How to Clean a Steam Iron: The Ultimate Guide

Like any home appliance that’s used regularly, it’s important that you keep your steam iron clean and well maintained. But, where should you start? What are the easiest ways to keep your clothes iron at its best? Keep reading and we’ll answer those questions and more…

How to tell if your iron needs cleaning

First things first, how do you know when your iron actually needs cleaning? 

The answer is easy; look at the iron’s soleplate. 

As we’ve written previously, the soleplate is arguably the most important part of a clothes iron. It’s the part that actually ‘does’ the ironing, heating up and acting as the surface that comes into contact with the garment being ironed. 

It’s the job of an iron’s soleplate to provide a heated, flat surface that will iron out any creases or wrinkles within an item of clothing.

However, given the job it has to do, the soleplate on a steam iron can often become tarnished with burn marks, stains, and particles of limescale. It’s a somewhat inevitable occurrence! However, as you can imagine, you don’t want to be ironing something like a crisp white office shirt with a dirty clothes iron - the risk of leaving a dirty great mark on the garment is too high…

So, do you want to know if your iron needs cleaning? Then do the following things: 

• Visually inspect your iron’s soleplate (also known as the iron plate). It should appear smooth and clean. If, however, you can see burn marks or accumulations of limescale, then it’s definitely time to give it a clean.
  
• Run your iron over a garment. The iron should glide over the fabric. If it feels ‘rough’ or catches or snags on the garment, it may be time to give it a clean.
  
• Plug in and turn on your iron. Allow it to heat up. If it gives off an unpleasant burning odour (from the soleplate), then there’s probably an accumulation of detritus that needs removing.
  
• When the iron is turned off (and completely cold), check to see if the soleplate is sticky to the touch. If it’s sticky, then it's possible that a build up of burnt polyester is responsible. 

How to clean an iron soleplate

Okay, so you’ve determined that your iron’s soleplate needs a good clean. What’s next? Well, it largely depends on what’s at hand. Below, the Morphy Richards team has set out some of the easiest - and most effective - ways to bring your iron soleplate back to life. 

How to clean an iron soleplate with white vinegar

Surely no home is complete without a bottle (or spray) of white vinegar! If you’ve read any blog or watched an Insta video about homecare, white vinegar will undoubtedly have cropped up at some point.

That’s because it’s just so versatile! And, that versatility extends to reviving iron soleplates. 

Because of its acidity, which is derived from acetic acid, white vinegar can have a pH of around 2.2. This is quite acidic (the pH scale ranges from the most acidic 0 to the least acidic 14), meaning it will break down dirt, grease, and grime. But, it’s not SO acidic that it will damage your iron.

Here’s how to put that white vinegar to use: 

• Ensure your iron is unplugged and completely cool.
  
• Take an old towel (a small one or a large flannel will do), and soak it in white vinegar. It’s best to do this in a sink or washing up bowl. Once soaked, wring out any excess vinegar. You want the towel to be sufficiently soaked in vinegar, but not dripping wet.
  
• Lay the towel out on a flat surface (e.g. a table-top). Place the iron on the towel. Ensure that it is placed, so the soleplate is facing down - with the entirety of the soleplate in contact with the towel.
  
• Leave for 20-30 minutes.
  
• After that time, remove the iron from the towel and use a clean, dry cloth to wipe down the soleplate. If the white vinegar has done its job, then any marks/detritus/limescale build-up should wipe away with little fuss. 

As you can see, that’s one of the easiest ways to clean your steam iron and get its soleplate looking fresh again. 

However, if you don’t have any white vinegar to hand, there’s an alternative - toothpaste. Yes, you read that correctly, toothpaste!

How to clean an iron soleplate with toothpaste

Everyone knows that toothpaste (used regularly) can keep your teeth sparkling clean and healthy. But, fewer people know that it can be used to clean your iron’s soleplate, too.

Want to try it out? Then follow these steps: 

• Ensure your clothes iron is unplugged and completely cool.
  
• Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto your index finger.
  
• Rub the toothpaste onto the surface of the soleplate using a circular motion. Pay particular attention to those parts of the soleplate that are burnt or have accumulations of detritus.
  
• If stains are particularly stubborn, use a toothbrush to rub the toothpaste in. Use the brush to agitate the stain and really ‘work in’ the toothpaste.
  
• Once you’ve finished rubbing in the toothpaste to the soleplate, allow it to rest for a moment (but, not too long or else the toothpaste will dry).
  
• Wipe off the toothpaste using a clean, dry cloth.
  
• If there is any remaining residue, simply fill the iron with water, turn on the steam setting and hold it over a sink. Allow it to steam for a few minutes and any remaining toothpaste should be gone.

Yes, it’s a slightly unorthodox means of cleaning a soleplate, but it can be a cheap and effective way of doing so.

How to clean an iron soleplate with paracetamol

Pretty much every household will have a packet of paracetamol in the cupboard for those occasional headaches. 

Well, in addition to solving headaches, paracetamol can be used to solve the headache of a dirty iron soleplate. 

To use this method for cleaning your iron’s soleplate, follow these steps:

• Make sure you have a paracetamol tablet and a pair of tweezers. 
  
• Plug in your steam iron and allow it to reach operating temperature. 
  
• Unplug your iron and allow it to cool a little (but not too much). 
  
• Pick up the paracetamol tablet with the tweezers and rub it into the dirty parts of the soleplate. 
  
• Allow the iron to completely cool down. 
  
• Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away the paracetamol residue on the soleplate. 

This should leave you with a sparkling, shiny soleplate! It manages this due to the fact that most paracetamol tablets contain silicon dioxide. This is an abrasive, sand-like substance, and thus helps to remove detritus from the soleplate as the tablet is rubbed in. 

How to clean an iron soleplate with soapy water

Yes, if your iron’s soleplate isn’t too dirty or marked, then a simple application of warm soapy water can often be enough to get it clean. 

If you want to give this cleaning method a try, follow these steps: 

• Ensure your steam iron is unplugged and completely cool.
• Fill a clean washing up bowl with fresh, warm water and add in some liquid soap. 
• Soak a sponge in this soapy water mix and ensure it absorbs the right amount to clean your iron’s soleplate without completely drenching it. 
• Use the sponge to clean the soleplate, rubbing the sponge in a circular motion. Pay special attention to heavily marked/burned areas of the soleplate. 
• Allow the soleplate to air dry. 

You should now have a clean soleplate that’s ready to iron even the whitest of shirts without marking them.

Note - be careful to use only a soft sponge. Using scouring pads etc can result in the soleplate becoming scratched and damaged. 

How to descale a steam iron

Sure, the soleplate is one of the most important parts of a steam iron - but, it’s not the only part of a clothes iron that can require cleaning. 

If you live in a part of the UK that has ‘hard water’, then it’s likely you’ll need to clean your iron’s water reservoir from time to time. 

As we’ve written previously, hard water areas are places in the UK where tap water contains high levels of calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate. As a result, over time, appliances that use tap water (such as irons and kettles) will accumulate limescale. 

Limescale is basically solid build ups of the aforementioned calcium and magnesium carbonates. In terms of steam irons, this is not only unsightly (building up in the water reservoir), but can also result in bits of limescale ending up on garments. Yuck!

So, we’d strongly recommend descaling your clothes iron on a periodic basis. 

How? Well, if you have a Morphy Richards steam iron, then depending on the model you buy, it will have a self-cleaning function. Once the iron is turned on and up to temperature, simply press the ‘self-clean’ button and the iron will proceed through a cleaning cycle. This will purge the water reservoir - and any limescale build up. It couldn’t be easier.

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However, if you want to prevent limescale from even building up in the first place, you can buy a bottle of Morphy Richards’ De-Ionizer Water Softener for Irons and Steam Generators. This is a specially formulated product that is designed to absorb the calcium from your tap water - preventing the root cause of limescale accumulation. In combination with a Morphy Richards iron with self-cleaning functionality, limescale doesn’t stand a chance!

How to clean steam vents on an iron

Very occasionally, you may find that certain steam vents on your clothes iron become blocked. Not only is this annoying, but it can impede the performance of your iron. 

So, what’s the solution?

The easiest way to get those vents working again is as follows: 

• Mix a small amount of water and white vinegar solution. A small cupful should be more than enough. 
• Take a cotton bud and dip it in the solution. 
• Use the freshly treated cotton bud to help the water and vinegar to penetrate into the blocked vents. 
• This should allow the white vinegar to seep down into any blockage, restoring the vents to working order. 

Tip - in addition to the above, it’s also worth completely emptying out the iron’s water reservoir after use. Leave the ‘door’ of the reservoir open (even once it’s empty), as this will allow any remaining bits of water to evaporate and thus prevent limescale and/or bacteria build up. 

How to clean the outside of your steam iron

Aside from the soleplate and water reservoir, the outside of your steam iron can also benefit from an occasional clean. 

To do this, you simply need a soft, damp cloth. Just wetten the cloth slightly in fresh clean water and give the outside of the iron a quick wipe down. This will remove any accumulation of dust or dirt that may have found their way into the contours of the iron’s outer shell. 

Other steam iron tips

Keeping your steam iron clean will ensure you have a great ironing experience every time you use it. However, there are a number of other things you should check on a periodic basis: 

• Follow the instructions! Your steam iron will come with a set of instructions and/or user manual. Not only will this include instructions on how to use the iron properly, but it will set out maintenance best practices.
  
• Check the power cord. The power flex on a corded iron can be subject to a great deal of wear and tear. So, it’s always good to check the power cord and ensure it is intact and safe. If you don’t want the hassle of checking a power cord, why not invest in a cordless iron?
  
• Register your iron. Not all manufacturers do this, but here at Morphy Richards, we offer one year of extra warranty when you register your iron with us (note - exclusions and limitations apply). 

Looking for an easy-to-use steam iron? 

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Then you’re in the best possible place. There’s a good reason that Morphy Richards is one of the UK’s best-known brands. 

Our irons - like the rest of our appliances - are of the highest-quality and are packed with innovative and useful features and technologies. 

But, not only are our irons amongst the best on the market, when you buy direct from Morphy Richards you can benefit from: 

• One year of extra warranty (when registered). 
• Flexible payment options - including Klarna Pay in 3.
• The ability to share and win!

What are you waiting for? If it’s time for a new iron, then make room for a Morphy!

Shop the complete steam iron range at Morphy Richards now

For more home appliance buying guides, inspiration and recipes, explore the Morphy Richards blog…

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