I was told by a Quilt pattern designer that to remove residue on irons, put table salt on brown paper bag or sheet of paper and rub warm iron over it...it worked for me...do the same dumb thing over and over...but can clean it up so far...memepeggy

I have found that dryer softner sheets do the trick. Had the same thing happen to me, mention to lady at LQS and it was her suggestion. Came home, tried it and saved me from buying a new iron. Scrunch one up and rub on sole plate of iron. Good luck!

Glad you got it all cleaned off! I bookmarked this page as I am sure I will need it for future reference!
Where are you located in Montana? I am in Worden, about 20 miles east of Billings!

Hi I happen to do that a lot. What has worked for me has been a dryer sheet. Keep running the iron over it and it disappears. nanamoe

I keep a dryer sheet and a paper towel next to my iron. run your iron over the dryer sheet and clean it off on the dry paper towel. Works for any and all gunk.

Mr. Clean magic erasers works really well. wet the eraser and heat your iron. it rubs right off. be careful of the heat though or you will burn your fingers.

try vinegar

I spelled that wrong, vinegar on a cold iron. It gets most of it off.

I've done the same thing. Joann's has a hot iron cleaner - can't remember what it's called but it works great.

I have done this before, take a dryer sheet (new) and heat the iron and iron the dryer sheet. Should clean that kunk right off.

I love this stuff.

Great tips, hope I don't ever need them. I use dryer sheets every once a while to clean the iron bottom. I've also used the brown bag and salt. I've never heard of using the Mr Clean pads, I would have been afraid the iron would stick to the pad. Guess I'd better book mark this thread.

I've had good luck using a fabric softener sheet or two. Just iron it works for me.

You can also get iron cleaner at WalMart. I am guilty also!

The Mr. Clean magic erasers work wonders and you can have your iron hot or cold. Hot works better I think. Hope this helps!

I turn the iron up a little and then scrunch up waxed paper and run the iron over it,keep turning and scrunching up paper. sometimes it takes quite a bit of paper but it has worked for me.

I have done the same thing. Iron a couple of Bounce/Downey dryer sheets and it will clean the bottom of the iron. It won't hurt your iron and it does work.

I always use wax paper to clean my iron..

The stuff called Iron off works great!

i clean mine with the old dryer sheets works great

Quilting cousin, what is the beautiful quilt in your avatar.

I have a couple of cheap terry cloth towels I cut up into small squares. I put a dab of Soft Scrub on the cloth and wipe the warm iron over the towel in several directions. Then wipe the iron with a damp towel. Worked great for me. I had to find a way cuz I got a little tired of forgetting to use the fabric sheet too.

Warm iron over salt and a brown paper bag. I had been moving some things and my iron got set face down on the plastic extension of my sewing machine. The light, my machine and the iron are all plugged into a power strip with a flip switch and it accidentally got turned on and it melted the extension to my iron. Salt and a brown paper bag took all the melted plastic and gunk off just like a dream.

I do too.
Also to clean your iron's plate, use an old fabric softener sheet. If it is NO T teflon, pour some salt on the sheet and run the iron over it a few times. I've used that and it worked like a charm for me. Don't use salt if you have a teflon plate. It will scratch it.

I was watching Fons and Porter, they said use rubbing alcohol on a cold iron.

I have not tried this myself but I have heard a brown paper bag covered in salt, use a warm iron and run it through the salt on a dry setting. The salt breaks down the gunk and removes it while it polishes the sole plate.

I also use the Dritz Iron off. I bought a tube many years ago and it still works just fine.

Be sure to close the door between you and the smoke detector!

I've used the paper bag and iron but I put salt on the bag. It doesn't disolve and it helps get the gunk off.

You guys made my horrible day. First I had to work (retired but help out when needed) and didn't get to play. Second, took a cold and feel bad...came in, ate, and ran to the Board. I did this and it really made me laugh.....THANKS, I NEEDED THAT!

I did exactly the same thing not too long ago. The Magic Eraser worked great. Took off every bit of gunk, and left it like new!

This is what I do. But not too hot, kinda singed a used sheet last week. Oopsie! LOL and burns your fingers if not careful.. don't ask how I know. I am kind of a clutz sometimes.

Iron Off and use the entire tube along with old toweling or paper towels, brown paper sacks. Follow the directions on the tube. The iron ALMOST came clean. Then if that doesn't work, I used salt [lots of it!!] and the towels, etc. That cleaned up the rest.

so glad it worked will have to put that tip on the shelf for future reference.

I use a hot iron and iron over dryer sheets (used). Be sure to put something under the dryer sheets tho because it will leave a residue on your ironing board.

A rag with Eucalyptus oil, works for most sticky problems but can affect some plastics.

I did that the other day to.I took one of my dryer sheets and rubed it on the sticky stuff on my iron and it came off really easy.I did it with my iron still hot.I used a wet paper towel after to make sure there was nothing left on the iron.

Dryer sheets do work but you can use steel wool to rub the bottom I have done that many times LOL

sorry i cannot help, one of the first things i bought when i started machine applique was the teflon sheet for the iron.....i dont ever iron with it.........i am sooooo glad you got it off with the warm iron and cloth....i will remember that just in case in a hurry, i do not use the sheet.....no,. bad gina, bad.........

I done that once. I warmed the iron and used a wet sos pad. Of course I unplugged the iron first. The sos pad didn't seem to hurt the sole plate of the iron and it got the gunk off. Just be mindful that the sos pad will get very warm. Good luck