Curling irons are extremely popular styling tools that allow you to add beautiful waves, curls, flips, and bounces to your hair. However, like all heat styling tools, a curling iron require proper maintenance and cleaning to keep them performing at their best. Neglecting to clean your iron on a regular basis can lead to a buildup of hair products, oils, and minerals that can damage the barrel’s surface.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover the best practices for keeping your curling iron clean as well as common cleaning mistakes to avoid. Following proper curling iron hygiene and maintenance will extend its lifespan so you can create gorgeous styles for years to come.
Why Proper Cleaning is Essential
Cleaning your curling iron after each use is extremely important for a few key reasons:
- Prevents Product Buildup: Allowing things like hairspray, mousse, gels, and serums to accumulate on the barrel and handle can make the iron much harder to clean over time. Getting in the habit of quick post-styling wipe-downs prevents thick buildup.
- Reduces Damage to the Barrel: Built-up residue from your hair products and natural oils can start to break down the curling iron’s surface over time, damaging the smooth finish and performance.
- Maintains High Temperatures: Dirt, debris, and stuck-on products can act as a barrier that blocks the barrel from conducting heat properly. Keeping the surface clean maintains consistently high temperatures.
- Extends Lifespan: The intense heat of curling irons makes them more likely to wear down over time. However, a clean styling tool will last much longer than a dirty, damaged one. Regular cleaning keeps it working like new.
- Prevents Hair Damage: Product residue baked onto a hot curling barrel can burn and potentially damage hair on contact. Keeping it clean protects hair integrity.
- Eliminates Bacteria and Germs: Damp, stuck-on dirt and oils provide the perfect home for bacteria and germs to grow. Regular cleaning inhibits bacterial growth for better hygiene.
- Maintains Performance: Over time, mineral deposits from water and product buildup can corrode and degrade the barrel’s smooth surface, impacting how smoothly it can curl hair. Proper cleaning prevents deposits.
- Provides Better Styles: When your hot tool works like it’s fresh out of the box, you’ll get better, longer-lasting curls, waves and flips. Clean curling equals great hair!
In short, keeping your curling iron debris-free through regular cleaning makes styling easier and leads to better performance and longevity. It also plays a key role in protecting the integrity of both the hot tool AND your hair!
Cleaning Materials to Have On Hand
Cleaning your curling iron does not require complicated solutions or expensive products – usually just a few simple household items will do the trick! Here are the best materials to keep on hand for the task:
70% Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is gentle yet extremely effective at dissolving and cutting through dirt, sticky product residue, oil buildup, and debris on the barrel and handle without damaging the curling iron surface when used correctly. Anywhere from 70% to 99% isopropyl alcohol works well.
Why it Works: The alcohol breaks down residue so it can be wiped clean very quickly. It also helps blast away any lingering bacteria.
Soft Clean Cloths
Have plenty of soft, clean cloths or cotton pads/balls on hand to wipe both the barrel and handle down after applying your cleaning solutions. Microfiber cloths, soft facial cloths, and cotton rounds all get the job done nicely without leaving lint behind.
Why They Work: The soft fabrics allow you to gently remove any grime and buildup without damaging the finish by scrubbing too aggressively. The proper pressure and gentleness keep the barrel surface intact.
Distilled White Vinegar
Though it has a very strong scent, distilled white vinegar is an all-natural cleaning agent that breaks down residue, removes water spots, and disinfects without harsh chemicals. Create a 50/50 dilution with water for best results.
Why it Works: The acidic compounds in vinegar help dissolve mineral deposits and debris to cut through dingy buildup on the metal surface. Use this to tackle tougher cleaning jobs.
Baking Soda
Baking soda works similarly to vinegar at breaking down built-up grime and residue but with less odor involved! Mix baking soda with just enough water to form a thick paste, apply to dirty spots, let sit briefly, then wipe clean.
Why it Works: The chemical composition of baking soda makes it a mildly abrasive cleaner that lifts debris and buildup without damaging smooth finishes since it dissolves as it works.
Bottle Brush
Using a slim bottle brush with firm but gentle plastic bristles allows you to thoroughly clean the inner barrel and ridges of the curling iron where hair products, dirt, and oils tend to accumulate heavily.
Why it Works: The skinny design fits down into the barrel so you can scrub every crevice out easily after applying your cleaning solutions. The bristles also collect and remove debris.
When to Clean Your Curling Iron
Cleaning your curling iron after every single use is truly ideal to prevent any sort of sticky buildup. But practicing a full, intensive cleaning session at least once a week is a good rule of thumb if daily wipe downs don’t quite fit into your routine!
Here are common cues that indicate it’s definitely time to give your hot tool a thorough cleaning:
- Smoke or burning odor during use from residue burning inside barrel
- Visible dirt, grime, or product accumulation on barrel or handle
- Barrel seems to struggle getting up to its highest temp settings
- Curling iron is leaving residue, chemicals or minerals on your hair
- Last full cleaning was over 7 days ago
- Curling iron is brand new out of the box
New curling irons in particular will often come coated in machine oils and debris from the manufacturing process and packaging materials. Always give them an initial deep clean before using them on hair!
Step-By-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Curling Iron
Ready to get that dirty curling iron sparkling clean? Here is a foolproof step-by-step guide:
Supplies Needed
- 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda
- Soft clean cloths/cotton pads
- Slim bottle brush
- Bowl of water
- Towel
Step 1: Unplug and Fully Cool Down
Before beginning any kind of cleaning routine, make sure your curling iron is unplugged from any power source and has had adequate time to cool completely. Attempting to clean around extremely high temperatures risks harmful burns. Cool-touch irons can take 10+ minutes to fully cool.
Step 2: Wipe Away Surface Residue
Use a soft, clean cloth or thick cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol (or your vinegar/water solution) to gently wipe away any oils, products, dirt or debris from the FULL surface of the barrel and tong. Apply more solution as needed and wipe thoroughly but gently until visually clean.
Pay special attention to the crease between the clamp and barrel as debris loves to hide there! Let your initial cleaning solution sit for 2-3 minutes if buildup is especially thick to help loosen it before wiping.
Step 3: Deep Clean Barrel Interior
Next, use your slim bottle brush dipped in alcohol, vinegar solution, OR baking soda paste to gently scrub the interior of the barrel, rotating to access every angle. Pay extra attention to any inner ridges.
Scrubbing with gentle friction helps bring up deeper grime. Remove any debris on the brush bristles under running water as needed. Thoroughly wipe barrel clean after scrubbing.
Step 4: Spot Treat Stubborn Areas
If any visible dirt or staining remains for an especially dirty iron, create a baking soda paste, apply directly to the spots, allow to sit for 3-5 minutes then scrub clean with brush. The paste will bubble and dissolve residue upon contact!
Vinegar solution also helps eat away stubborn spots. Use as many rounds of scrubbing/spot cleaning as needed then wipe surface completely clean.
Step 5: Clean Entire Base
Don’t forget to use your cloth + cleaning solutions to wipe grime away from the base, handle ridges, controls, hinge and end cap as well! Rubbing alcohol easily cleans and disinfects the entire base.
Twist and rotate the iron to access every crevice around the handle and hinge, removing any signs of dirt, dust, fingerprints, hair spray or water spots for a total refresh.
Step 6: Dry Thoroughly Before Use
It’s imperative no moisture remains on any part of the electrical curling iron after cleaning, as this can damage the internal components over time. Make sure to thoroughly wipe dry or allow your iron to air dry fully before plugging back in for use or storage. Aim a blow dryer on cool setting to speed things up!
And that’s it – with just a few household items and 20 minutes, you can keep your curling iron looking and performing like new through regular deep cleanings!
What NOT To Do When Cleaning Your Curling Iron
Just as there are effective cleaning methods for curling iron maintenance, there are also some major no-no’s that should be avoided! Here are the biggest mistakes people make when trying to clean their hot tools:
1. Submerging Entire Iron in Water
It’s tempting to let your curling iron soak in soapy water or even fully immerse it to loosen up stuck-on gunk. However, getting ANY moisture in the inner electrical components can lead to lifelong damage or total failure.
At most, only submerge the very tips of the barrel in water/cleaner if needed while keeping the base and handle moisture-free. Thorough wipe downs are much safer cleaning methods.
2. Using Harsh Chemicals and Abrasives
It may seem like that heavy duty solvent or magic eraser will scrub your iron clean in seconds, but the harsh chemicals and abrasive compositions can permanently damage the protective barrel coating and finish!
Stick to gentle cleaners like alcohol and vinegar instead of acetone, gasoline, oven cleaners and other aggressive formulas. And NEVER use abrasive sponges or scouring pads during the cleaning process.
3. Cleaning While Still Hot
Waiting for your 400°F+ styling tool to fully cool before wiping down makes the process much more comfortable and prevents accidental burns, but many people try cleaning curling irons soon after unplugging.
This can still lead to injuries from residual heat as well as potential electrical shorts or sparks if any cleaning liquids seep down the barrel as metal expands during heating and contraction during cooling. Let cool completely!
4. Forgetting About Hidden Debris Catch Cups
Many irons feature tiny slide out catch cups along the barrel designed to conveniently catch hair ties, bobby pins and other debris that falls out during styling. However, most users completely neglect these handy compartments when cleaning!
Remember to slide these small cups out, dump any compacted hair and debris hiding within, wipe clean then replace. Neglected cups can lead to rancid smells or even lost performance over time.
5. Ignoring Handle and Hinge Gunk
Focusing cleaning efforts solely around the hot barrel means missing a lot of accumulated hand oils, makeup, lotions, hair products and general dirt that builds up elsewhere on the base over weeks of use.
Don’t forget to wipe down the entire handle ridge by ridge, around each button and plate, along crevices and even on the hinge where rotations concentrate debris. Rubbing alcohol leaves hard-to-reach areas bacteria-free.
Read More: The Do’s and Don’ts of Curling Iron Hair Care
Best Cleaning Practices for Long-Term Use
Once you get into the habit of regular curling iron cleaning sessions, your hot tool maintenance becomes second nature! Follow these expert tips for keeping any iron working perfectly for years:
- Allow curling irons to fully cool before storing to prevent trapped moisture from damaging barrel
- Always store irons in a clean, dry location rather than damp bathrooms or cluttered drawers
- Replace protective heat sleeves after cleaning iron for storage to prevent scratches
- Gently wipe down the barrel and tong ridges after each use with a cotton pad to prevent buildup
- Use rubbing alcohol on flat iron plates after each use to eliminate oil and debris
- Fully clean iron from barrel to handle once a week depending on your styling frequency
- Replace the actual unit once corrosion, rust or permanent damage occurs for safety
The small effort of regular wiping and cleaning pays off enormously in the long run with better curl and protection against deterioration!
Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Curling Iron
No cleaning routine lasts forever though, and even well-maintained curling irons eventually wear out internally and externally over years of frequent high heat exposure and expansions/contractions during each heat up and cool down.
Here are key signs that indicate it’s safer and smarter to invest in a brand new quality iron:
- Frayed, damaged or cracking power cord – fire/shock risk!
- Visible rust or corrosion on the barrel, crevices or handle
- Changes in maximum temperature capacity and performance
- Permanent scratches, pits, bubbles, melting damage on barrel
- No longer heats up when turned on despite cleaning
- Starts smoking or smelling burnt despite cleaning
- Has remained unused/stored for over 5 years
- Has internal damage from being dropped or immersed in water
While it can be hard to retire an old faithful hot tool, using damaged curling irons is extremely unsafe and risks further equipment failures, fires, skin burns and even electrical shocks. Pay attention for any of the above red flags!
Maintaining Curling Iron Safety
Speaking of safety, maintaining awareness of basic precautions goes hand-in-hand with proper curling iron hygiene:
- Never touch super hot surfaces even for a split second to avoid serious burns
- Ensure hands are completely dry before plugging appliance in or operating
- Avoid using heating tools near water-filled sinks and tubs
- Keep hot appliances far away from flammable materials like curtains or towels
- Place on an incombustible, stable surface when in use
- Follow manufacturer instructions for safe operation
- Unplug completely if iron falls into water to avoid shock and damage
- Store appliances in a safe location until completely cooled down
- Don’t leave powered irons unattended or within reach of kids/pets!
Staying mindful and educated on safety, cleaning, precautions and maintenance keeps your hair game strong and prevents painful accidents!
Curling Iron Cleanliness Equals Healthy, Fabulous Hair!
Putting some focus on keeping your curling iron debris-free benefits so much more than just having a shiny styler – it directly impacts the health, shine and longevity of your hair too. Think about it:
- Clean irons prevent hair damage from compounds burning onto hot plates over time
- They maintain the precise temperatures needed to get bouncy curls just right
- They eliminate the spreading of bacteria onto hands and hair
- They stop product, oil and mineral transfer that makes hair limp or dirty
- They lead to smooth glide and consistent curls without pulling or breaking hair
- They allow maximized style hold by keeping barrel grip intact
See how it all comes together? Take care of that hot tool and enjoy fabulous, healthy hair for years to come! Ready to get cleaning?