Alternatively, empty out any water left in your iron and pour in distilled or filtered water until it’s a third full. Then, turn the iron onto its highest setting, with the steam setting on, and wait for all the sediment to be flushed out. If your iron has started to splutter water, or leave chalky white deposits on your clothes – or if it just doesn’t work as well as it used to – it’s almost certainly in need of a clean. Here’s our guide to the best, most effective ways to clean your iron, and the top products that will leave your iron sparkling clean and working as well as the day you bought it. How can I tell when my iron needs cleaning? Of course, if you only do the ironing once in a blue moon often then you don’t need to religiously clean your iron four times a year. Conversely, if you iron mountains of clothes every week, you may need to do it more frequently. Finish by ironing a clean cloth or piece of kitchen towel for a few minutes, to catch any last bits of gunk that might drip out. If your iron has a manual steam button, press it repeatedly to clear out the system as thoroughly as possible.

Mix together equal quantities of salt and white vinegar, then heat to dissolve the salt. Rub the mixture onto the bottom of your iron with a cotton cloth, then finish by wiping with a clean cloth It’s easy to minimise the build-up of limescale deposits: just be sure to empty out the water chamber each time you’ve finished ironing. Best products for cleaning an iron Faultless Hot Iron Soleplate Cleaner Cream: Best soleplate cleaning cream Turn the iron onto low, then wipe the soleplate with tumble dryer sheets (you’ll need to use a few at once) Mix together one tablespoon of water (filtered or distilled if possible) with two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda; apply the mixture directly to the soleplate with a finger or a spatula, leave it for a few minutes, then wipe off with a clean wet cloth As with steam holes, you can also use a mixture of water and white vinegar – although note that some types of iron specifically advise against this. If you’re using a vinegar mixture, turn the iron onto a medium heat and let it steam for five to ten minutes until the liquid has all been expelled; then refill it with fresh water and turn on the iron again to flush the system, and finish by ironing a clean cloth as above. Should I clean my steam generator iron in the same way?

Smooth out the crinkles in your grimy iron’s performance using these simple methods

With irons, there are three different parts to clean separately – the soleplate, the steam vents and the inside. When cleaning the soleplate, the important thing is not to use abrasive cleaners – these will destroy its delicate coating. Here’s some safer approaches that work well: Vents can be easily cleaned with a cotton bud: simply dip it into some fresh distilled water and clean out each steam hole in turn. For a more thorough clean, use a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar – not forgetting to wipe the vents clean afterwards. Depending on how much gunk is in your steam holes, you might need to use multiple buds. How do I clean the inside of my iron? To remove marks, heat up some white vinegar, then dip a clean cloth into it and gently wipe the scorched sole plate until the marks are gone. Finish by cleaning off the surface with a cloth dipped in water. If this doesn’t get rid of stubborn marks, try dissolving a few teaspoons of table salt or bicarbonate of soda into the hot white vinegar. How can I take better care of my iron?