How To Clean A Flat Iron With Alcohol, Nail Polish Remover, And Water

It’s always best to use heat protectant before any heat styling. Many of us also use product to leave a smooth, shining finish. But according to HelloBeautiful, hair products and oil eventually build up on the heat plates of flat irons. Afterward, they stick to your clean hair and cause it to become dirty quicker.

What’s more, this buildup can result in uneven heating and incomplete straightening. Severe buildup can even damage hair and lead to split ends. The more times you have to pass over your hair with the straightener, the more damaged it gets, and no one wants that! Thankfully, it’s very easy to clean your flat iron, and we’re here to show you how.

Fortunately, cleaning your flat iron is easy — these tips tell you how to clean any flat iron, no matter what it’s made of. Any material that works as a hot surface for straightening hair can be cleaned with one of these methods.

The first and most important thing to remember when cleaning a flat iron is to do it only if it’s unplugged. Put it on a heat-resistant surface and let it cool down until it’s still slightly warm but very comfortable to touch.

Alcohol is one of the best ways to clean a flat iron. It's very effective in breaking down hair products and oil buildup. Depending on your beauty routine and the number of hair products you use, you may clean your straightener at least once a week with alcohol for best results.

1. Pour rubbing alcohol onto a clean and dry microfiber or cotton cloth.
2. Gently dab with a circular motion.
3. Repeat as necessary.
4. Dip a cotton swab and run it along the edges of the metal plate.
5. Soak a clean paper towel in water, and wipe down the iron afterward.
6. Leave out to dry.

Nail polish remover is a universal cleaning agent and it works particularly well to clean flat irons.

1. Pour a small amount of nail polish remover on a cotton ball.
2. Rub it on the plates gently in a circular motion.
3. Concentrate on dark spots with the most buildup.
4. Rub with a soft, damp microfiber towel afterward.

If you don’t use a lot of hair products and only occasionally use a hair straightener, you can get away with only warm water when cleaning it.

1. Moisten a cloth with water.
2. Rub the moist cloth over the surfaces.
3. Repeat as necessary until plates are clean.
4. Allow the iron to dry completely before plugging it back in to use.

Even if the flat iron is not hot, be sure to choose a thick cotton or microfiber cloth when cleaning it. Heat will penetrate the fabric, and if it’s too thin, you can burn your fingers. At the same time, avoid using polyester and other artificial fabrics, as they melt when pressed against warm surfaces and can damage your straightener.

There are a few suitable products on the market that can be used to clean flat irons safely, including relaxer. You can try them out to find the one you like best. They are all alcohol-based to remove even thicker buildup.

1. Dampen a paper or cotton towel with the solution.
2. Wipe the plates until they’re clean.
3. Repeat as necessary.
4. Wait until prongs are completely dry before plugging the straightener in.

While these methods of cleaning flat irons are efficient, there is nothing that beats daily maintenance. If you develop a habit of wiping the prongs with a moist cloth immediately after use, this will remove a majority of the oils and residue that collect on the surface. Then, you will only need to give your iron a thorough cleaning once or twice a month as needed.

You will know your flat iron is clean when it glides easily through your hair. If there is any residue left on the iron after cleaning, it may result in minor odor or smoking when you plug it in again. This is normal and should stop in a few minutes.

If you plan to put these simple everyday solutions to work immediately, make sure to SHARE with everyone who could use a few of these tips!