Oh dear, I'm afraid I started something!! I thought I was responding to the original poster's questions about the iron parts, meaning not the cabinet and not the machine, but the treadling . My mistake! Sorry! I wouldn't use soap and water on a black machine either!!!! I hesitated to use it on the iron, but, I really didn't soak it (just wet the rag and squeezed it out pretty good) and got it dry fast. The iron base is still in good shape from the stove polish. No rust at all. Sorry again