Like any other household appliance, the steam iron also needs maintenance to ensure consistently high performance. The passage of time and constant use inevitably cause it to wear out. If we are ironing and the steam struggles to come out of the soleplate or, even worse, water squirts out of the holes, leaving white streaks on the fabrics when dry, then the problem with our steam iron is, without a doubt, limescale.

It's one of the most stubborn "enemies", which requires a certain amount of care to avoid ending up with poorly ironed clothes and, in the long run, having to throw away our steam iron and buy a new one. Not only that, the soleplate could get burnt, become sticky and retain fabric residue. This is why it is essential to know how often and how to clean the iron, whether it's from limescale buildup or other elements that could cause irreversible damage.

How often to clean the iron

Although it may seem like a boring task, maintaining your steam iron is very important. Poor care of the steam iron leads to a decrease in performance, but also more time and effort spent ironing. It is therefore good practice to clean the appliance about once a month, following a few simple steps. The general advice is to always empty the tank or boiler after each use and try to keep the soleplate clean.

Cleaning a sticky iron soleplate

For burnt marks, a soft and thick mixture of water, vinegar and 4 tablespoons of salt is ideal. With a cotton cloth, gently rub the soleplate until the burnt marks disappear, insisting on the most encrusted points.

If you don't have vinegar, don't worry: you can cut a lemon in half and rub the inside part on the surface until it is shiny; rinse with a damp cloth and then dry with a soft one.

Removing stuck-on fabric from the iron soleplate

To properly remove burnt fabric from the iron soleplate, we must first get a damp cloth and tweezers that we usually use for eyebrow care. With the latter, when the iron is completely cold, we remove all the residues - even the smallest ones! - stuck to the soleplate.