How to Make Your Own Iron Cleaner

Occasionally clean your iron with a homemade, environmentally friendly beeswax cleaner.

The metal part of your clothes iron is called the soleplate. Even with the most gentle of care, the soleplate will get dirty. After prolonged use you may find that your iron's soleplate is scorched and even has a gummy substance stuck to it. Rather than bringing out the harsh chemicals to clean your iron, you can make your own homemade cleaner. This homemade cleaner is economical, environmentally friendly and reusable.

Things You'll Need

• Cotton cloth
• Beeswax
• Butcher paper
• Knife
• Iron

Instructions

1. Lay your cotton cloth on a hard surface and set your iron to "cotton" or "medium high."

2. 

   Beeswax Candles

   Set your beeswax directly onto your cotton cloth and cut off a few the pieces. Spread the pieces around the cotton cloth. No need to cover the whole cloth as the beeswax will melt and spread.

3. Lay a sheet of butcher paper over the beeswax and cotton cloth.

4. Run your hot iron over the butcher paper, melting the wax. Continue to heat until the beeswax has melted into the cotton cloth.

5. Remove the paper and allow the cotton cloth to dry. Allow your iron to cool, but not completely.

6. Run the cotton cloth over your iron. The beeswax in the cotton will help to remove any "gumming" and scorch marks. Use as needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not wash your beeswax cloth as this will ruin it. Use the cloth until it no longer works, then discard and make a new one.

References

• Southeast Texas Honey Company: Beeswax Uses
• "The Spartanburg Herald-Journal" Newspaper; Dear Polly; April 1980