How to Clean a Steam Iron That Smells
Your steam iron spits or gives off a metallic, musty smell when it heats up because mineral scale and stagnant water have built up in the tank and steam vents. Descale it with vinegar, empty it after each use, and switch to distilled water, and it clears.
We make small-batch beeswax candles in Far Rockaway, so a room that truly smells clean is our whole focus, and that always starts at the source rather than the scent. Below is where the smell comes from, how to clear it step by step, and how to keep the space fresh afterward, with the full the MBur beeswax candle collection here as you read.
Why a steam iron smells
Hard water leaves scale inside the reservoir and clogs the steam holes, and water left sitting in the tank goes stagnant. That comes out as a metallic smell, brown spitting, or spots on your clothes.
The buildup only grows the longer water sits in there. Descaling and emptying the tank is what fixes it.
How to clean it, step by step
- Empty it after each use. Do not leave water sitting in the tank. Empty it while warm so the inside dries out.
- Descale with vinegar. Fill the reservoir with equal parts white vinegar and water, checking the manual since some irons want water only, steam it through onto an old cloth, then flush with plain water a couple of times.
- Clear the soleplate holes. Wipe the steam holes, using a cotton swab with vinegar on mineral crust, and lift residue off the soleplate with a baking soda paste, then wipe clean.
- Use distilled water. If you have hard water, distilled or filtered water prevents the scale from forming.
- Dry it before storing. Steam out the last of the water and let the iron dry before storing it upright.
Distilled water is the long-term fix. Most of this is mineral scale from hard water, so filling with distilled water keeps it from building up again.
Keep it from coming back
Empty the iron after each use, and use distilled water if your tap water is hard.
Descale it periodically, and store it upright and dry.
Freshen the whole room once the source is gone
With the scaly iron handled, the air itself is the last step. A clean candle is the finishing touch here, best lit once the space is already clean. From there it is the fastest way to make the room read fresh rather than merely neutral.
For your laundry room, Wine Down fits well. It is calm and herbal, with lavender, chamomile, and sage, and like every MBur candle it is poured from 100% beeswax with a wooden wick and phthalate-free non-toxic fragrance oils, so freshening the air never means adding soot on top.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my iron smell metallic when it heats up?
Mineral scale and stagnant water in the tank and steam vents. Descale with vinegar, empty it after use, and switch to distilled water.
Can I put vinegar in my steam iron?
Many irons can be descaled with a vinegar-and-water mix steamed through, but check your manual, since some models specify water only.
Why does my iron spit brown water?
Mineral buildup and rust in the reservoir. Descale it, flush it with clean water, and use distilled water going forward.
Should I empty my iron after each use?
Yes. Leaving water in the tank leads to stagnation and scale, so empty it while warm so it dries out.
Ready to keep your space smelling clean once the source is handled? Explore the MBur beeswax candle collection and find the scent that fits the room.
Shop our candles
