Cleaning your Iron
 

I would like to know how some of you Ladies clean your Iron ? Mine gets the fusible webbing on it and its not easy to remove from my Iron. I Have tried a few ideas off the web but none of them get it really clean.

The one I've heard is to use a fabric softener sheet and rub it on your hot iron. I think I'd have to use a few or I'd get burned but maybe use a potholder or wad of batting. I've used this method for general iron cleaning but I don't use fusible webbing much so don't know how it will work for that. Good luck.

you can buy a few different products that work good on cleaning your iron. Look at a fabric store.

I've used commercial iron cleaners with great success. Iron Off maybe, sorry don't remember brand. Essentially, get dry iron very hot, spread cleaning goo on a rag and run hot iron over it repeatedly till stuff comes off. Can't say I've ever had fusible stuff stuck on but have had some kinda crud in the past that this stuff worked well. Good luck.

I use a thin old kitchen towel over the applique when I press anything that I used fusible web on, so I've never had to clean my iron. I have read about the dryer sheets.

On another thread like this just a few weeks ago someone mentioned using a Magic Eraser--Mr Clean---. I had the same problem with little bits of fusible on my iron (even with using a teflon applique mat!). Just happened to have a brand new Magic Eraser.....and it worked!!! VERY well!!!
I also have some 'paste' for cleaning an iron (very hot iron, put paste on old towel and run iron back and forth til clean) but the Eraser is soooo much easier and less 'involved'!!!!

I have used the eraser and hope it was the same as people's mentioned. It did go down very quickly .i then heard about fabric softener sheets and tried them iron was clean but watch fingers or they end up cooked.

Here is the link for cleaning with the magic eraser. The eraser can be used several times.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qeY9nydiILM

Grandmahoney - you can get a "pressing sheet" (JoAnn's carries them - made by Fons&Porter). Once your iron is clean, you can use it to keep the adhesive stuff off your iron.

Yep, Magic Eraser for me!

Long time ago I read about salt to clean iron. Dump a spoonful of salt on a paper grocery bag. Rub HOT iron over the salt until the goo comes off. Then I turn off the clean iron and while it is still hot/warm rub it over a piece of waxed paper. Ancient remedies, but they work.

dryer sheet. Takes it right off. Put your iron on a little bit more than luke warm. Iron across the dryer sheet, and the goop will come right off.

Hadn't seen the magic eraser before, but definitely will pick some of those up!

This is how my mom used to clean her iron. I tried it for some sticky glue and it didn't work for me.

I use 'IRON CLEAN' by Bo-Nash. Their website is: www.bonash.com. Hope this helps. It's wonderful!!

I have used Goo B Gone to take off the sticky stuff. It works with a little elbow grease and I was impressed that it left no sticky residue at all. My iron was warm when I did this, but I think it would work on a cool iron. After everything was off, I cleaned the iron plate with warm water and a paper towel. And I ironed on some scrap fabric just in case. Nothing showed up on the fabric after the ironing. Oh, I did try the old salt on a paperbag trick. Didn't work. Just glued salt to the sticky stuff on the iron! LOL! But the Goo B Gone took that off too!

I read your question just in time. I got some sticky interfacing on my iron yesterday and used a fabric softener sheet and it worked great!

I get so many great ideas from this board. Thanks to everyone for asking questions and to those that post answers.

Connie

If I get starch buildup, I just iron an old wet towel until it's shiny. Quick and easy.

Anything tougher, I use the commercial iron cleaners (don't know exact name). The toothpaste stuff you place on an old towel and iron.

Use a pressing sheet when ironing anything that MAY melt if touched by an iron.

Nan

I use the Hot Iron cleaner you buy at Jo'Ann's . It in a tube found on the notions wall. I used the salt , the dryer sheets and nothing seemed to work till I used the Hot Iron cleaner.

LOVE Magic Eraser! Made cleaning my gunky iron a piece of cake.

I use the used fabric softener sheets. I wait until the iron isn't hot, just warm, so the fusible is still sticky. I fold the fabric softener sheet around a piece of batting to protect my fingers and scrub the sole plate, then I lay a clean used sheet on my ironing board and run the iron back and forth over it. It has worked every time for me.