An iron is an everyday household appliance that is used extensively in many households. Nevertheless, irons are among the least maintained and cleaned household items.

If you take a closer look at your iron, you may notice that a dark color has stuck to the bottom over time. This phenomenon is usually caused by ironing fabrics made of man-made fibers.

The problem is that at some point you will inadvertently ruin one of your clothes  while ironing it because the iron has been left uncleaned after burning.

This is a very common situation, and this time we want to share with you some of the best tricks you can use to keep your iron looking like new and to prevent the damage to fabrics caused by burning.

7 ways to clean your iron naturally

Below we present seven products that help clean the iron in the blink of an eye. Try our tips right away and clean your iron with natural means!

1. Vinegar

This awesome product is helpful in home care in many ways, and vinegar is also effective in removing stains from the bottom of your iron. The acidic compounds of the vinegar make cleaning easier and leave the base as shiny as it was when you bought the iron.

How is this product used?

• Heat a small amount of vinegar and then rub it on an iron with a cloth or sponge.
• If the holes in the bottom of the iron have burned fabric, use a cotton swab to access these difficult-to-clean areas.

2. Coarse salt

Salt is one of the products that should always be kept in the cupboard, because in addition to seasoning the food, it helps to  remove dirt as well as to remove any fabric residues that sometimes remain on the bottom of the iron.

How is this product used?

• Take a piece of newsprint and cover it with plenty of salt.
• Warm the iron, and then move it back and forth on the paper until the stains come off.
• Stains will stick to the paper, and all you need to do is wipe the bottom of the iron with a clean cloth.

3. Toothpaste

One alternative use for toothpaste, in addition to taking care of oral hygiene, is to clean a burnt iron. Toothpaste will help you remove dark spots so that the iron is in perfect condition for the next use.

How is this product used?

• Put a little toothpaste on the bottom of the cold iron, and then wipe the bottom with a clean cloth.
• Turn on the steaming function and let the iron stand for five minutes.
• When the iron is warm, polish the base with a cloth. Finally, clean the iron completely with toothpaste.

4. Candle wax

One popular trick that can make iron cleaning easier is as simple as wax from a candle. This material removes stubborn stains and leaves the soleplate of the iron clean and like new.

How is this product used?

• Put the iron to warm up, rub the stains with a candle and make sure the temperature is tolerable so you can wipe off the wax with a soft cloth.
• If you are not able to remove all the stains at this point, add a little more vinegar to the bottom of the iron to complete the cleaning.

5. Laundry detergent

Laundry detergent is also a practical aid in cleaning the iron .

How is this product used?

• Mix the detergent with a small amount of warm water, dip the cloth in the liquid and then rub the bottom of the iron with a cloth.

6. Vinegar and baking soda

Once again, the combination of vinegar and baking soda makes life easier, as it also removes stains on the iron effortlessly and inexpensively. In this case,  the mutual reaction of the two products removes the stains stuck to the bottom  and leaves the surface smooth and shiny.

However, before you try this trick, make sure the appliance is not plugged in and wait for the iron to cool down if it has been used.

How is this treatment implemented?

• Mix vinegar and water in the same ratio.
• Dip the cloth in the liquid and sprinkle a little baking soda on it.
• Rub the iron with a damp cloth in a rotating motion – this makes cleaning more efficient.

7. Lime and baking soda

The properties of Lime juice combined with the effects of baking soda also provide a great solution for cleaning a burnt iron.

The acidic compounds remove any stains left on the bottom of the iron  and thus regain its shiny appearance.

How is this treatment implemented?

• Squeeze the juice from one lime and mix it with a small amount of baking soda.
• Once you have the paste, rub it on a cold iron and leave on for five minutes.
• Remove the paste with a damp cloth and heat the iron for a few minutes to allow the iron base to dry.

You can try any of these methods to your liking. It is good to remember that cleaning the iron should be repeated regularly to keep the burn marks off the bottom of the iron and to keep the iron usable for a long time.