The ‘awesome hack’ reviving dirty irons like magic

Aug 20, 2024
Followers showered Birges with praise for the "awesome hack," with many expressing their gratitude for the invaluable advice she shared. Source: Getty Images.

Looking to revive your trusty iron without a lot of fuss? Fortunately, there’s a surprisingly simple trick that can have your iron gleaming like new using just a few common household items.

Thanks to home hack expert Anita Birges, you can transform your grimy iron into a spotless tool with just a few easy steps, making ironing a breeze once more.

Birges recently took to social media to share her clever hack, revealing that “all you’ll need is a paracetamol and a pair of tweezers to make sure you don’t burn your hands.”

Birges then outlined the straightforward process:

1. Make sure your iron is hot, as dirt can be dried on and this will help soften it.

2. Pick up the paracetamol tablet (not the one that comes as a capsule) with your tweezers and carefully rub it over the dirty areas.

3. Wipe away the dirty residue with a damp towel or cloth.

4. You’re done! Shiny iron‼️

Birges explained that the “fibre experts say that the molten p-aminophenol that’s in paracetamol ‘solubilizes’ the synthetic charred polymers which stick on the iron’s surface”.

“Whatever it is, this works!! And works fantastically well,” she added.

Followers showered Birges with praise for the “awesome hack,” with many expressing their gratitude for the invaluable advice she shared.

“Thank you, I was ironing when I had a quick break and came across your hack. It worked 👏👏👏 thank you Anita. Love your work,” one person said.

“Thats magic thank you Anita.”

“My goodness this is an awesome hack. I definitely needed it,” commented another.

“So clever!!! Thank you for sharing.”

Birges isn’t the only one helping people keep irons spotless,  Jacqueline Stein, a professional organiser with a flair for turning homes into havens recently imparted invaluable wisdom on the often-overlooked task of cleaning your trusty iron.

Stein urged her followers not to wait until unsightly marks ruin their clothing before considering a cleanup.

“If you are noticing a residue or calcium build up in your clothing iron’s water tank, or rust/burn marks on your iron, it is probably time to clean it!” Stein said.

Here’s the step-by-step guide Stein shared for a foolproof iron-cleaning process:

  • Mixing together the following and pour into the irons reservoir: 1/2 – 3/4 cup distilled water and ¼ – 1/2 cup vinegar.
  • Plug in & turn your iron to a steam setting. Hold or press the steam button until you get steam flowing out of it. *This is heating up & removing limescale in the reservoir & pushing out build up in steam vents!
  • Before tuning off the iron, use some cotton swabs to remove any mineral deposits or sediment build up from the steam vents.
  • Unplug & let cool completely before emptying out remaining solution.
  • To clean the bottom (the “Soleplate”), mix together 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water. Spread out the mixture onto soleplate. Let sit for a minute, then wipe off with a clean damp cloth.
  • Cover the ironing board with a large thick towel. Then fill the iron’s water chamber with ONLY distilled water, & turn back on.
  • Select the steam setting & run it over the thick towel. Releasing steam to push out & remove any baking soda or gunk stuck in the reservoir & steam vents.
  • Once clean, turn off and unplug the iron. Letting it cool before dumping out excess water.

Please note: It is essential to exercise caution when attempting any cleaning method involving electrical appliances. Always follow proper safety protocols to minimise any risks.