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The Sew What’s New Archive
This archived content is from Mary Wilkins’ sewing and
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From: bridesmom
Date: 09-21-2005, 06:16 PM (1 of 8)
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I have an older iron that I let the tenant downstairs use for the past year and now she has returned it in a horrible mess. It has something crusty stuck on it that CLR and Comet won't remove, plus the steam holes are full of crud. It does have a teflon base so I don't want to scour it and I can't seem to get it off with my fingernail. I haven't tried the wax paper thing nor the fabric softener thing cause I think I need to get the crud out of the holes first. Any suggestions? No tongue lashing needed - this woman has been the tenant from he** and has been given an eviction notice. I've learned my lesson!!!
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 09-21-2005, 07:02 PM (2 of 8)
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Try filling your iron with vineger mixed with water, let it stand flat on a rack over the sink for an hour or so, then plug it in on the highest setting you can with steam, let it get hot and push the steam out through the holes. Of course do this over the sink, and hopefully this will loosen the plugged up steam holes. Or I have heard you can use the coffee pot cleaner Dip It I think it is called and do the same thing. They also sell an iron plate cleaner that may help the bottom part of it. Good luck with the cleaning.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Mom of Six
Date: 09-21-2005, 07:03 PM (3 of 8)
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heat the iron with white vinegar in it. (This will smell awful) then let it all steam out. rinse with water & let that steam to clean out the vinegar. I am going to do this with mine tonight to get out the scale build up. If it is a sticky substance on the iron you might want to try rubbing alcohol. If this doesn't work I would say time for a new iron.
Barb
Happiness is having time to sew!! |
User: Mom of Six
Member since: 11-03-2001 Total posts: 1115 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 09-21-2005, 07:45 PM (4 of 8)
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You also might wanna try the cleaner they use for humidifiers. (mine was some kinda pink liquid I found at Wally World)
Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 09-22-2005, 05:26 PM (5 of 8)
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Every steam iron I've ever had, said do the white vinegar thing and then rinse with plain water and steam that all out just like the person above said..For the gunk on the sole plate, you might try heating to med heat and ironing over some rags ( I used worn out towels for this, once).. If they are damp it seems to work easier..Press Hard ! !
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: bridesmom
Date: 09-24-2005, 07:04 AM (6 of 8)
Well, I went to walmart and found some stuff that I can't remember the name of, which I tried and it got some of the crud out, then I did the vinager thing twice and it looks pretty good. I did have to get in the steam holes and do some scraping and there is still some stuff around the edges but it seems to work just fine. So back into the cupboard it goes, just in case I need it. The way I've been dropping my new iron on the ceramic tile floor, I may need it sooner than later. 
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: Longblades
Date: 09-24-2005, 08:44 AM (7 of 8)
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Mary hasn't seen this yet but she gave me a great tip for the stuff stuck on the bottom of mine. She said to sprinkle common table salt on some paper, be sure the iron is empty of all water, put on the highest heat and iron over the salt. I had to make many, many passes but it all came off (melted fleece). Mary, can bridesmom do this same thing on teflon? My iron is stainless steel on the bottom. After the salt, though, the steam holes were really plugged up and my DH used a sharpened chopstick to dig and gouge the junk out. Vinegar just didn't cut it though I have used it several times on milder clogs. |
User: Longblades
Member since: 07-14-2005 Total posts: 182 |
From: Llantrisant
Date: 09-25-2005, 11:15 AM (8 of 8)
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I have used baking soda for mine, since I hate vinegar smells,when you fill the iron with water only, half fill it because the baking soda will bubble a bit,then top it up let it stand a while on warm setting.if theres any crud still in the holes use a wooden scewer to poke out the remainder.1 Teaspoon of baking soda will do the trick.Set it on hot with steam setting on, and push the steam button to clear out all crud.Do this over the sink too.
If at first you don't suceed, try-try again!
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User: Llantrisant
Member since: 06-02-2002 Total posts: 144 
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