Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 12/25/2009
My son tried numerous times to iron, but would always let the clothes burn. Now the iron has black stuff on it. How can I get it off? Thanks.
By mynyrose from Los Angeles, CA
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RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Try cleaning the bottom with coarse sand, put into a large container like an aluminum turkey pan about 1 inch deep, turn the iron on the highest setting and "iron" the sand with good pressure. Do "not" lift the iron up on end, keep it flat as so no sand can get into the steam vents on the bottom. Afterward soak a hand towel in vinegar and wring out. Put protective covering on the iron board and on high heat once again iron until dry this will remove any left over build up, etc. Best of luck to you. (09/13/2009)
By Beau D
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Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 09/07/2009
How do I clean the bottom of a steam iron?
By tazlady47 from Jackson, MI
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RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I could be off the mark, but I would probably try baking soda. I know it'll take that nasty caramelized grease off my stove around the burners and it doesn't scratch the stove. Make sure the iron is really warm, dampen a cloth and keep dipping it in the soda and rubbing the iron until it comes clean. (07/01/2009)
By SusanLee
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
For years the method to clean the bottom of steam irons has been this: one large piece of waxed paper and salt.
Place the waxed paper on the ironing board, sprinkle a lot of salt on the waxed paper. Using the pre-heated steam iron setting, iron the salt that covers the waxed paper. Do this over and over until the bottom is cleaned. If necessary, use a second piece of waxed paper and salt, and repeat. Use a damp washcloth to remove any residue from the bottom of the iron. Have fun. (07/03/2009)
By Barb in Tennessee
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Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 07/01/2009
How can I get dried sticky stuff off the bottom of my iron?
By Lizmoe
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RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I just use an SOS pad on a cold iron, then wipe with a clean cloth. (04/28/2009)
By PICO
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Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 04/21/2009
How do I remove the brownish, icky build up from the bottom of my iron? It is getting on my clothing and in some fabrics. I have tried steel wool, vinegar, baking soda and elbow grease. Is it time to buy a new iron?
Peggy from Smithfield, UT
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RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
If you have some around, you can try ironing several fabric softener dryer sheets (with a towel under them) while your iron is fairly hot. But I still prefer the Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner for only $2.79 at Walmart. It never fails. It even removes melted-on plastic & interfacing. (06/22/2008)
By Cyinda
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
If I remember correctly, in the old days, we used to put salt on a piece of wax paper and with a warm iron go back and forth to remove the goop, clean out the holes and then pass the iron over a clean piece of wax paper. Really thrifty and the iron was smooth again. (06/22/2008)
By Angela39
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
The walmart product - faultless iron cleaner - works like a miracle. I tried everything and was ready to throw the iron away. When I read the post about it and tried it, I was amazed at how simple it is to use and how effective it is. Thanks to all of you who recommended it. (06/29/2008)
By fred
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Thanks so much for the suggestion. I must have worked for an hour trying to get the gunk off my iron after ironing wonder under with it. I will now try this hopefully magical substance from Faultless. (08/20/2008)
By Joyce
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I must be the only one who doesn't know how to use the Wal*Mart Faultless cleaner, because I have used 4 tubes so far and my iron is still dirty! Some miracle. I followed the directions and although it did get quite a bit of the gunk off it still isn't completely clean.
I'm contemplating whether to try a 5th tube but the fourth one didn't remove much. It's so close to getting completely clean it's quite frustrating. No one said it was going to take so many tubes. I'd like to scrub it with something but not sure what to use, I don't have steel wool. (10/12/2008)
By Irene
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
In the old days, we used to get a spray of cedar off the cedar tree out in the back yard and iron over it with a hot iron. It made the iron very slick. (01/10/2009)
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Thanks so much to all of you who bother to write their advice. I suppose it depends on what is the black stuff on the iron made of. I tried the nail varnish remover; it didn't work. But I had at home this "Bar Keepers friend" that someone had mentioned, and it did work. On a clean damp cloth, the product making a little paste, and rub, rub, rub. It all came off! Thanks for the idea. I wouldn't have thought of it. (01/19/2009)
By Mary
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I saw the Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner (the exact item pictured here) today at Bed, Bath & Beyond in Columbus, OH. I think it was $2.99. (02/01/2009)
By JimG
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Cleaning the iron with steel wool and wax paper worked so well! Thank you :) (02/22/2009)
By Wendy
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I tried the SOS a week or so ago and it was a bit of a pain because the soap got stuck in the holes, and then I needed to clean all the holes out. Plus the iron seems to get dirty real quick afterward.
Just tried the fabric softener suggestion. I laid 3-4 bounce fabric softener sheets on an old rag towel and ran the iron back and forth across the top of the bounce sheets. It worked best when I actually laid the towel on the edge of my granite counter top - I was able to apply more pressure that way. Be careful to keep your iron on medium because the fabric softener sheet will melt. This technique got almost every drop off. I had one small spot left and I turned the iron off, waited a minute but while still warm, rubbed one of those little green kitchen scratchy pads over the spot and it came right off.
I wish I had some wax paper or paraffin handy, because I think the key to keeping an iron clean is to make sure the bottom remains slick. (03/28/2009)
By jwillmot
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Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 06/22/2008
How do I clean the brown burnt on stuff on the plate of my steam iron?
Tracie from Los Angeles, CA
Answers:
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I use a little bit of Bon-Ami with a soft wet cloth. (02/27/2008)
By txcatlover
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
FAULTLESS HOT IRON CLEANER $2.79 at Walmart. I have a nice Black & Decker Iron I was lucky enough to find at a Thrift Store. I use it nearly every day when I sew & BOY, was I ever bummer out when I made the stupid mistake of ironing on the wrong side of iron-on interfacing. This stuff bonds to your iron just like hard Plastic & NOTHING will take it off! "What do I do?" I asked the fabric-gal at Walmart, & she told me to buy "Faultless Iron Cleaner" which is sold where the irons are sold (at Walmart) for only $2.79 for a pack of 2. This stuff worked MIRACLES & I only needed half a tube! I still have another tube & a half left!
The Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner made my iron glide better & smother than a brand-new iron! It's truly a wonderful product! (& at $2.79, the price isn't bad either!) Just follow the directions on the package.
To buy FAULTLESS IRON CLEANER online:
http://underbid.com/action/display/item/20640-1061872208/sku/439874.html (02/27/2008)
By Cyinda
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Wrap a block of paraffin in a piece of cotton cloth. Heat the iron just till it will melt the paraffin and "iron" the block. My mother always kept one of these on the end of her ironing board and so do I. Works like magic. (02/29/2008)
By Rita64
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
If it doesn't have Teflon coating on it, you can use stainless steel wool 000 on it. (03/01/2008)
By castleberrycc
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
I second the vote for Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner. It gets all the gunk off the plate. It won't clean the inside, but the outside will look like new. Just make sure you use an old towel or rag with it, because you won't be able to use the towel again. (03/03/2008)
By Lynn Beth
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
This forum is great. I bought a top-of-the-line Rowenta and now the sole plate has gunk on it. I am going to try the stuff from Walmart. Thanks from a straight guy who loves to iron. (05/16/2008)
By G. Coop
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Request: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 02/27/2008
How do get my brand new iron clean? It already has that gunky dark-brown build-up that makes it impossible to iron some nicer fabrics.
Kim from Crawford, CO
Answers:
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Fill your steam iron with white vinegar and heat to highest setting and let steam for 5 minutes then turn it off and let sit until cool. Pour the vinegar out and wipe bottom of iron off then turn it back on and iron over a wash cloth to make sure no sediment leaks out before using it.. (04/05/2007)
By patty114
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
A Mr. Clean sponge works miracles. I use them on almost everything and they are great! Just be careful on walls, they can take off dried paint. (04/09/2007)
By Teresa
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Using a cold iron, toothpaste with a soft cloth will remove really burned on residue in minutes. Doesn't scratch, and doesn't require much elbow grease. (09/04/2007)
By David
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Make a paste with water and baking soda, gently clean the sole plate. When it is gunk free rinse the residue away. Iron over a cloth before using on clothes. (10/01/2007)
By Becky
RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Thanks for the tip. The steel wool did a great job and didn't scratch my iron. It looks brand new! (01/15/2008)
By Trisha
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Tip: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Archived on 04/04/2007
To clean the bottom of an iron, use A dry or damp (non soap) SOS or steel wool pad. Scrub the bottom until it is clean. Use toothpicks to clean the holes. After you are done cleaning, turn your iron on low (no steam) & run it over a piece of waxed paper. You will have a very smooth iron with no sticking. I have done this for all of my 30 yrs as a seamstress. It has never failed me. Please let me know how it works for you.
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RE: Cleaning Your Steam Iron
Your tip on cleaning the iron worked perfectly. Thank you very much. (08/07/2006)
By Steve
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