3 Simple Ways to Clean a Dirty Hair Straightener

Excess hair product residue, oils, and grime can damage your flat iron and your hair, so it’s important to clean it regularly. Luckily, all you need are damp cloths, rubbing alcohol, or baking soda to get your flat iron gunk-free and working properly. We spoke with professional hair stylist Jenny Tran to learn how to do a simple flat iron cleaning and get rid of stubborn residue. We’ll also tell you how often to clean your iron, why it’s important, and how to keep it in tip-top shape!

The 3 Best Ways to Clean a Flat Iron

Wipe the flat iron with a damp microfiber cloth for a simple, light cleaning.
Remove stubborn residue and grime with rubbing alcohol.
Get rid of hard product or oil buildup with a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste.

Section 1 of 6:

Simple Flat Iron Cleaning for Light Debris

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Heating up your flat iron helps loosen up any product residue, oils, or other buildup. This makes it much easier to clean.^{[1]
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Professional hair stylist Jenny Tran recommends letting your flat iron cool down for about 5 minutes so it’s a “little bit cooler but still kind of warm.” Simply turn off and unplug the flat iron from the outlet, then set it on a heat-resistant mat, hand towel, or other heat-safe surface.^{[2]
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Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}

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Wipe the flat iron down with a damp microfiber cloth. Hold your hand about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the flat iron to make sure it has cooled off enough to touch safely. Then, Tran says to dampen a soft, lint-free cloth with warm water. Wipe down the flat iron’s plates, as well as its exterior.^{[3]
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Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
- Note: Double-check that your flat iron is off and unplugged from the outlet before cleaning it to protect yourself from any potential electrical shocks.
Gently wipe down the surface and plates of the flat iron with a dry microfiber cloth. Then, leave your flat iron to cool down completely before storing it away.^{[4]
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Clean your flat iron with a flat iron cleaner as an alternative to water. Some flat iron manufacturers make their own cleaning solutions specifically for hairstyling tools. To use most cleaners, you simply wet a cotton ball or microfiber cloth with the solution and wipe down the flat iron’s plates.
- Make sure your flat iron is off, unplugged, and cool enough to touch before cleaning it.

Section 2 of 6:

Removing Stubborn Residue with Rubbing Alcohol

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Unplug your flat iron and ensure it is cool to the touch. If you were just using your flat iron, turn it off and unplug it from the outlet. Then, allow it to cool off for at least 5 minutes so it’s cool enough to touch.^{[5]
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- If you’re cleaning your flat iron before using it, let it heat up at the lowest setting. Then, unplug it and let it cool down. Heating it first helps loosen stuck-on residue.
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Wipe down the iron with rubbing alcohol and a cotton ball. Wet a cotton ball or microfiber cloth with rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. Then, Tran says to wipe down the flat iron’s plates.^{[6]
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Expert Source

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Interview. 19 May 2020.}
- It might take a few applications to get rid of all of the residue and gunk.
- Use a cotton swab to clean nooks and crannies and any hard-to-reach spots.
- Wipe the outside of the flat iron if it has any stuck-on residue, too.
Dampen a clean microfiber cloth with water and run it over the flat iron to remove the alcohol residue and any leftover grime. Then, wipe the iron with a dry cloth and store it.^{[7]
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Section 3 of 6:

Removing Buildup on a Flat Iron with Baking Soda

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Turn off and unplug your flat iron, waiting until it’s cool to the touch. Shut off your flat iron and unplug it from the wall. Then, let it cool for about 5 minutes so it’s warm, but cool enough to touch.^{[8]
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- Warming up your flat iron helps loosen up product residue and oils on the plates. Just make sure your iron is off, unplugged, and cool enough to touch before cleaning.
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Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a paste. Pour ¼ cup (68 g) of baking soda into a bowl. Then, add a squirt of hydrogen peroxide and combine the ingredients until the mixture forms a paste.^{[9]
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- Baking soda is a mild abrasive that helps dissolve oils and dirt.^{[10]
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Use your fingers to rub the baking soda paste onto the flat iron. Then, leave the paste to work its magic and dissolve the residue for at least 10 minutes.^{[12]
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Rub the paste into the grime with a microfiber cloth. Gently scrub the flat iron’s plates with the paste using a soft, lint-free cloth. Just keep working the paste into the plates until the hair product residue and grime start to lift off.^{[13]
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- Do not use anything more abrasive than a soft toothbrush to scrub the flat iron. Coarse sponges and other harsh cleaning materials can damage the iron.
Moisten a clean microfiber cloth with water and remove all of the paste and residue on the flat iron. Then, wipe it with a dry cloth.^{[14]
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Section 4 of 6:

How Often to Clean Your Flat Iron

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Clean your flat iron weekly or monthly, depending on your usage. If you regularly use your flat iron, clean it about once per week to remove product residue and oils. If you use your flat iron infrequently, clean it about once per month or whenever you notice buildup.^{[15]
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- Clean your flat iron whenever you notice it’s not working as well as it usually does, too.

Section 5 of 6:

Why Cleaning Your Flat Iron is Important

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Hair product residue, oils, and other debris can cause your flat iron to heat inconsistently so it doesn’t straighten your hair as well. Product buildup can also make it harder for your iron to heat up and damage its plates, which reduces its lifespan.^{[16]
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Cleaning protects your hair from damage. Hair product buildup and grime can catch in your hair as you use your flat iron, which can lead to breakage, split ends, and frizziness. If your flat iron isn’t working as well, you might go over your hair multiple times, which can cause heat damage.^{[17]
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- Always apply a heat protectant spray onto your hair before straightening it or using other hot tools. This helps reduce heat damage.
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It prevents residue from transferring onto your hair. When you use a flat iron coated with product buildup and oils, the debris tends to stick to your hair. This can cause your hair to look limp, greasy, and dull.^{[18]
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- After using a flat iron, your hair should look shiny, healthy, and smooth.

Section 6 of 6:

Maintaining Your Flat Iron

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Store your flat iron in a cool, dry place. After using your flat iron, turn it off, unplug it, and let it cool all the way down. Then, wrap up the cord and keep the iron in a spot that stays cool and isn’t exposed to moisture and other products, like a drawer or cabinet.^{[19]
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- Alternatively, store your flat iron in a heat-resistant bag or pouch.
- Excess heat and moisture can damage your flat iron and limit its lifespan.
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Don’t clean your flat iron with harsh and abrasive products. Abrasive sponges and other cleaning tools can scratch your flat iron, causing it to work less effectively. Harsh chemicals like bleach can also erode and damage the iron’s plates.^{[20]
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- Stick to using soft materials, like microfiber cloths, and gentle solutions, like rubbing alcohol, when cleaning your flat iron.
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Use less hair products when straightening your hair. To keep your flat iron from getting coated with hair products and oils, limit how many you use before you straighten your hair. If possible, apply hair spray, styling creams, and other products once your hair is straight.
- Tip: Do apply a heat protectant spray on your hair before using your flat iron (and other hot tools). Heat can damage your hair and make it look dull, which the protectant helps minimize.
If the residue won’t come off your flat iron, no matter how hard you scrub, it’s likely time to get a new tool. Likewise, a flat iron that continues to smoke or smell after you clean it is a sign to replace it with a new one.

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How do I clean the gunk off my flat iron?

Jenny Tran
Professional Hair Stylist
Jenny Tran is a Hair Stylist and the Founder of JT Hair Lab by Jenny Tran based in the Dallas, Texas metro area. With over seven years of professional hair styling experience, Jenny specializes in hair coloring, haircutting, and hair extensions. JT Hair Lab is an authorized carrier of R+Co and of Milbon and is committed to using products with quality ingredients.

Jenny Tran

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

You should be able to clean off buildup with water and a cloth. For tougher buildup, you can use an alcohol-based cleaner.

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How do I clean a clothing iron?

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If you want to know how to clean a clothing iron and not a flat iron for hair, check out wikiHow's article on how to clean an iron.

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How do you clean curling irons?

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Take a cotton ball, put a pea size amount of rubbing alcohol, and clean the iron. When finished, wet a different cotton ball with water and then rinse with that.

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Tips

If your flat iron smells like it’s burning when it’s heating up or when you’re using it, it’s probably due for a cleaning.

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Warnings

Do not clean your flat iron when it is on, plugged in, and hot, as this can potentially lead to electrical shocks or burns.

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Keep the flat iron’s plug away from liquids and never immerse it in water.

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Never put alcohol on your flat iron when it is on or plugged in. This is unsafe because alcohol is flammable.

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Do not use abrasive chemical cleaners on your flat iron because they can damage the coating on the plates.

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Avoid aggressive scrubbing to prevent scratching the ceramic plates.

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