Hubby Ironed over Salt to clean it. Iron not coming on now?!

[mumznet]

So, someone suggested we do this, so that we can clean the base of the irons. We done it on aout 3 different irons. None of them came on after that. So husband turned the iron on, then turned it off, then he ironed over salt which was placed over a cloth. Afterwards none of the irons are coming on. today I shaked one and the salt fell out, and I changed the fuse of one of them but still nothing. Have we ruined the irons? oh no!!

WTF, surely you just use a damp cloth to wipe the base of an iron?! You don't need to descale it surely?

No idea, but the best thing to clean the base of an iron with is paracetamol. High heat, rub it on until it melts and wipe away.

DM always used salt to clean the iron if anything had been burned on to it without issue. I'm not sure how ironing over a few granules could interfere with the electrics?

not sure why, he did use alot of salt.!!!! and its gone inside the iron if we shake it they don't come on. I tried different sockets to be sure the sockets are working. shall I bin them ?

Why do you own ‘about’ three irons? Is one not enough? Am I missing some sort of housekeeping trick?

3? Why are you repeating it? Its not working for you. Just don't do it.

good point, they are old irons, so one was mine, the rest were from my dad who moved abroad, so I took them. now I don't know why husband did the same on all three. also the salt didn't really take any of the burnt stuff off from the base.

Ive read online I can save them with cleaning it with water and vinegar and running the base under a tap? any thoughts?

I'm not sure I'd be trying any more home remedies!

thanks, but I don't feel like binning three irons. so any remedy I need to try it. ofcourse not giving hubby any electrical things to repair in future!!

thanks, but I don't feel like binning three irons. so any remedy I need to try it. ofcourse not giving hubby any electrical things to repair in future!!

all three irons have been saved, I found something online to clean them with vinegar and water thanks to Google :-)

Blimey

I’m glad you’re happy with the outcome but are you going to keep them all? Unless ironing was my job I really can’t imagine a scenario where three irons are anything more than clutter.

I am happy with the outcome, but the burnt marks on all three irons are still there. so pretty much one is unusable sticks to clothes. the other one is a bit small. there's one large one that is good, hasn't got too much of burnt marks.

Anyone know how I can clean the burnt marks? the salt didn't work.

Paracetamol works like a dream

Definitely paracetamol tablets.

are you sure. how do I apply the tablets make a paste? lol is this true??

You just use a whole paracetamol and rub it on the hot iron. Better to use the caplet shaped ones so you don't burn your fingers.

@hiredandsqueak Thanks, I have panadol that no one uses, it's says its just paracetamol advanced. is that fine to use?

Try it on one of the three irons you’d get rid of. That way if it works it works and if it doesn’t work you were getting rid of it anyway (surely??).

Hi there please shed light on how you got all 3 irons to work again.