Cleaning an Iron ( If your first reaction was " WTF"...think again...not a lot of people know how to clean an Iron)
Puta....de merde..!!!!! this is the second day i woke up to my BFs cursing which is obviously in his mother tongue, French. He stained his shirt again, but after a few weeks of not doing any ironing i really have no clue what could be the cause. After he left i decided to investigate why he kept getting stains on his shirt....and waalaaaa!!!! a dirty Iron.
If you are living in Tokyo, you will soon realize that finding that cream we foreigners are accustomed to is abit harder than you might imagine.
So as the french like to put it " trucs de grand-mere" or the grandmother trick, ill just share with you some simple tricks to clean your iron,especially the sole-plate. Overtime you will have the occasional build up which could leave stains on your clothes.
Its really important that you avoid any abrasive powder or scouring pads.
Use Begin with a cold iron that is unplugged from the electrical outlet. Use a mild dish washing soap or laundry detergent to create a sudsy solution. Use a nylon mesh pad, sponge, or a clean cloth dipped in the solution to completely wipe off the sole-plate of the iron. Wipe the sole-plate clean with a damp cloth or rag.
If the sole-plate is the victim of a starchy build up or corrosion of some form, you will need to use something a little stronger. Use a clean cloth dipped in white vinegar to remove the build up. Wipe the sole-plate clean with a cloth dampened in clean water.
If this does not work, then you will need to heat a solution of white vinegar and salt until the salt dissolves. Using a clean cloth sipped in the heated solution, wipe the iron's sole-plate clean. Continue wiping until you have removed all of the build up or corrosion. Remember to wipe the iron completely clean with a cloth dampened in clean water.
Also, heat up your iron to the max (on dry) then sprinkle salt onto a newspaper and the run the heated iron over. Repeat it until you wipe away the build up or the corrosion.
Someone once suggested urine, Ive never tried that and i don't think i ever will but if you are game, might as well try it.
cheers!
