Originally Posted by
Peckish
Try this: empty all water, fill with vinegar and let it sit for a couple of days. Empty the vinegar, fill with water and turn on. When it's hot, set it to steam and hold it vertical over the sink. Let it actively steam for a few minutes. Dump the rest out and you should be good to go. If the build-up is really bad, you might soak it longer, or repeat the process. You can also try heating the vinegar in the iron, steam it out, then rinse with water.
Now why didn't I think of that before I got rid of it?! I've cleaned coffee makers out with vinegar, I don't know why it didn't occur to me that it would work with the iron too.
Oh, well...too late now. But I will file that tip away for future use! Though I finally started emptying the water out when I'm done, or just use a spray bottle of water.