it, and allow it to cool down completely. Wipe the soleplate one more time with a clean, damp cloth to ensure it’s free of any leftover residue.

Your steam iron should now be sparkling clean and ready to use!