how to clean an iron?

[amyrobynne]

I made part of a t-shirt quilt this fall (umm...ufo...) and ironed a lot of fusible interface onto shirts. Occasionally I put it upside-down and didn't realize it for a minute. Other times, the t-shirts had screen printing that came off onto the iron until I noticed.

I'm trying to quilt Christmas stockings (nothing like crafts at the very last second) and now my iron won't glide smoothly over the fabric. What's the best way to get the gunk off of it?

[clothusingmama]

I did that once with the fusible interfacing stuff, man that is annoying. I heated up my iron and wiped it across a wet towel. My iron still has some nasty looking stuff on it but it doesn't come off onto things and glides smoothly again. Good luck, what a PITA.

[Michele]

Uh...buy a new one :bag

[smillerky]

I have this: http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=188719

It's a kit that Rowenta sells. I'm not sure what the tube of paste is exactly, but it works!

Not much help to you today, but maybe buy it for future use... :)

[clothusingmama]

I wonder if you could use that paste for flat top stoves? Maybe scrap off anything you can and then use that paste on it?

[Ruth]

just scrub it with a plastic pan scourer and some soapy water (when it's cold ;)).

[The MadPatter]

just scrub it with a plastic pan scourer and some soapy water (when it's cold ).

I'm confused, Ruth. Was that for the iron or the stove???

Patti

[The MadPatter]

How to clean the iron depends on what the sole plate is made of! I have a Rowenta, which has a Stainless steel sole plate, and I use 0000 or 00000 steel wool. Its the very, very fine kind, for polishing. I have also used Amway metal polish on it. I think that Simichrome polish from the bike shop would also work.

My old iron had a teflon sole plate, and when it got gunky, I would get it hot, put a 100% COTTON rag or other fabric on the ironing board, and basically scrape the crap off on the edge of the ironing board. Also works sometimes to scrub a little using the cotton rag. Wear an oven mitt to protect your hand. Or some kind of heavy gloves that won't melt.

Some kinds of stuff respond well to 409 on a COLD iron.

Patti

[Ruth]

I was talking about the iron but it would work for the stove too ;).

[imonion]

this works like a charm:

heat the iron up.
place a piece of brown paper on the ironing board
sprinkle table salt on it
iron over the salt
the gunk comes right off!

[amyrobynne]

this works like a charm:

heat the iron up.
place a piece of brown paper on the ironing board
sprinkle table salt on it
iron over the salt
the gunk comes right off!

Now THAT I can handle! Thank you!