How to use an iron without burning. Tested in practice - the tips work

When I took the iron to the workshop for the second time in a year, I realized: I need to figure out how to use the iron so that it doesn’t burn. Because I had this problem all the time. The steam channels in the iron were also clogged and the temperature regulator was regularly malfunctioning. This despite the fact that a friend had the same model - and for three years there was not a single problem.

So I decided. I pestered the master with questions: what are my mistakes and how to do it right?

And this is what they told me.

Ironing must be done strictly according to the instructions.

Use only distilled water, or at least filtered. There are too many salts in regular tap water, they clog the steam channels.

• First fill the tank, and only then turn on the equipment. But not in steam mode. The sole must be completely dry.
• Select the ironing mode. Be sure to look at the label!

Even if you are sure that the fabric is pure cotton, it may contain impurities or some special dye. Sellers are often silent about such nuances, but the manufacturer indicates everything on the label. Therefore, set the regulator to exactly the mode indicated on the tag.

• Lay the item flat on the ironing board.

No creases or folds! If you “make amends” for them, it will take a long and tedious time to correct the mistake. And in the process there is a high risk of ruining the item and burning the sole.

• Don't forget to turn on the steam.

Some no-steam modes are too aggressive.Microscopic droplets of moisture create a protective barrier and protect things from excess temperature.

• After finishing ironing, be sure to turn off the iron.

If there are children and animals in the house, be proactive. Hide the iron before it hits the floor. And it will probably fall - a child who is playing too much will accidentally get caught on the cord or a cat will jump on the board.

Precautionary measures

Many housewives make the same mistakes.

• They do not check the condition of the cord.

Maybe his kitten got into trouble? Or was it accidentally crushed by a heavy object? The owner didn’t look, turned on the equipment, and hello, master. My iron is broken!

During breaks between work, the iron is placed on the soleplate and left unattended.

At best, you will burn through the coating on the ironing board and ruin the equipment. At worst, you start a fire.

• They start ironing, even if the sole of the iron is dirty.

Some people think: “Well, there’s a little plaque, so what’s wrong? It will be wiped off during ironing.” It won't wipe off. On the contrary, the plaque will stick to the sole and will not be easy to remove.

• Do not use faulty equipment.

Does the iron sometimes glitch? Does it turn off by itself, change modes, or not maintain the desired temperature? Let's run to the workshop! Even if the problem occurs occasionally and seems trivial. Because next time the iron may malfunction seriously - for example, it will become extremely hot and burn your expensive item. And at the same time it will cover the sole with such a burn that you won’t be able to scrub it off.

If you still overlooked it and the sole got burnt

Everyone makes mistakes. The main thing here is not to get upset, but to correct them in time.

I have an inexpensive aluminum model. And this is how I clean the soles from burnt marks.

1. I turn on the iron and heat it up - no steam. The stuck particles of the fabric will melt and become soft and pliable.
2. I scrape off the dirt with a wooden spatula.
3. I iron an unnecessary rag made of coarse fabric: an old waffle towel, a piece of jeans or something like that. The remains of the melted burn stick to the flap and remain on it.

If after ironing there are still dirty marks on the sole, I repeat the procedure on a clean piece of fabric. After 2-3 repetitions the iron is perfectly clean.

I've seen the advice "pat the kitchen salt"

The girl on YouTube sprinkled fine salt on the fabric, heated the iron and began ironing. A minute later her iron was clean.

I tried this method and I didn’t like it. Yes, the salt collected all the dirt. But there were tiny scratches on the sole. And this is very bad for the iron. If there is damage on the sole, fabric fibers cling to them. This affects the quality of ironing.

Imagine what will happen if you clean the iron with salt not just once, but 5-6 times?!

And under no circumstances carry out this procedure on Teflon and ceramic models! Scrape off all the coating!

It’s better to buy a special pencil for cleaning irons. It is, of course, more expensive than salt, but it is completely safe.