There's a couple of ways you can clean your flat iron. First, make sure it's unplugged. Per Insider, the first step is to put rubbing alcohol on a soft material like a microfiber cloth. Remember, you don't want to scratch up your flat iron or cause any damage. Simply rub the plates and then allow them to dry.
Likewise, per celebrity stylist Daven Mayeda (via Byrdie), you can heat your iron on the lowest setting first before unplugging it. Be careful when gently rubbing the plates with "a soft towel, cotton rounds dipped in water, or cotton rounds dipped in rubbing alcohol for a deeper clean" — you don't want to burn yourself! Just rub off the buildup, and voila! That's how to clean your flat iron.
Unlike makeup brushes which should be cleaned after each use, you don't have to clean your straightener as often. Once a month or every two months is usually sufficient. However, if you're using a lot of heat protectant (and you flat iron often), it is best to clean it after every use, Byrdie added.
The point is: you want to ensure your hair iron works effectively. And, that means treating it properly. After all, the process takes only a few minutes, and you don't want to apply a dirty tool to clean hair, do you?
