Howtocleamirons clean calcium out of iron

CLR is the product name for a Calcium, Lime and Rust removal chemical - http://www.jelmar.com/CLRbasic.htm. There is likely an equivalent in the UK. Vinegar might also work, or a coffee pot or clothes iron cleaner as the problem with no steam is the mineral deposits left behind in the heater core or the check valve that feeds the heater core.
Using CLR once its clogged may not work - mine was really clogged up. Here is the video explaining how I cleaned out the heater core.

http://youtu.be/S4NglGXVv50

CLR (calcium lime and rust) A product used mainly in kitchen and bathroom to clean/ break down any calcium, lime and rust that has built on a surface over time.

The iron has white flakes coming from the steam vents.

The white flakes can be caused by calcium or other minerals in the tap water. To solve this problem, switch to bottled spring water. Once the water is changed it may take several uses before your iron adjusts to the new mixture and the issue is corrected.

In case of a problem or clarification or my solution was insufficient, don't hesitate to post me a reply.

If you are satisfied, rate my solution with the "thumbs" or (even better) add a testimonial.

The best and cheapest way to descale irons,steamers, etc. is to use white vinegar, mixed 1 cup to a quart of water. Pour in the iron and allow to steam. The vinegar will dissolve the calcium, which is the blocking scale. Do this a few times toensure that the holes are clear and operating correctly. For the last rinse, put a little lemon into plain water and allow to steam. This gets rid of any vinegar smell.

Mixing white vinegar with water about a cup of vinegar and a cup of water ratio and let it steam through the mop. This is also good for steam irons and other appliances such as coffee/tea makers. The acetic acid in the vinegar will dissolve the calcium build up that blocks the steam ports and will not hurt plastic or floors. If you object to the vinegar smell, then mix a little lemon juice with the last cup of water and this rids you of the vinegar smell. I use the white vinegar to mop the wooden floors in the house.

Hi and welcome to FixYa, I am Kelly
Your iron is building up calcium deposits inside the reservoir and occasionally they flake off and into the steam system along with any minor releases of steam and it is showing up on your garments. There are commercial products in the market place for cleaning your iron.

This is one product:
http://www.google.com/search?q=Steam+Iron+cleaners&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rls=com.microsoft:en-ph&tbm=shop&prmd=ivns&tbs=brand:whink&ei=5_CWTevuNI-qcZe1masH&ved=0CJEBEMEJKAAwDg

This is another one:
Siege Chemical 776L Steam Iron and Showerhead Cleaner
http://www.siegechemical.com/00_cart_console.php?prod_id=522
It can be purchased from this page:
http://www.siegechemical.com/00_cartpage.php?cat=S-M

Thanks for choosing FixYa,
Kelly

Do you mean the Sunbeam Ultura 60 Platinum iron? Wipe the exterior of the iron with a damp soft cloth and then dry the iron. To clean the steam valve, turn the Steam/Dry dial to Clean so that the tip pops up. Gently scrub the tip of the valve with a steel wool pad moistened with warm water. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Replace the valve and turn clockwise to lock into place (reset the dial to Dry when storing the iron). Clean the steam holes of any build up, use a cotton wool tip moistened with methylated spirits. The teflon plate should be cleaned with the damp soft cloth, just like the rest of the exterior of the iron. If you have ironed a polyester that melted onto the iron, then iron a damp cotton cloth when the iron is hot.

The manual for several Ultura irons, including the 60, is available here: http://www.sunbeam.com.au/Pages/Browse/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=1485 . The link for the manual is in the center of the page above the Image Gallery.

I hope this helps.

Cindy Wells

Yes you fill the Iron with White Vinegar (the acidic Vinegar dissolves the lime deposits), and then flush with hot water, then clean the bottom with CLR (Calcium Lime and Rust remover) brand cleaner from any hardware store. This also is how deposits are cleaned out of a Coffee pot.

Thank you for allowing us to help, please respond with further questions and concerns

Spanish speaking available for all problems

Before you leave feedback, ensure that your concerns and problems are addressed completely with me.

PLEASE do not forget to award/PROVIDE "POSITIVE" FEEDBACK

PROVIDING FEEDBACK WILL ALLOW US TO CONTINUE SUPPORTING YOU IN EXPERT SOLUTIONS Before you leave feedback, ensure that your concerns and problems are addressed completely with me.

Hello, thank you for sharing your problem with us, I would personally be happy to provide the most accurate and up to date information for you.

1. You may use VINIGAR with HOT water to flush out the calcium bulidup in the sprayer.

2. Before using anything stronger, consult your manual to ensure you will not damage the device

How old is the steam iron?
And what type of water have you been using in it during its life?

The reason I ask, is that my Wife's was doing this, and we have fairly 'hard' water,
and she was using water directly from the tap.
After a year or so of this 'hard' water, calcium and minerals build up in the heating chamber in the iron-- Also passageways get clogged, and instead of smooth flowing steam, you get build-up of pressure, and then sputtering and spurting take place, as the clogged passageways try to pass the steam to where it needs to be.

Tell us more--

Mack B