5 tips to prevent limescale in your iron

Limescale builds up in every iron. You can't do anything about it, but you can reduce it with a few easy steps:

• Use calcium-free water
• Prevent blocked steam holes
• Iron with the right temperature
• Empty the water tank
• Descale your iron or steam generator

Use demineralized or distilled water if you iron your clothes. This is purified water, so it doesn't contain bacteria and calcium. You can buy it in bottles in the supermarket or at the drugstore. A water filter pitcher is also a good option. This filters limescale from the tap water.

Dust and lint that sticks to the soleplate block the steam holes of your steam iron. Water collects in the blocked steam holes and limescale builds up. That's why it's important to keep the soleplate clean. You can remove dust residue from the soleplate with a soft sponge. Let the iron cool down before you do so. Are the steam holes in your iron blocked? Descale the iron.

Iron your laundry at the right temperature. Every item of clothing has a label. That'll say at which temperature you can iron the item. Do you iron an item too hot? Small fabric particles will melt. They stick to the soleplate. This blocks the steam holes, where water collects and leaves limescale residue. Do you have shirts with a print? Iron them inside out. Such a print is synthetic and melts easily.

Are you done with the iron, but is there still water in the tank? Empty the tank. Water evaporates slowly, which leaves limescale. That's why you should store your steam iron or steam generator without water. This keeps your iron free of limescale for longer.

Is there limescale in your steam iron? There's a chance you leave brown stains on your clothes and the iron produces less steam. That's why it's important to descale your iron on time. Irons have various anti-limescale systems. Think of a limescale collector or a cleaning program. You can read how to descale your iron on the advice page.