Have you ever found yourself wondering why your favorite flat iron is no longer working as well as it used to? You might know the basic rules of how to use it, but I bet you neglected learning how to clean your flat iron, and that might just be what is causing it not to work properly.
Several years ago, I found myself on the verge of throwing away my first flat iron because it did not style my hair like it once had. But before I did, I thought I should do some research and see if there was anything I could do to bring my flat iron back to its former glorious state. I was shocked to discover that it only needed a good scrub before it was ready to do its magic again!
To save you countless hours of research and experimenting, I decided to create this step-by-step guide to help you learn how you can clean your flat iron at home and what you can use to clean it. So, grab your flat iron and get ready to start cleaning!
Table of Contents
How to Clean a Flat Iron: The Steps
If you have a good flat iron that does not burn your hair, is compact and easy to use, chances are you do not want to throw it away or just replace it. You will want to clean it so that you can make it work for years to come.
There are so many guides on the internet on how to properly clean a flat iron and other similar tools like curling rods and hot brushes. Some include a ton of steps, while others include cleaning solutions that cost a fortune. After trying out many of these guides and cleaning solutions, I can honestly say I have found the most effective and easiest way to clean a hair straightener!
Today, you and I will take a six-step journey to make your hair straightener look as good as new. I will teach you not just how to clean the flat iron plates, but the entire flat iron.
Step 1: Prepare the Flat Iron for Cleaning
To remove the dirt from your flat iron, you will first need to heat it. This will help soften the dirt that has built up over time.
Let the flat iron heat up for a couple of minutes, then turn it off and unplug it. Once you find that it is comfortable to touch, you can start with the scrubbing.
Step 2: Get Yourself a Washcloth and Water
You do not have to do the cleaning with a washcloth; you can also use a dish towel or any other type of textured cloth that you have at your disposal. Take your cloth and dampen it with some warm water.
Step 3: Scrub the Flat Iron Plates
Once you have the wet cloth, you can start gently running it over the plates. You do not want to scrub hard as that can damage the plates. Slow and easy rubbing should be enough to get the grime off.
Step 4: Scrub The Flat Iron Wand
When you are done with the iron plates, you can get to the flat iron wand and clean it with the same cloth. You can scrub a bit more on the plastic areas if you cannot get the grime out easily.
Step 5: Double-Check for Stuck Grime
Before you call it a day, make sure to double-check for any stuck grime. If you see any left on either the plates or the wand, you can try cleaning it out with the cloth.
Sometimes, you will come across stubborn grime that does not come off easily. In that case, you can use a damp cotton swab to get into it, or you can try a stronger cleaning solution. I will mention some of these solutions further in the article.
Step 6: Let the Iron Dry Out
That should conclude your cleaning process for today. If you have closely followed the steps so far, you can now leave the flat iron to dry or dry it with a clean towel. Once it is dry, you can use it again!
What to Clean a Flat Iron With
Now that you have learned how to clean your straightener, I would also like to tell you a bit more about all the solutions that you can use in the cleaning process. You might think that you have to use a professional solution to get your straightener spotless, but I am here to tell you that you can also use some common household products to do the same!
Warm water makes for a great cleaning solution but only in case you do not have that much grime stuck on your flat iron. If you find that you cannot fully remove the grime with water only, you can turn to these products that you probably have at home:
Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda
A hydrogen peroxide and baking soda solution will do wonders for hair straighteners with ceramic plates. Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with just a couple of drops from the hydrogen peroxide to make the cleaning solution.
If you do not have hydrogen peroxide, you can also use a mixture of water and baking soda. A few rubs and scrubs and the straightener will be good to go!
Nail Polish Remover
One of the most effective ways to clean flat iron plates is by using acetone, or nail polish remover. You can damp it all over the plates and leave it to sit for about 30 minutes before you remove it.
Once you remove the acetone, make sure to clean the plates with water just to make sure that none of the acetone or grime is left behind.
Lemon Juice
Using the juice from half a lemon, you can clean the flat iron plates by leaving the juice on them for 20 minutes. Then, rub the plates to remove the juice and wipe them again with a clean cloth.
You Now Know Exactly How to Clean Your Flat Iron!
Learning how to clean a hair straightener can be easy if you only know the right steps. I hope that my guide helped you learn more about how you can clean your flat iron and what you can use in the process.
Always remember to be careful with the flat iron plates and, rub them gently and with a good cleaning solution to get the best results. Oh, and last but not least: dry the flat iron out before using it again.
Thank you for sticking with me thus far. If you have any additional ideas on how to clean hair straighteners, make sure to share them with me in the comments!
