The smell. Oh my, the smell.
If you have ever scorched an iron, then you know that the smell of burnt fabric is enough to make you reconsider ever pressing clothes again. However, since I don’t have the luxury of being able to afford professional cleaning services, I am forced to clean up the mess myself.
When you burn the bottom of an iron, the first thing you want to do is unplug it. Allow the iron to cool down before trying to remove the scorched fabric from the bottom of the iron in one piece. I suggest using a pair of wooden chopsticks to lift small bits of melted material from the sole plate, but a set of tweezers will do as well. Just be sure to remove all the melted fabric from the iron before you clean it, as it won’t work up to par if you don’t.
For really bad burn marks, heat up some white vinegar and dip a soft cloth in it. Next, gently wipe the damp cloth on the scorched sole plate until the stains lift. Finally, wipe the bottom of the iron with a clean cloth soaked in warm water.
If that trick does not erase the scorch marks, then you will need to combine a few teaspoons of table salt or baking soda with the hot white vinegar. Stir the mixture until the salt or baking soda dissolves. Next, soak a soft cloth in the cleaning solution and wipe the bottom of the iron with it until the marks disappear.
Another way to clean a burned iron is to use table salt. Place several heaping tablespoons of table salt on a soft cloth. Then, place the cloth on an ironing board and turn the iron on to the hottest setting. Once the iron heats up, place it on the salt and rub back and forth until the scorch marks disappear. Finally, turn off the iron, allow it to cool completely, and then wipe the sole plate with a damp cloth.