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How to clean an iron

by with No Comment Cleaning Tips

This is question I am asked a lot but every model is different so it is sometimes hard for me to answer, if you ironing isn’t gliding effortless across your garments or if your plate has got oily or sticky then grab your owners guide and just check to see if they have a how to clean section, if you have misplaced the guide most are online so just do a search on your iron brand and model number.

But I do also have a few tips which may help you or maybe you need so simple ironing tips, after all it ones of those household chores many of us try to avoid.

Simple ironing tips

How to Clean an Iron Plate with Mineral Buildup

Mineral deposit buildup in the vents and on the face of the iron which can cause issues with the steaming function of your iron plus cause white chalk like marks when you are ironing, which will result in you having to wash that garment again.

The best thing you can do to prevent the mineral build up in your iron is to ensure you empty the water tank and steam reservoir after every single use.

  1. Start by making a homemade iron cleaner. Mix together bicarbonate of soda and water until you have a thick paste.
  2. Apply the paste to the iron’s soleplate, coating the areas with heavy mineral deposits and wipe off straight away with a wet cloth
  3. Dip a cotton bud is some neat white vinegar and gently insert into the steam vents and around that areas.
  4. Empty any water from the reservoir tank, this is applicable if you have a steam generator iron and add in 50/50 water to white vinegar. Run the iron on full steam over the sink and keep pressing the steam shot until all the liquid has gone, this will be flushing out any minerals.

How to Clean a Sticky Iron

Believe it or not, newspaper makes a great iron cleaner, especially when the soleplate is sticky. Turn your iron up to the highest setting and turn steam off completely. Now run the hot dry iron across newspaper or some kitchen roll until it’s clean. If it is till sticky just simply sprinkle a tablespoon of salt on the newspaper or kitchen roll.

How to Clean an Iron with Oily Residue

Simple solutions work surprisingly well for irons suffering from some oily residue on the soleplate. Make sure the iron is unplugged and completely cool. Wipe the soleplate with a clean rag dipped in vinegar. Then rinse with a soft rag dipped in water. If vinegar didn’t do the trick, repeat the process starting with a rag dipped in ammonia. Dry with soft cloth or kitchen roll and you are done!

But there is a fantastic product I do highly recommend, called faultless hot iron cleaner. which can be used to remove melted webs, fusible, iron-on interfacings, trims, burned-on synthetics & coatings caused by excess starch & detergent build-up makes iron glide easier so ironing seems faster. Plus it is the sort of product that will last you ages as you only need a tiny amount.

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Essential ironing tips that you need to know.

by with No Comment Laundry

If you run a busy household like me the last thing you want to do is spend hours ironing. Ironing is a bit like Marmite you either love it or hate it, personally I love it, I actually find ironing quite a good de-stresser and I love nothing more than to pop on a good film and get really stuck in.

As much as some of us hate it, ironing is one of those jobs you should do most weeks to save it piling up.

You can make ironing easier by investing in a good iron, I am a big fan of the Morphy Richards, TURBOSTEAM Pro with Intellitemp, it is so quick and easy to use and heats up in under 40 seconds, glides through creases and there is no need to change any settings thanks to the Intellitemp technology which also guarantees no burns. 

You can check out the amazing Morphy Richards Turbo steam by clicking HERE

And then by following these simple steps.

Get ahead of creases

As you empty your tumble dryer or take the washing off the line, assess each item as you may find with a quick shake and hang, you can stop creases forming saving valuable ironing time. 5 minutes checking this can save you a mountain of creased ironing building up. 

Split the ironing into piles

Check labels, and see what temperatures garments actually need, then create separate piles for each temperature type. Start with the lowest temperature and work your way up, turning the heat dial as you go. But the really good news is, if you are using the Morphy Richards TURBOSTEAM Pro with Intellitemp you won’t need to worry about this tip as it sets the perfect temperature, allowing you to iron jeans and silk without switching settings, saving you time AND protecting your clothes. Brilliant!

Lights on

Always iron in a well-lit room so you can see exactly what you’re doing and don’t miss any creases. 

Get your hangers ready

Before you start, make sure you have plenty of clothes hangers to hand and a little rail/some over the door hooks so you can hang as you go. This has the benefit of ensuring no creases form and makes your ironing easier to put away. Not everything will need a hanger so fold these flat and place on a cool even surface. 

Ironing board

Use a good sturdy ironing board that does not rock and wobble and ensure it is the right height for you, so you don’t end up with a bad back. 

If the height of the board/table is approx. belly button level, then it should be ideal for ironing without straining.

Iron inside out

Dark clothes in particular should be ironed inside out to stop the sheen that you sometimes get as hot iron melts the yarn fibres. Be sure to iron silk, satin, linen and denim inside out too. 

Only one side

Want to halve your ironing time? Do not over iron! You don’t actually need to iron both sides of the garment especially if you are using a good iron, the Morphy Richards, TURBOSTEAM Pro with Intellitemp is so powerful that one side is certainly more than enough, over ironing can ruin your clothes. 

Iron damp

Pure cotton items and linen can be a real pain to iron as you spend eternity going over and over the same crease! Iron these items slightly damp or have a water spray to hand and spritz as you go and you’ll breeze through these items in no time.

Keep your eyes peeled for stains

If you spot a stain, the worst thing you can do is run the iron over it as the heat will set it into the garment fibres.  Instead, give the item a cold soak with white vinegar, pop in the wash, leave to dry and only then get to work with your iron.

Iron care

As I always say ‘Care for the things that care for you’:  Make sure your iron has fully cooled down before putting it away, empty out the water tank to ensure that limescale doesn’t build up and give the plate a wipe with a damp cloth. 

I hope these tips will make much lighter work of your ironing and don’t forget to check out the new Morphy Richards TURBOSTEAM Pro with Intellitemp – I’ve had an absolute blast using mine ……. Click here for more info 

This is a sponsored post with Morphy Richards

Lynsey x

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My review of the Polti La Vaporella XT100C Iron

by with 2 Comments Product Reviews

Ironing really is one of those household chores that you either love or hate. Its a bit like marmite.

I used to run an ironing service and at one point I was ironing 57 baskets a week as well as my own. I used to love it . I was at home whilst the girls were young and watched endless films whilst I ironed away.  It did become apparent quite quickly that I needed a good iron.  If you want to iron quickly and achieve a great result you need to invest in a good iron.  At the time I didn’t know about Polti Irons and went into John Lewis and purchased a iron that was just over £500.00 and it was worth every penny.

So when it comes to ironing you do need to invest if you want speed and a good finish.  The polti iron comes with a 10 year warranty on the boiler against those dreaded limescale attacks. Initially you may think the Polti is a little expensive! But it is actually a huge investment in both your time and your money.  With the cheaper irons you can literally be replacing them yearly. I know I used to do and the plates would ware down very quickly. You may be interested in my simple ironing tips which can also help make ironing a whole lot more enjoyable.

The Polti iron is packed with Italian style and its makes ironing a pleasure not a chore.  Its a laundry lovers friend and you will save so much time as you breeze through your weekly mountain of ironing with ease.

The Polti holds 1.5 litres of water so it saves you having to constantly refill and it heats up within minutes. One of my most loved features with the Polti is the lock feature at the front of the iron. This is a great idea and if you need to leave you iron unattended for a few minutes you can simple switch to lock. After 10 minutes of being left untouched the Polti will switch itself off  automatically so you will never have the panic again when you are out and about of “did I leave the iron on”.

The lock feature also allows for easier storage and will keep you iron neat and tidy in your cupboard.

Perfect ironing, minimum effort

The innovative multidirectional curved soleplate with antiscratch coating allows perfect results in one pass. The high precision tip reaches difficult places and the concentration of steam in this area also smooths out difficult creases. The rounded edges for 360° ironing allow perfect smoothness without effort, easily tackling  buttons, collars, pockets.

There are plenty of steam settings to choose from , the controls are really easy to use and to select your setting you very simply turn the knob until you reach the setting of your choice. The blue light will indicate which setting you are on.  The handle offers a non slip grip  as sometimes when your ironing your hands can get hot and sweaty but this keeps you fully in control.

I am really impressed with the amount of steam this iron produces across all settings.

SILK  – for any delicate fabric, not just silk. Perfect for velvet, nylon, viscose and polyester and for anything that you’d prefer to dry iron (without steam).

WOOL  – for woollen garments and delicate fabrics that you wish to iron with steam.

UNIVERSAL  – for steam ironing any type of iron-safe fabric, with no need to spend time adjusting the setting between garments.

COTTON – for thicker, pure cotton garments, bedding and jeans.

LINEN ( MAX ) – for all linen clothing, tablecloths, bedlinen and napkins.

TURBO – for heavier fabrics such as curtains and bedspreads, this smooths out stubborn creases with ease. Please note: the TURBO function has an auto switch off after 10 minutes.

STEAM PULSE – double click the steam button for regular bursts of intermittent steam (500g/minute) that can penetrate deep into creased fibres, and is ideal for vertical ironing of curtains or garments on hangers.

I am loving the universal setting as this can be used on any type of fabric from jeans to silk without having to adjust the temperature. This is great as it saves you having to divide your clothes into piles and then waiting for the iron to adjust itself to the correct setting.  Another bonus is you can say goodbye to fabric burns.

The Polti isn’t heavy and is really easy to use.  Its been a great addition to my family.

The big bonus is its currently on offer and this is such an incredible price for an iron this good.  Offers ends end of JULY 2018.

For more information about this amazing iron please CLICK HERE

My Queen of Clean rating is 5 out of 5 

As always thank you for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo

This is a sponsored post with Polti

Ironing,Clothes,On,A,Yellow,T-shirt,On,The,Ironing,Board

Simple Ironing Tips

by with 3 Comments Cleaning TipsLaundry

Ironing may not be your favourite way to pass the time, but it’s the key to looking good. With these top ironing tricks and tips, you can speed up your ironing, make it effortless and easy.

Remember not every single item of clothing you wash needs to be ironed.  Some clothing can be taken straight off the washing line or pulled out of the dryer, hung on a hanger and put straight away after a good shake.

What fabrics don’t need to be ironed?

Never iron sequins, velvet, or screen-printed clothing. Also, some fabrics are labeled “non iron” or “wrinkle resistant,” usually polyester and nylon.

Fabric condition can help decrease creases when washing your clothes but remember fabric conditioner is not required for all items.

Check care labels

Check the care labels in the garments and then split into temperature piles. start with the coolest temperature and work your way up.

  • Low-temperature: Acetate, acrylic, nylon
  • Medium-temperature: Polyester, silk, satin, wool
  • High-temperature: Linen, cotton, denim

Planning your ironing will save you time and prevent accidental melting or scorching.

Be prepared

Check the plate of your iron is clean, any stickiness can cause damage.

How to clean your iron

Use a sturdy steady ironing board with a good width that has a good rest area for your steam generator iron and a linen rack. When ironing position your board to be the height of your belly button. It is vital to keep a good posture when ironing.

Use a well padded ironing board cover and change once it starts to get burnt marks as these can cause damage to the plate of your iron. Most covers can be washed too, so add this task into your seasonal cleaning planner.

If you don’t have an ironing board, you can still iron by using a sturdy flat surface like a table or work top and prepare it correctly using an ironing blanket or thick cotton towel as a liner.

Invest in a good steam generator iron as this really will speed the process up and you will be surprised at the amount of time you save.

If you don’t have a steam generator iron before ironing, spritz your shirts with water. This ironing tip will help you get out stubborn wrinkles. Perhaps your iron even has a spritz option. If it does, use it! Once the item is dampened, iron as normal. The combination of water and heat will tackle wrinkles easily.

Grab some silver foil simply place a sheet of foil under the cover of your ironing board. The foil reflects heat, smoothening out the underside of your clothes as you run the iron press on the top side.

Top tips

Iron delicate fabrics inside out such as, silk, satin, linen and corduroy and also on items that sometimes are left with shine. This shine effect is most noticeable on dark colours.

You should iron fabric lengthwise to prevent stretching.

When ironing shirt collars, cuffs or pockets that are double the thickness of fabric, iron on the inside first and then on the outside to smooth any final wrinkles. 

Always remember to keep the iron moving. Stopping at any point could burn your clothing.

If you can hang the items straight onto hangers after ironing, folding them when hot can create creases which will set in.

When you are done

Keep your iron away from small children, irons can get very hot and cause injury.

Let your iron cool off and empty any water from the tank before you put it away.

Ironing is easy, why complicate it? Now that you’re privy to these convenient ironing tips and tricks, go ahead and try them. Don’t forget, the key is using the right iron so it is definitely worth investing in a good one and make it fun, listen to music or set the ironing board up so you can watch television. 


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How Often Should you Change your Bedding

by with 3 Comments Cleaning Tips


Recently I surveyed local people in my community on how often they changes they bedding. 80% of the people I surveyed said they only change their bedding once a month.  Someone admitted that they hadn’t changed there sheets in the past 6 months and others where on average once a week or once every two weeks.

I than run a similar survey with the people that follow me on my social media platforms and was very pleased to see that many people are like me and change their bedding on a regular basis from twice a week to once a week.  When people are suffering with a cold or a bug they then change the sheets and this is exactly what I do.  You don’t need any further germs to take up nesting in your bed.  I also discovered that many people like to air their bed before making it.  You can’t beat a cold icey aired bed.

Personally I change my bedding once a week, there was a point where I was doing this every other day.  But time was against me and I was forever washing sheets and ironing them.  In my opinion no point in washing them if you aren’t going to iron them.  Having the freshly ironed lines on the bed is just a must for me its like seeing the lines on a freshly mowed lawn.

Now I just stick to #cleansheetssunday

My method

I hoover the mattress and I always do this with a clear cylinder so I can see what comes out, I then very lightly steam and finally spray with a Dettol spray. I will then leave the mattress to dry off and air before I put on the freshly ironed sheets. Monthly I also use my Vorwerk mattress cleaning system.

Its good to use a good pillow protector, and a good mattress protector as these will prolong the life of your pillows and mattress and give you some extra comfort.

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For those that don’t do this you are creating a nest of germs.

We are not alone in our beds

Dirt and dust can quickly build up in our beds and unfortunately we’re not alone in our beds, our beds are full of dust mites.

But dust mites aren’t the only hidden surprises lurking in our sheets, and we only ourselves to blame for their presence. Every night we shed a million skin cells, accompanied by oil and sweat. If you don’t wash your bedding regularly, this adds to your bed’s attraction for mites and their breading.

Bedbugs are small blood-sucking insects that live in cracks and crevices in and around our beds. They crawl out at night and bite exposed skin to feed on blood. Disgusting!

bedbugs

Though Bed bugs and mites aren’t known to transmit disease or pose any serious medical risk, the stubborn parasites can leave itchy and unsightly bites. However, bedbugs don’t always leave marks. The best way to tell if you have a bedbug infestation is to see the live, apple-seed-size critters for yourself. Unfortunately, once bedbugs take up residence in your bed they can be difficult to exterminate without professional help.

Bed bugs are flat, round and reddish brown and about the size of an apple seed. They don’t have wings and can’t fly or jump.

Keep bed bugs and mites away and make changing your sheets a regular part of your cleaning routine.

Thanks for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxox