Ruined my iron?

[Hercy]

I had the bright idea of descaling my iron using lemon juice. I've never actually descaled an iron before and thought it would be a good idea to press the steam button a lot to descale the holes.

Not so it seems. A load of brown liquid came out and is now welded on to the iron plate.

Is there any way of getting it off? Do you think it will leak this brown liquid again? Or is there a way I can be sure it doesn't? I think I'd rather buy a new iron than ruin clothes.

Thank you for any help!

[Elkieb]

I have no idea how or what you've done, but I'd be at currys now!

[Hercy]

Haha, I've got the amazon page open now!

Can someone please tell me the correct way to descale an iron for future reference. I don't think I'll be trying this way again!!

[Elkieb]

I live in a hard water area- I like to think of the limescale on the inside of my kettle as extra flavour . What is this descaling of which you speak??!

[SoldierKatnissEverdeen]

The brown stuff is the limescale from the inside of the iron coming out. It means that you are successful in descaling it. I would repeat the process until no more brown gunk comes out.

Then once all the steam is clear, you can clean the soleplate by wiping a lemon/vinegar soaked cloth over the hot iron. I personally would keep wiping while the brown gunk is being spat out, as it will stop it drying on the plate an d becoming a more ardous task.

Nb, when you use the iron after decaling ie if it cools down and then reheats you may get some more gunk. Lots of swishing the descaling solution around, and giving the iron a few good blasts of steam on that first reheat (onto an old rag) before ironing any clothes should prevent clothes being gunked.

There is no need to buy a new iron

[BoffinMum]

Soleplates are easily cleaned with something called hot iron cleaner (comes in a tube).

[Hercy]

Thank you! I feel like a bit of an idiot now. Thanks for all the info/tips.