How to Get Mold Out of Your Iron

Open the water reservoir, and drain any existing water. Do this outdoors, to prevent spreading mold spores in your home. If you pour moldy water down the drain, the mold may grow inside your pipes, potentially leading to a much more serious and costly problem.

Fill the water reservoir with equal parts distilled water and white vinegar. Whenever cleaning your iron, always stick with distilled water, because tap water can cause hard mineral deposits to form and clog the vents. White vinegar, sometimes marketed as distilled vinegar, is useful not only for routine cleaning of irons, but also functions as an effective mold killer.

Place the iron upright and turn it on. Allow the iron to steam for approximately four minutes. The vinegar will pass through the vents as vapor and kill any mold inside the iron, as well as along the vents. Allow the iron to cool, and then drain all the water.

Clean any mold along the exterior of your iron. If any exterior parts of the iron have patches of mold due to excess dirt and water accumulation, scrub the outside of the iron with a soft cloth containing the same water and vinegar solution. Do not do this until after the iron has cooled off completely.

Fill your reservoir with distilled water. Place it upright once again, and turn on the steam for about four to five minutes. This will rinse the vinegar from the iron and leave you with a clean reservoir. Drain the iron once again.

Replace the filter, if applicable. Some irons contain replaceable filters that collect minerals and impurities. If your iron uses replaceable filters, your current filter likely has a buildup of mold spores. Replace the filter, to prevent the mold from making its way back into your reservoir.