All of us are familiar with steam irons because of the professionally pressed look they give to our clothes. But sometimes it becomes hectic to press your clothes with a steamer because it begins to make brown or yellow spots on the clothes or sometimes the water does not drain out efficiently and sufficient steam is not producing and you begin thinking of changing your iron and bringing a new one.
But stop and control your wild fears of out-of-order steam iron, you are probably missing an integral part of caring for and handling your steam iron. Yeah, that’s the point; steam iron has to be cleaned twice a year or according to the instructions of the manufacturer.
If you do not want any of the above-discussed unpleasant incidents while ironing your clothes or if you want your iron to work productively then you have to thoroughly cleanse your steam iron tank which is the water-filled base of the iron reservoir used to make steam.
Any water that frequently remains unused for a time period causes rust or raw material and the same is the case of the steam iron water tank which is the reason for your iron leaving your clothes with brown spots and foulness. This is the ultimate call of your steam iron to cleanse it in case you do not clean it regularly after time.
Below are some methods to clean your steam iron water tank that will help to boost and shine its productivity.
Best ways to clean the water reservoir of steam iron
There are several ways to clean the steam iron water tank. Some best ways to clean the water tank of a steam iron are given below but before applying them you must read out the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations for cleaning your steamer water tank so that you know the dos and don’ts for your specific model and come to know about the pros and cons of applying cleaning process rather than what is written on the user’s guide.
Now, coming towards cleansing the steam iron water tank, you might think it a difficult task but it is not that difficult, you can easily clean it at home.
Cleansing with warm water
The first and simplest way to clean the tank is to rinse it thoroughly with warm water. In a way of cleaning your iron reservoir with warm water follow the given steps. While cleaning with warm water keep in mind that detergents should not be used, only pure warm water should be used.
A warm water bath will remove green algae from your steam iron water tank. The steps of cleaning are given below. To have better results you should follow these:
1) Plug off the steamer first. You must make sure to cut the electricity if you are cleaning any electronic device.
2) Empty your iron reservoir so that previously stored water will be removed.
3) Now warm up some water and fill the steam iron water reservoir half full.
4) When you have filled the steamer water tank with warm water, shake the reservoir so that water reaches and washes all the walls of it. Shake the reservoir carefully so that the water does not fall on you and keep your face away from the steamer.
5) Empty the iron reservoir again by spraying and draining water out of the steamer.
6) Repeat the process two to three times for good cleaning.
7) Finally, wash out the steamer’s reservoir with clean fresh water and wash it twice or thrice so that the green algae or some other sediments may filter out.
This method should be applied once a week or twice or thrice a month for good maintenance of your iron. But if you do not find much time then repeat this process five times a year.
Cleansing with vinegar
The second method to clean the steam iron water tank is to clean it with vinegar (but not concentrated vinegar rather distill it with water because it contains acetic acid which may harm your iron). This method is not preferred for the weekly or monthly cleaning process.
It is to be applied when you have not cleaned your steam iron tank for a long time period. Vinegar is a daily used item and is easily available hence a good alternative to commercial cleaning solutions at grocery stores.
In this method, all you need is distilled vinegar. It will clean all the deposits, scales, and germs from the reservoir. The below-given steps should be followed when cleaning your steamer water tank with vinegar to bring your tank in brand new condition.
1) Plug off the steam iron.
2) Empty the water tank of the steamer.
3) Now fill half of the iron reservoir with water.
4) Add the vinegar to the water. Or instead of adding vinegar and water in separate steps add distilled vinegar in the same step.
5) Shake the water tank well and keep your face away from the tank because the acid present in it can irritate your skin if it falls on your face.
6) Correct the setting of the steamer.
7) Let the iron sit on the hot setting for 5 to 7 minutes on an old cotton cloth.
8) Now remove the iron’s high temperature but before removing it press the spray button for half a minute the steam must not be falling on the wall or the countertop because the acid would damage them. And in case you see droplets of solution on the walls or surroundings wipe them off with water and soak it with a cloth.
9) Do the procedure repeatedly at least 3 to 5 times.
10) Now remove the vinegar solution from the water tank and rinse the reservoir with fresh water several times so as to remove vinegar and its odor from the steamer.
11) Now steam iron is ready for trial and to match with the new steamer because of its astonishing results.
Cleansing with limescale remover
Limescale is a hard deposit consisting of calcium carbonate. Limescale often builds up in old pipes or other surfaces where hard water flows. So, if you live in a region where hard water is used then limescale can be built in your steam iron reservoir.
So, you must clean your iron reservoir in a month or two. You can use EcoVer limescale remover or any other remover that is easily available to you. But after using it make sure that you have to rinse the iron reservoir well with fresh water. Follow the following steps for better results
1) Empty the water from the iron reservoir.
2) Pour one-third of the limescale remover.
3) Fill the remaining iron reservoir with water.
4) Place your iron in a saucer or plate or stand placed in the basin and leave it for some time so that the limescale gets dissolved in the solution.
5) Now remove the solution from the reservoir by draining it.
6) Rinse the tank thoroughly with clean fresh water several times until you get certain that no solution is left behind, otherwise, it can spoil your clothes when you press them.
Conclusion:
I hope that the above-given methods of cleaning the steam iron water tank would help you a lot. But practice it regularly and at least clean your iron once a month otherwise scales would become permanent and cause difficulty in removing them and efficient pressing of clothes. If you clean your steamer water tank regularly with warm water you would not need to use chemical detergents or even vinegar solution to clean it.