BellaBoo

It is annoying to keep the pieces from sticking to the iron. I'll use this tip a lot. My mother used old bread wrappers to have her iron glide over clothes. They use to be coated in wax. Just iron the wax paper. The wax isn't a problem on the iron or fabric. And the cereal box bags were very thick wax paper. We saved the cereal bags to make the playground slide slick and we would zip down it fast as lightening! My kids thought wax paper was for slides. LOL. I need to slide again for fun, if there is big slide left in the playgrounds today.

oksewglad

As I understand it-when the wax is heated it evaporates into water vapor, CO2 and CO, much like when a candle burns. PS--I did a google search.
Like the parchment idea though, QE

QuiltE

And here I thought you were a science major!!!
Thanks! ....... though now you'll have some fearing CO poisoning!

One thing I like about the parchment ... it stays solid and doesn't disintegrate as I work with it.
And if you fear your iron is a little dirty ... it keeps the fabric clean
(lessons learned with that signature yellow PC backgrounder! )

Helen S

I used to watch my mother and grandmother run their irons over waxed paper every time they began a project, or just to do normal ironing. It works well, cleans the stainless steel iron surface easily and effectively! I have never had any issues with using waxed paper on my own iron, and in fact, run for it every time I have a sticky iron. If you put it down first, then put your fabric on top of it, the starch won't build up on your ironing board cover either.

BellaBoo

I got a great tip from a poster here, iron two pieces of parchment paper together and you have a great pressing sheet. I liked it so much I made one for each quilt goody bag my guild gives to new members.

antylu

No, this wax paper has been used to run my iron over so there is very little wax left on (after using a few times it is almost like translucent parchment paper. I am using it underneath my pieces to spray on and then use the other used piece on top which sandwiches the little devils in between thus preventing them from sticking to the iron or moving all over the place.

I guess "cleaning" the iron was not the right description, I have found running the iron (clean) over wax paper occasionally will make it glide over the fabric nicely. I think I was taught this in 4-H many many years ago.

Kitsie

NOW you tell us! Really, thanks for sharing. I wonder if freezer paper would work as well? I'll try it and see!

purplecat

Thanks for the good tips! I'm going to try them out.

bakermom

i remember my mom saving bread wrappers,too! If you needed to grease a pan you grabbed a bread wrapper.
also remember getting in trouble at school for going down the slide with a bread wrapper underneath me! "it makes the slide too fast" Solved that problem by walking to the schoolyard on the weekend and slicking up the slide for the week!

oksewglad

A ha! another 4-H er in the midst. Maybe where I first heard it, too. I just didn't keep doing it!