I was ironing fusible webbing onto faux suade. I don't know what caused the gunk--but my brand new smooth as silk iron has black stuff on the bottom--esp at the point. What happened? How do I get it off? A damp paper towel isn't working. :|

My best guess is you got some of the fusible on it. There is some iron cleaner you can get (don't remember the name of it) especially for this, or when it is cool use Goo-Gone, then clean really well to take the oily residue off.

I was told Magic Eraser will take it off. Doesn't matter if iron is hot or cold.

Be sure to let us know what you used!

I was thinking the same thing!

Rub your hot (no steam) iron on a few used dryer sheets, it should come off.

Cut open a brown paper grocery bag and lay it inside out on your ironing board, turn the iron to hot, no steam, when it gets hot iron the bag until the iron is clean. 8-)

Might it be HOT Iron Cleaner made by Faultless?
My mom owns a laundry business and she buys this stuff by the case. lol

Someone on another thread suggested rubbing alcohol. Worked like a charm for me.

Oh boy--I can't wait to try some of these ideas. I was just delighted with how smooth it went over fabric... and now this! Bah!

I have a feeling the faux suede may have started melting. I use the brown bag, no steam, and sprinkle salt on it as a gentle abrasive.

Should the faux suede have a lower setting? Actually I was ironing the paper rather than the fabric. BUT that's not to say I didn't touch it.

If I made a list of everything that could have gone wrong with this project, I'd doing well to have hit every one of them. And I'm not done yet. :shock: :|

I do this too,if it's not to bad I use a dryer sheet. Makes your ironing board smell good too.

I've always used a little salt sprinkled on a piece of waxed paper (much like the inside of a brown paper
bag :-)>> !)

I buy "Iron Off" by Dritz at my Joann's store and it works well, however do it outside or it will set off your smoke alarm. Ask me how I know LOL

What do you use to clean off starch build up on your iron?

It WORKED!! My new sleek iron is BACK!! I found a short paper bag and cut it open--ran the hot iron on that and most of the black stuff came off. There was some other clear stuff on there that didn't, so I added the salt. That worked every better, but there was still a little sticky place, so I ironed a dryer sheet and WOW!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-D :-D :-D :-D

Isn't it great when our advice works. Love this board.

I also used the salt on the hot iron when one of my students placed the fusible web fusible side up and ironed.

I just did the same exact thing!! Except I even went a step further, I got fusible stuck all over my ironing board cover. Purchased Iron-Off for iron worked really well. Tired of old ironing board cover any way bought a new one with quilting rulers on it. Found out it doesn't pay to do something with a head cold. Brains just don't work well.

I keep a Magic Eraser by my iron and when I need to clean something off the bottom of the iron, I just dampen the eraser and run the iron over it until the gunk is gone.

You know you can use Stainless Steel Pot and Pan cleaner if the bottom is stainless. :thumbup:

I use the wadding polish for stainless steel all depends on what type of bottom is on your iron though . I feel your pain took hubby and i probably a good two hours to get it all off in the little holes and all but than I am very picky about it gg go figure. Good luck

i always take mine off with a dryer sheet (dont use steam) just a dry hot iron them before you use it to iron anything iron a scrap piece of material to make sure all the oil is off the iron from the dryer sheet

I heard about the used dryer sheets, also. Worked like a charm!

Hi. I'm new to the msg board (and to quilting)but thanks to all for the great ways to get the gunk off an iron. My iron is so bad, I may just have to try all of these suggestions. Thanks

would never have thought of using a dryer sheet. My new iron has a nothing will stick to it plate and when I got the goo from fusible on it, I just rubbed it with a dry washcloth and it worked like a champ.

Use a dryer sheet. Iron should be on cotton and just keep ironing over the dryer sheet.

And the dryer sheet really does make everything smell wonderful!

i had that once i dont rember what i used to clean it but now i put a plain white piece of paper over what i am fusing then the mess is on the paprer not my iron typing paper workes good
good luck

You might want to check the grid on the ironing board cover for accuracy before you rely on it. I bought a June Tailor Cushioned Quilter's Square 'n Blocker because it has the grid on it and I thought it would be great for blocking. The grid is off by a lot, so it's worse than useless. Come to think of it, I haven't been impressed by any June Tailor products.

I used a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and it worked pretty well. Went to the fabric store today, though, and bought iron cleaner. Stocked up a bit, too!

I use a paper grocery bag. It works great!

goo gone works well.

brown paper bag w\salt hot iron just run the iron over the salt it will come off. my mother thought me this many years ago