The Fiji Times

Tips to clean a scorched iron

- By LOSALINI VUKI

YOU could easily clean burnt stains from iron soleplate with common items available in your home. After all, it doesn't take much to know when you've scorched your iron.

Website cleaning.lovetoknow.com reports a few tips to clean a scorched iron below. Vinegar

If the scorched marks are really bad, you will need to be more aggressive in your cleaning efforts.

Instead of salt, heat up some white vinegar and dip a soft cloth in it. Next, gently wipe the cloth on the scorched sole plate until the marks are gone. Finish by wiping the bottom of the iron with a cloth dampened with clean water.

If vinegar alone does not erase the marks, then you will need to mix a few teaspoons of table salt or baking soda with the hot white vinegar. Stir the mixture until the salt or baking soda dissolves. Soak a clean cloth in the cleaning solution and then wipe the iron's sole plate. Continue wiping until the stains are gone, and then clean the bottom of the iron with a clean, damp towel before storing.

Laundry detergent

If your iron has a nonstick sole plate, then you have the option of cleaning the marks with a little liquid laundry detergent.

Simply add a drop or two of detergent in a small bowl with warm water. Next, dip a clean cloth into the solution and scrub the sole plate. Finally, dry the bottom of the iron with a towel before using the appliance again.

Dish soap

There are times when scorch marks cover iron vents. To clean this type of mess, combine water and some gentle dish soap, such as Ivory, to create a soapy mixture. Dip cotton swabs into the cleaning solution and rub on the scorched sole plate and in the dirty vents. Once the stains are gone, use a clean cloth to dry the iron.

Lime juice and baking soda

This less toxic and more pleasant method involves a trip to the grocery store. Lime juice works quite well at lifting burns from the iron. The acid from the lime and the gentle abrasive action of the baking soda will leave your iron looking like new!

1. Simply squeeze one lime and add enough baking soda to make a paste.

2. Place the paste on the soiled areas of the iron.

3. Leave on the iron (cold, not heated) for at least five minutes.

4. Test a section after 5 minutes to see if the paste is lifting the stain.

5. Gently rub the lime and soda paste until the bottom of the iron is clean.

6. Wipe the excess paste with a damp cloth and allow the iron to air dry.

 ?? Picture: CLEANING.LOVETOKNOW.COM ?? If the scorched marks are really bad, you will need to be more aggressive in your cleaning efforts.
Picture: CLEANING.LOVETOKNOW.COM If the scorched marks are really bad, you will need to be more aggressive in your cleaning efforts.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Fiji