Cleaning the steam generator from scale: citric acid, vinegar and other means to get rid of plaque How to clean the steam generator from scale at home?

The steam generator is practically indispensable in the household. This multifunctional device saves time and effort and makes life easier. With its help, you can easily iron linen and clothes, clean carpets, curtains, tiles and much more.

To prevent scale, it is recommended to pour only distilled water into steam generators. But this is not always possible. Tap water contains a large amount of salts, which lead to the formation of limescale. It can greatly spoil the quality of the equipment or even disable it. Therefore, you need to get rid of accumulated lime and carry out cleaning from time to time for prevention. This article contains tips on how to clean a steam generator from lime deposits without resorting to the services of specialists.

Types of steam heaters

Cleaning the steam generator depends on its type. There are two of them:

Pump devices. In such steam heaters, steam is released due to the high pressure that occurs when water evaporates. Pump steam generators are convenient and easy to use. However, they are quite expensive, and their design is complex. Therefore, such devices cannot be cleaned yourself. If problems arise, please contact the service center. In addition, it is recommended to take pump steam generators for preventive inspection 1-2 times a year.
Gravity-flow devices. In these steam heaters, steam is supplied gradually as it evaporates. Gravity-flow generators are easy to use, and you can clean them from scale using improvised means. It is recommended to clean them once a month for prevention, especially if they are used constantly.

Irons from brands such as Philips and Tefal already have a descaling function, so you don’t have to bother with them. As for other devices, you need to wash them yourself. But first, let’s figure out why we need to descale equipment at all?

Preventive measures

Very hard water is the main reason for the formation of large amounts of scale. Ordinary tap water contains a high concentration of alkaline earth metal compounds, which settle on the internal parts of the iron in the form of scale.

In order for the device to serve for a long time and not break down, it is necessary:

use water that has passed through a filter system, melted or distilled;
Clean the device at least 1-2 times a month;
drain the remaining water from the boiler after each ironing;
Do not clean the device with hard sponges or abrasives;
prevent the appearance of a diseased accumulation of scale; at the first signs of salt deposits in the steam generator, clean the device.

Why is scale dangerous?

Scale is made up of salts, calcium and magnesium. They remain in the steam heater after the water has evaporated and form lime. Limescale can seriously damage an item: it can remain on the fabric in the form of yellow stains or white flakes.

Plaque also conducts heat poorly and does not absorb it. This means that the device will heat up for a long time, spending a lot of energy, and over time it will stop working completely.

Therefore, it is so important to clean the steam heater from it in a timely manner.

Steam generators of new models have a self-shut-off function; it is triggered when there is too much scale in the device. This technique “can” self-clean, that is, to remove scale, it is enough to turn on the cleansing mode and steam a piece of unnecessary fabric. If there is no such function, an unpleasant odor and weak steam pressure indicate the need to clean the steam generator. To achieve the best results, you should clean both the inside (water tank) and the outside (sole) of the device.

Professional products

There are special products that help clean steam generators from scale. It is best to buy cleaners of the same brand as the steam heater. Some manufacturers, for example, Karcher, sell the cleaning product immediately along with the equipment. Green&Clean and Anti-scale have proven themselves well.

Important! Please read the instructions carefully before use. It tells you how to clean the steam generator without damaging the equipment.

How to clean an iron with a steam generator

How to descale steam generators at home? You just need to use one of the quite accessible means, among which the following are especially effective:

Products that prevent the appearance of scale can be found on store shelves; they are quite easy to use; they need to be poured into a liquid reservoir, and then use the unit for its intended purpose.
Citric acid or ordinary vinegar can prevent or get rid of scale. You need to use them like this: pour one of these substances into the tank to a third of the volume, steam any fabric, be sure to open a window for ventilation, since vinegar will emit a strong odor when heated, repeat this procedure as necessary.
The steam generator can be easily cleaned with liquid soap, it should be used as follows: first mix water and liquid soap, taking three parts water and one part soap, with the resulting mixture you need to wipe the sole of the unit, if it does not help to cope with traces of burnt fabric, you can additionally try to scrape them off with using a toothpick. It is worth noting that this method is not suitable for Teflon surfaces.
If scale or rust appears on the surface of your household appliances, you can use soda to remove it: mix 2 teaspoons of soda and 100 ml of water or vinegar; wipe the heated coating of the iron with this composition; Finally, clean the surface with a cloth.
If the steam generator has a Teflon coating, it can be cleaned by heating it to a minimum and wiping it with laundry soap. The latter will melt and make the carbon deposits softer, after which it can be easily scraped off with improvised means.
White toothpaste can act as a “scrub” that will clean the surface of the iron, after which you need to apply steam to clean the holes in the soleplate.
A ceramic iron can be cleaned with a cotton pad soaked in hydrogen peroxide, and all holes can be thoroughly cleaned with a cotton swab.

Related article: 25 ways to get rid of cigarette smell

If the steam generator coating is made of stainless steel, it can be cleaned with paraffin and salt:

first grind a small white candle;
then mix it with finely ground salt;
Gently mix both ingredients and pour the resulting mixture onto a sheet of paper;
heat the iron and iron the sheet with it;
the paste that results from melting this substance will cover the sole of the unit;
when the iron has cooled down, it needs to be wiped with a dry cloth;
Finally, steam the fabric until the liquid in the tank runs out.

Vinegar

You can descale the steam generator yourself using vinegar. There are several ways to do this.

Method 1

Pour an aqueous solution of vinegar into the boiler (1:1, no more than 25% of the total volume).
Turn on the device at full power.
Turn on steaming and go over the fabric several times.
Pour distilled water and iron the fabric.
Repeat the procedure.

Method 2

Make a mixture of soda and vinegar (1:5).
Pour the resulting liquid onto a cloth and wipe the surface of the steam heater.
Rinse with warm water and wipe dry.
Steam the unnecessary fabric.

Method 3

It is suitable for cleaning the soleplate of an iron with a steam generator. You can take not only vinegar, but also citric acid:

Place two wooden blocks on the bottom of a deep frying pan.
Place the iron on them with the sole down so that it does not touch the bottom of the container.
Dilute vinegar in water (1:5) and pour it into the frying pan so that the iron goes 1-1.5 cm into it.
Set the steam level to maximum.
Boil the liquid in a frying pan for 1.5-2 minutes.
Rinse the sole and dry for 24 hours.

Products from the manufacturer

The method of dealing with scale may vary depending on the specific PHILIPS steam generator model. New generation devices are equipped with all kinds of options for protection against limescale - a replaceable ANTI-CALC cartridge, SMART CALC CLEAN or EASY RINSE self-cleaning systems, etc.

The equipment warns about excess scale accumulation and the need to clean the steam appliance in different ways:

the corresponding indicator lights up;
a signal sounds;
steam supply stops.

To prevent problems caused by limescale, you should deep clean the steamer at least once a month.

Cleaning is performed after draining the liquid from the valve. In some cases, the cartridge may need to be replaced.

Perfect Care Pure Cartridge

An audible signal accompanied by a flashing “ANTI-CALC” indicator indicates the need to replace the Perfect Care Pure cartridge. If there is no replacement cartridge, you can continue ironing only if you use distilled or filtered water.

To replace a used part, remove it from the base of the steam generator by opening the ANTI CALC FILTER compartment. You need to remove the rubber gasket from the bottom panel of the new cartridge and install the element in the vacated compartment. A soft click will indicate correct installation, after which you need to close the door.

If the cartridge is not replaced in a timely manner, the device will remind you of the malfunction for half an hour, after which it will automatically turn off to avoid further damage.

EASY DE-CALC valve

The “DE-CALC” indicator light, which begins to flash during operation of the device, indicates that the EASY DE-CALC valve is clogged. To prevent such incidents, it is necessary to regularly descale the device.

The algorithm is simple:

unplug the steam generator and let it cool for at least 2 hours;
place the device on the edge of the table and place a cup with a volume of more than 350 ml under the valve;
remove the valve and drain the water with limescale particles;
Rinse the valve with running water and fix it in its original position.

Upon completion of the above manipulations, the steamer is ready for use again.

SMART CALC CLEAN system

The self-cleaning option allows you to quickly return the steam generator to normal using only a SMART CALC CLEAN container, a small amount of water and the power of the unit itself.

If the indicator flashes and a signal sounds, place the switched-on device on the container included with the steamer. Make sure the tank is half full of water. Hold down the "CALC CLEAN" button for a few seconds until you hear a beep.

Self-cleaning will take approximately 2 minutes, after which the device will stop beeping and the indicator will stop flashing.

Next, you need to wipe the sole with a soft, clean cloth and you can start ironing.

EASY RINSE function

Easy cleaning EASY RINSE is similar to the previous version, with the only difference being that the iron is not placed on a base, but is held over a deep cup or sink.

The device must be shaken periodically by pressing the appropriate button to remove scale more efficiently.

After removing the CALC CLEAN valve, the water with remaining plaque is drained. The procedure should be repeated several times, then install all the elements in place and begin ironing.

Have you ever descaled your steam generator?

Not really

Lemon acid

Citric acid is one of the most popular anti-scale agents.

There are several ways to clean a steam generator.

Method 1

Dilute 1 tbsp. l. acid in 1 liter of water.
Pour the resulting liquid into the reservoir.
After 20 minutes, switch the device to maximum steam mode and leave it until the liquid has completely evaporated.
Rinse the device well.
Pour in clean water and evaporate it.

Method 2

In particularly advanced cases, you should disassemble the steam heater and clean it manually from the inside. It is recommended to use this method at least once every 2 years.

The action plan is:

Disassemble the device with a screwdriver. This must be done carefully, preferably according to the instructions.
Wipe off the dust with a dry cloth.
1 tsp. dissolve citric acid in 1 tbsp. hot boiled water.
Seal all holes in the work surface with tape.
Pour the solution into the boiler. An active reaction will begin and foam will flow out of the holes. It is important to ensure that it does not get on the wires and contacts, and to wipe off any excess with a sponge.
Leave the liquid in the steam generator for half an hour.
Drain the solution along with the removed lime.
Rinse equipment with warm water.
You can clean small holes and hard-to-reach places with a thin brush dipped in lemon juice solution.
Assemble the steam generator, remove the remaining tape and iron a test waste cloth.

Instead of lemon juice, you can use any other descaling agent: Antiscale, vinegar or soap.

Important! Keep in mind that the fumes from vinegar and citric acid smell sharp and unpleasant. Therefore, during the procedure, it is recommended to open the window and turn on the hood.

Tips for care and use

So that the steam generator does not have to be urgently rescued, there is no need to bring it to this state. Here are a few tips that you can follow to extend the life of your equipment and keep it in good shape:

Rinse the device with clean water before and after use. Drain off the remaining liquid.
Do not try to clean pump steam generators at home - use the services of service centers.
Fill the device only with clean, soft water, preferably distilled or filtered.
If finances allow, you can purchase a water softener. They are sold in household chemical departments.
When cleaning the surface of the steam generator, do not use metal sponges or brushes.
Harsh, abrasive products are contraindicated with Teflon and ceramic coatings.
Salt should also not be used for cleaning.
Always place the steam generator with its nose facing up.
Before first use, read the instructions for use and manufacturer's recommendations.