How To Effectively Clean and Sanitize Curling Irons

These sanitizing tips from Sam Villa will help ensure your tools look as good as new.
These sanitizing tips from Sam Villa will help ensure your tools look as good as new.
Dreamstime

Curling irons will last a long time if cared for properly.

Sam Villa, cofounder/chief creative officer of Sam Villa and global artistic ambassador for Redken, shares a DIY recipe for how to clean and sanitize curling irons properly.

“When you see your iron start to turn yellow or get spots, it’s time to clean it. Gels, sprays and heat-protectant residue can build up quickly. Stylists have to clean tools after ever use in the salon, but when at home, you can do a weekly cleaning if using the iron on a daily basis,” says Villa.

Daily (Stylists):

  • Mix warm water and dish soap in a tub.
  • Dip cloth into mixture and wipe down the entire iron from handle to tip; make sure iron is cool.
  • Detach the tong if it is removable. 
  • Dry with a cloth.

Weekly (Stylists and Consumers):

  • Mix warm water and dish soap in a tub.
  • Dip cloth into mixture and wipe down the entire iron from handle to tip; make sure iron is cool.
  • Detach the tong if it is removable. 
  • Add baking soda and toothpaste to the soap and water to thicken and add scrubbing power.
  • Apply the mixture to the barrel and tong with a brush and leave on for at least 15 minutes (can also sit overnight).
  • Wipe clean with a cloth.

Spot Cleaning:

  • Use a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol to wipe clean and sanitize.
  • Apply baking soda and more alcohol to the pad and scrub stubborn spots. The scouring power is strong enough to remove most burned-on stains, yet gentle enough not to damage the surface. A gentle sponge can also be used for more abrasive scrubbing.



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