How to clean steam iron base plate?

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SPJ
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How to clean steam iron base plate?

Post by SPJ »

Our guests seem to have a knack of scorching the base plate of our steam iron and I wondered if anyone has a recommendation for an infallible way of cleaning it please?

Last time I cleaned it as recommended on the internet with baking soda and finished up with powder totally caked in the holes. In the end I threw the iron away in exasperation and bought a new one! And, surprise, surprise, here we are again with the new one - scorch marks on the bottom!
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PW in Polemi
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Post by PW in Polemi »

Try wiping the base plate with neat white vinegar. It's brilliant at removing all sorts of stains, including calcium in kettles, so may well help your poor abused iron.
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Cymraes
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Post by Cymraes »

Have you tried toothpaste? You need a fine abrasive.
SPJ
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Post by SPJ »

Thank you both of you for your suggestions. I've bought some white "household" vinegar today and also something which I think is a bit like the toothpaste solution - here in France they do a fine household abrasive based on stone which comes as a thick white paste. What attracted me to it was the fact that it claims to polish as well as clean. I don't want the base plate to be scored because then it will only get worse.

I'll give it a go. Thanks.
SPJ
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Post by SPJ »

Base plate now perfect thanks! Mixture of vinegar and small amount of abrasive stone polish and careful avoidance of the steam holes!

NB: I've also moved the iron dial back down to a lower temperature in the hope that when they switch it on they take more care with the settings.
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