Iron pencil: what is it and how to use it?

Rarely what kind of hostess today can do without an iron. And in order for this indispensable and rather expensive assistant to serve faithfully for a long time, he needs timely and careful care.

Modern irons, equipped with a non-stick coating and a self-cleaning function, with improved gliding over various types of fabric, are very comfortable and get dirty much less than their outdated, less expensive models. Therefore, it is especially necessary to handle them correctly and carefully. But still, and the most careful hostesses sometimes have such emergencies as:

• error in the choice of temperature;
• accidental contact of the hot surface with plastic or polyethylene;
• wrong selected unfamiliar type of fabric.

All this can cause pollution of the ironing surface of the iron and the formation of soot. And just long-term use of the electric device leads to the fact that from constant heating on its surface a raid forms, even if not visible to the eye, but soiling the products. The result is the inability to use the iron, and the output - only its replacement or purification. And the easiest and cheapest way to do this will be a cleaning pencil for an iron that can easily cope with this problem.

Basically, all pencils consist of two main components, mixed in certain proportions: carbamide and organic acid. Some manufacturers may vary the composition of fragrances or dyes. In appearance and texture, all pencils resemble a paraffin candle or a piece of chalk about 10 cm long and 2 cm thick. The weight of different companies may vary from 20 to 50 grams. Hermetic packaging - foil or polyethylene. In addition, some manufacturers include an additional antiscale, brushes or cleaning wipes in a pencil set.

Almost all pencils are universal. Their composition does not include abrasives, so the tool can not scratch the sole of the iron and is ideal for cleaning any ironing surfaces: aluminum, teflon and ceramic coatings. They gently cleanse from any dirt, gently remove scale and carbon deposits. In contact with the hot sole of the iron, the cleaning pencil will begin to melt, interacting with the bloom. Under the influence of high temperature and acid pollution dissolves almost instantly and without residue. It is enough to carry out the procedure one or a maximum of two times, and the surface of the iron will shine like new.

It is possible to buy a pencil for the iron. This cleaning agent is in the departments of related products of any appliance store. By the way, you can buy it there for free, for bonuses. As well as these funds should be presented in the assortment of each hardware store. There are cleaning pencils and in the departments of household chemicals in large supermarkets. You can purchase it in the online store, but it is better not to order separately, but as part of a large purchase or with some large goods so that the cost of delivery does not exceed the price of the cleaning agent itself.

The range of these products is quite wide and varied.You can choose both domestic and imported production in a variety of price categories. The most expensive pencils are imported. These include the following:

• iron cleaner 50 g HG costs about 500 rubles, it is positioned as a safe tool for the environment and for humans; produced in the Netherlands;
• pencil for cleaning the surface of the iron Prym is also quite expensive, its cost starts from 250 rubles; country of origin - France;
• pencil for cleaning the sole of the iron Topperr 1301 IR1 has a price of 100 rubles; country of origin - Germany;
• Domestic pencil for cleaning "Typhoon" from the same price category.

But there are quite inexpensive, but also very effective means well proved among economical hostesses, namely:

• pencil for cleaning Bon iron, designed for all types - costs a little less, about 80 rubles;
• Snowter cleaning pencil will cost two times cheaper: 30-40 rubles;
• tool for the Cinderella iron costs only 15 rubles;
• Selena pencil also belongs to a low price category.

Any iron cleaner should have an instruction manual with a detailed description of how to use it and precautions. But still it is necessary to emphasize such basic points as:

1. When starting to work, it is necessary to provide access to fresh air, since when the pencil comes into contact with a hot surface, a rather strong and sharp odor can stand out;
2. it is required to prepare the workplace - close the table or the ironing board with old newspapers and a layer of thick, unnecessary fabric so as not to spoil the surface;
3. Further, we proceed directly to the purification process - for this, it is necessary to heat the sole of the iron so that it is hot but not red-hot, and turn off the device from the mains; do not neglect the measures of elementary security;
4. Now let's move on to the most crucial stage - you need to “paint over” with uniform circular movements of the pencil the polluted areas of the heated surface of the iron and with pressure move it over the unnecessary fabric, peeling the paste along with carbon deposits; In order to avoid burns, it is absolutely impossible to allow the melt to get on the skin, if the sole of the iron is heavily soiled, the procedure can be repeated, after that it is necessary to leave the iron to cool down;
5. it remains only to remove the remnants of the dried-up remedy along with the contamination with a cotton natural rag after the iron surface has completely cooled down; you can even wipe the iron sole with a damp cloth to completely remove the paste residues;
6. additionally clean the steam holes with a cotton swab.

That's all. The surface of the iron glitters and shines. And according to some manufacturers, after using the tool even slip on the fabric improves. In any case, using a cleaning pencil is quite simple and convenient. No difficulties should arise. The tool is very economical. The expiration date stated by the manufacturer is three years, but in fact it can be used longer. There is nothing to spoil. Over time, it will not lose its effectiveness.

It is worth paying attention to the following effective and Proven ways to clean the iron folk recipes, which abounds in the Internet:

• wax candle - suitable only for removing fresh dirt; it is necessary to rub the ironing surface with wax candles, and then with the effort to remove it with a cotton cloth;
• laundry soap - apply it on a hot iron and remove it from a cold surface;
• salt - to do this, use a hot iron to iron a thin layer of salt poured on the paper, applying some effort so that the dirt is absorbed into the salt surface; This method is strictly not suitable for Teflon surfaces;

• a slurry of soda and a small amount of water — in this case, you do not need to heat the iron;
• with vinegar, you can get rid of the yellowed bloom by rubbing it thoroughly with a cotton pad or a cloth moistened with it, and then ironing a piece of old linen fabric;
• matchbox - it turns out there is such a way; you need to rub the sole of the iron from the sticker with the gray box and then remove the residue with an unnecessary cloth;
• liquid varnish remover melted polyethylene is cleaned perfectly.

Cleaning pencil deserved positive feedback grateful hostesses. It is difficult to select any particular company. Each of them has won the trust of consumers. The only drawback is some toxicity and a pungent smell when the cleaning pencil and the hot surface come in contact with the removal of soot. But if you take precautions, work in a well-ventilated area, keep it out of the reach of children, then using this tool is practical and convenient. Ease of use, accessibility and cost-effectiveness, fast and high-quality result - all this makes this cleaning agent a useful and effective household assistant.

How to clean the sole of an iron with a special pencil, see the following video.