Cleaning an iron almost seems counter-intuitive. How could that burning hot device that you press against fresh laundry actually get dirty? But as frequent ironers know, the iron’s steam holes have a tendency to get caked up, and the plate itself can become tarnished by mineral deposits (which can stain your clothes). If your iron’s looking a little worse for wear, here’s what to do:

Make a paste of  1 tablespoon water and 2 tablespoons baking soda. Then, using a spatula, spread the paste on the iron’s plate, coating the areas that have mineral deposits. Wipe off the paste with a damp cloth. To clean the steam holes, dip a cotton swab in distilled water and insert it into the iron’s steam vents. Pour out any stagnant water left in the iron. Now pour distilled water into the reservoir until it’s one-third full. Turn on the iron to its highest setting and steam-iron a clean cloth for a few minutes, letting clean water flush out any vent deposits. Turn off the iron and pour out any remaining water. Place the iron on a surface that isn’t too delicate, in case any sediment drips out of it.

And that’s it! By the way, you can keep your iron clean by pouring out the water in the reservoir after every use.

Think your iron is beyond hope? Check out our list of the best irons on the market.