How Do You Remove Melted Fabric on Irons That Transfers to Clothes When Ironing?

Fabrics that are melted onto an iron need to be manually removed.

Having the temperature setting off slightly or getting distracted when ironing leads to a ruined article of clothing. Many fabrics will actually melt when introduced to extreme temperatures. The tiniest amount of melted fabric, when not removed from the iron, will transfer over to the next item. Any time there is fabric that melts when ironing, check the surface of the appliance. You should take a few minutes to clean off the fabric residue before you continue ironing to avoid transferring melted fabric onto other clothes.

Things You'll Need

• Popsicle stick or wooden clothes pin
• Baking soda
• Nylon cleaning brush
• Rags
• Dish soap
• Nail polish remover (acetone)

Instructions

Metal Surface

1. Plug the iron in and turn it on to a low setting. Give it a few minutes to warm up.

2. Use a popsicle stick or old wooden clothes pin to scrape the melted fabric off the iron. Toss the piece of wood and melted fabric away.

3. Turn the iron off and let it cool down. Mix one tbsp. of baking soda with one tsp. of water until it forms a paste. Spread it over the area that had fabric stuck to the surface.

4. Scrub it with a small cleaning brush. Rinse with a damp rag.

Non-stick Surface

1. Turn the iron off and let it get cool to the touch. Wipe the area with a damp rag.

2. Add a few drops of dish soap to the rag and scrub the surface. Use a nylon cleaning brush to remove the stuck on fabric. Rinse with a damp rag.

3. Wipe the area with acetone or nail polish remover to remove any melted polyester. Wipe with the damp cloth.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use abrasive cleaners on a non-stick iron.

• Wait for the iron to cool before handing it. Burns from irons can be serious.

References

• Pioneer Thinking: Cleaning an Iron

Resources

• Proper Cloth: How to Iron a Dress Shirt