Believe it or not, your hot tools actually get pretty dirty.
If you don’t clean them regularly, then you’re in for a nasty surprise.
Hot tools, including curling irons, all need cleaning from time to time.
This is because the hair products that you use can transfer to the curling iron and build up over time.
If left, they will start to form a horrible gunk that will make the curling iron less effective at styling your hair and can make your hair itself smell burnt and nasty.
However, there’s no need to panic and throw away your curling iron!
All it needs is a good clean, and there are many different ways to do that to get your iron in working condition once again.
Read on to discover the many different ways to clean your curling iron and find one that suits you best!
How Often Should Your Hot Tools Be Cleaned?
If you use your hot styling tool regularly, then you should clean them around once or twice a month.
If you don’t use your hot styling tools regularly then you can clean them as you see fit (but you should definitely still do it!)
However, if you notice grimy gunk or sticky film on your hot tools, then it’s time to give them a good clean!
How To Clean Your Curling Iron
There are a few different ways to clean your curling iron. Here are some examples!
Cleaning With Acetone
Did you know you can clean your curling iron with acetone?
Acetone is an excellent hot tool cleaner because it breaks down the leftover gunk so effectively!
You can find acetone in many nail polish removers, which are available in the majority of beauty stores.
However, ensure you purchase a plain nail polish remover, and not one that contains extra ingredients such as moisturizer.
To clean with acetone, follow these simple steps!
- Soak a towel or a wad of cotton in acetone.
- Rub the soaked towel or cotton wad over the barrel. However, please ensure that the liquid does not go into the curling iron’s base, or this will ruin the circuitry.
- Wait a few seconds for the acetone to work its magic.
- Gently scrub the curling iron, making sure to use a fine-bristled toothbrush.
- Find a clean towel and wipe away the gunk.
Your curling iron should be as good as new!
Cleaning With Baking Soda
Baking soda is a brilliant multi-purpose cleaner and will work well when cleaning hairspray off your curling iron.
Follow these steps to ensure the best possible results!
- Mix four parts water with two parts making soda to create a baking soda paste.
- Take a cleaning cloth and wipe the baking soda paste over the curling iron.
- Because of the mild abrasiveness of the baking soda, the sticky buildup will be lifted.
- If you are experiencing any stubborn build-up that just won’t budge, then you can use a toothbrush to scrub them away, just make sure it is fine-toothed!
- Wipe the clean curling iron with kitchen towels until dry.
It is important to not allow the baking soda to sit for too long, or else the ceramic coating on the curler may become damaged.
Cleaning With Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is great for cleaning light stains from hot tools. However, it isn’t so good when it comes to increased build-ups.
We recommend using 90% isopropyl rubbing alcohol for any stain removal.
- Soak a cotton wad or towel with rubbing alcohol.
- Wipe the cotton wad or towel over the barrel, making sure no liquid gets into the base of the hot tool and breaking it.
- Wait a few seconds for the rubbing alcohol to work.
- Take a fine bristled toothbrush and gently scrub the curling iron until all the stains have gone.
- Take a clean towel and wipe away the gunk.
Cleaning With A Professional Cleaner
An additional cleaning option for your curling iron is to use a professional cleaner, such as Goo Gone, or even oven cleaner.
- Apply the product according to the instructions that come with it. It is important you follow the instructions exactly or you risk damaging the curling iron’s ceramic barrel.
- Wipe the gunk off the curling iron using a cleaning cloth.
- Use a damp cloth to remove any traces of the cleaning product.
- Use a different cleaning cloth to give your curling iron a final wipe to ensure all of the cleaning agent has been removed.
Cleaning With Ammonia
Ammonia is an excellent cleaning agent for cooking grease stains, grime, wine stains, and even build up from your hair styling products!
Ammonia is what we recommend for your curling iron if it has a pure ceramic, ceramic-titanium, ceramic tourmaline, or any other ceramic-hybrid barrels.
- Take a cotton pad and soak it with the ammonia solution.
- Apply this over the curling iron barrel.
- Wait for two minutes, or until the build up has softened visibly.
- Take a dry cleaning cloth and wipe away the solution.
Additionally, if the build up proves difficult to remove, then you can soak the hot tool with ammonia.
- Take a Ziploc bag and fill it with ammonia.
- Place the curling iron into the bag, taking care to submerge all of it in ammonia.
- Wait 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, remove the curling iron from the bag and wipe it with kitchen towels until dry. The stains should come off with ease, and you can begin to use your hot tool once again!
Mistakes To Avoid When Cleaning Your Curling Iron
There are a few things you need to know before you can go ahead and clean your curling iron. You should remember the following:
- Clean the curling iron at least one day before use.
- DO NOT submerge your curling iron in water before use
- DO make sure that your curling iron has cooled down before cleaning it
- DO let it dry completely before use
- DO unplug the curling iron before cleaning it.
Related: How to use foam hair rollers
Final Thoughts
Your hot tools, including your curling iron, should be subject to regular cleaning depending on how often you use them.
If you do not clean them, then they will be less effective at styling your hair – and nobody wants that!
Luckily, there are many ways to clean a curling iron, from using baking soda, to ammonia, to your classic cleaning agents for the household listed above.
Please ensure you follow the instructions and safety tips for the best possible results, and then you can look forward to having ever-perfect hair!